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Sunday,
June 17th - Photo Of The Week...
This week's photo, taken on Saturday, features an early morning view of the magnificent Twin Owls rock formation on Lumpy Ridge in Rocky Mountain National
Park.
The "Twin Owls" are granite outcrops shaped by thousands of years of weathering into the familiar sight we see today. Twin Owls is also a popular destination for area rock climbers.
Often overlooked by even the most frequent visitors, the Twin Owls Loop is one of the more diverse and enjoyable hikes on the Park's east side. This lightly traveled loop offers varied terrain, mature aspen groves and good wildlife viewing opportunities, including a variety of raptors that nest in the Lumpy Ridge area. The trail’s lower elevation and warmer temperatures make it an ideal 3-4 season hike, with autumn being an especially nice time of year to visit.
The Twin Owls Trailhead is located just north of downtown Estes Park. The trailhead and parking lot begin outside of the park and therefore requires no entry fee. From downtown Estes Park, take Devil's Gulch Road north until you see the big sign for MacGregor Ranch on your left. Bear left under the MacGregor Ranch sign onto the dirt road. Follow this to its terminus at the Twin Owls Trailhead and parking lot. If all spaces are taken, you can park near the entrance to MacGregor Ranch and walk the dirt road to the trailhead.
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