Beaver Mountain and cleaning up our Park!

Beaver Meadows Entrance Station.

story and photos by Jason Miller

There is no shortage of wonderful hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. This month's hike that I am featuring is one that almost anyone can conquer. It does not involve any climbing or bouldering but brings the essence of the Rockies from start to the finish.
 
Today (in early April) is starting out to be a great day. It is around 50 degrees with a low blowing wind coming over the mountains. Sunglasses and coffee in hand, I drove past the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and onto the entrance to the park. Once arriving at the Beaver Meadows entrance, I knew that I wouldn't see many people out here today. There is no one in line at the gate.
 
I entered the Park and drove past the Beaver Mountain Loop Trailhead and up to Deer Mountain Junction. Across the street from the Deer Mountain Trailhead is a sign and a trail off into a vast meadow peppered with spruce and snow.

The Beaver Mountain Trail as seen from Deer Ridge Junction

​Beaver Mountain Trailhead   Starting down the trail I was quick to notice that there were not many footprints in the snow. People must rarely go on this trail. The walk involved a gentle downhill slope with no snow on most of it and some areas with snowpack. I chose to leave my micro spikes and snowshoes at home this time. I didn't need the micro spikes because the snow packed areas were slushy. This was due to the awesome weather that we have been having as of late. As I was going down the trail, there were signs of elk being here, birds chirping and once again, only a few footprints.

I stopped to snap a picture and noticed that there is nothing out here but total silent nature: still, but full of life. Crazy, every time I come to the Park I see or feel something that is new to me. I am blessed to be one of the lucky few to call this place home. TOTAL SILENT NATURE!
 
Just a little farther down I come to a fork in the trail. The sign gives me a little direction of where to go. Right or left. I chose right and went across some grassy spots ​and snow-covered Beaver Creek. Now there is no trail, no footprints, only snow over a huge meadow. I went for it and tried to continue. Heading toward a group Aspens I realized that snowshoes would have been a great idea. I made it to the trees and took a well- needed rest.

I should have brought my snowshoes!

Looking up, I see all sorts of evidence of woodpeckers: numerous holes in the large Aspen trees. This is a woodpecker condominium. There are multiple holes that have been created by these awesome, sometimes annoying birds. I tried t go a little farther up the meadow and it proved t be more than I wanted to deal with.

A woodpecker condominium!

I was sinking up to my knees in the snow, I turned around and headed back to the trees again. went onward to the sign that put me in this direction. OK, now let's go the other way.   I walk about five minutes and came upon the same scenario. Snow with no path or footprints to be found. Sinking to the knees.  NO THANK YOU! I really should have brought my snowshoes.

Sinking to my knees, since I didn't bring showshoes!

​I turned around again and headed back toward the parking lot. On the way back to the trailhead, I find myself picking up trash. There have been very few hikers on this trail leading to NO TRASH. Amazing. I stopped a couple more times for more photos. After making it back to the parking lot I checked my time. This only took 1.5 hours. I was planning a little longer but without snowshoes …no go!

Longs Peak as seen from Beaver Mountain

​Having some extra time, I decided to pick up trash. Starting at the parking lot I was in and continuing to all designated areas around Deer Junction. It is incredible the amount of trash that is left behind. I left there and decided to clean up every pull-off area on my way out of the park. One by one, I drove to admiring the views that RMNP has to offer. At the pull-offs there are socks, masks, bottles, cigarettes, cans, and metal. All of us stop and take pictures at these spots but it is dirty.

Trash collected from pull-outs near the Deer Ridge Junction in Rocky

I challenge you. Yes, YOU! Do not leave Rocky the same as when you got here. Leave it better. Go out of your way to look for and pick up trash all along the way on your future hikes. Only you and I will lead the way to a cleaner and more natural park. This one picture shows just a sample of what is out there in our beautiful Park: hazardous to the animals and detrimental to the landscape. I have tagged this photo on social media to show what is out there and what we can do. #keepourparkclean

Jason Miller, 49, is a resident of Glen Haven and is married with two children. Before moving to the area, he used to work as broker for Nestle USA and H.P. Hood milk company. Today, he is the owner of The Rustic Acre (vacation rentals in Estes Park) and co-owner of Lightbrush Projections.

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Kirk's Mountain Adventures of Estes Park made possible the publication of this article; be sure to stop by and say "thank you!" for supporting local, independent journalism!

The publication of this article was made possible by Rock Creek Tavern of Allenspark. Be sure to stop by and say "thank you!" for supporting local and independent journalism!