Rocky Mountain National Park West
With only a single [non-work] day being camped near the West side of the National Park, I had to get Kerri in to see some of the sights, but it was going to be a bit of a crunch. The West side of the park has it’s own feel; more natural and a lot less crowds makes it very attractive to someone like myself.
I got her into the park last year when we were in Colorado, but we did not make it up onto Trail Ridge Road as it was still snowed in at the time. This year we lucked out that the road had just opened only a few weeks ago, so getting up there at 12,000 foot elevation was priority number one. As usual, the elk were hanging out in the cooler air and we stopped in at the Visitor’s Center up top, but for the most part it was a simple auto-tour of the highest paved through-road in the United States.
After our sight seeing, it was time to get to hiking. Back down the twisting road but still deep in the park is the Colorado River Trail which follows the river up into the mountains. If followed to it’s end, the literal birthplace, the exact point, of the mighty Colorado can be viewed. I have dreamed of that for years, and while the trail was on the agenda of the day, the full hike out was not. Instead, Lulu City was out destination 3.7 miles up the trail.
During the hike, we ran into our fair share of wildlife. Elk, mountain goats, a mamma and baby moose, and a colony of very stout little marmots. One marmot in particular refused to give way to us on the trail, instead blocking us from passing for a good minute or two until I [very wearily] stepped forward and barked at it… which got ignored. It eventually moved enough for us to pass by, but I have to admit it was intimidating.
Eventually, after much huffing-n-puffing, we made it to the old city site, and found… pretty much nothing. An open are in the trees makes it clear where the town once stood, but nothing of the structures actually remain of the old mining settlement. Lulu City once had a hotel, post office, courthouse and four timber mills, but none of those have lasted the years.
The old town site is nestled right on the Colorado River making it the first time we got to see it in 3 or so miles of the 3.7 mile trail. I’m really not sure why they call it the Colorado River Trail. The river itself is always out of sight. I mean, I hiked this trail thinking it follows the river, not climbs up the hillside, deep into the trees for miles. Nevertheless, the hike is done and I can check it off my list. I’m happy I got to finally hike it.
