About three weeks ago we took a day trip out to Maroon Bells. It was peak color on the 3.5 hr drive out there. This was the view at Twin Lakes- Michael indulgently stopped for me to snap a few pics of the Aspens reflecting on the lake.

 Another view on the drive. You can also see our dirty windshield.

These three mule deer were the only wildlife we spotted.

 When we first arrived at Maroon Bells it was rainy and windy. That's a big bummer when your kids have been cooped up in the car for 4 hrs and you promised them a fun adventure hike. We bundled them up in what we had and let them explore in the rain anyways.

 We had a picnic in the truck and hung out until the heavy rain subsided. Eventually the clouds lifted and we got to see both Bells framed by the glorious golden aspens.

 SMoochies

 My lens had a water spot here. I had to keep cleaning/drying it off from the rain.

 We did a small hike. Can you find Wyatt in this pic? Part of the lake hike was closed off because two active Bull Moose are in the area. We didn't see them but i guess they can be pretty aggressive right now.

 I love how the leaves look like they're glowing

 Beaver lodge with quite a few active beavers.

 Our patience was rewarded with this view right before we left. I can't decide if these mtns look prettier in the spring with all the wildflowers, or in fall framed by gold aspens!

 Spotting some fish

I could not stop taking pic of this view. Glorious!
Mike literally drove all the way there an back. Thanks Honey! Wyatt successfully spit up or blew out on every outfit/blanket i brought on this trip. By the end he was just wrapped in a dirty outfit with the least wet blanket! But aside from that he slept the whole trip and was great!  I'm so happy we did it! If you ever visit Colorado you should definitely go to Aspen and Maroon Bells. I think it's one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Mt Evans

 Mt. Evans is about 2.5 hrs from Ft. Carson. Funny story, I was getting my hair done last july at this cute little salon. My hairdresser & I were discussing Colorado wildlife and i was telling her we haven't seen rocky mtn goats yet! She suggested we drive up Mt. Evans and we would see some. So I went home and googled Mt. Evans and have been wanting to go since last summer.

 This is Summit Lake. Despite it being a bit of a hazy, rainy day; the views were glorious!

 And then I spotted these guys! We had stopped in a little visitor lodge for bathrooms and Michael picked out a rocky mtn goat ornament. He made a deal with me that we'd come back and buy the ornament if we spotted some goats. Well to my great pleasure we saw two different herds! The first herd i spotted because they were moving down the side of the mountain. They're pretty ragged right now, working on losing their heavy winter coats.

 There were even babies!

 Love

 Climbing rocks at the top

 Alpine flowers. Mike says these flower pics are for TP ;)

 Evie, Gabe & Mike did the final hike to the top. Prego (me) waited in the truck. I was having a little trouble with the altitude

 Cuties were troopers. It was 45 degrees and high winds up there. I made a rookie mistake and didn't bring them warmer clothes.

 View at the top

 The black things are crows

 That's the "we just spotted another herd of mtn goats" smile

 They blend in extremely well

 We loved the little babies hopping around

 This is a massive herd of Elk down in the valley. They were wayyyy down the mtn in their own private spot.

 My new favorite wildflower: The Rosy Paintbrush

 Can you spot the animal in this picture?

Pica! 

 View of Echo Lake

 Yellow-bellied Marmot

Bottle brush pine trees

If you're in Colorado, go do the drive up Mt. Evans. It's phenomenal! Now the last big colorado animals I need to see are mountain lions and bears. Not sure where we'll see those ;) Oh and we didn't get the ornament, it was sold out when we stopped by the lodge again. But we did get baby Nulk a little stuffed mtn goat for his cradle.