Nature at its best, beautiful Estes Park Hiking Pictures
I am spoiled, I live in Estes Park. The scenery is beautiful, the sunshine is plentiful, and the wildlife is WILD! I consider it a magical place to be lucky enough to visit, never mind a place to live - yet here I am. I have fantastic views of mountain ranges as I type this, and that in itself is quite an amazing existence.
Should I share a bit of the beauty? hmmm ...good question. I like to think that if I was living elsewhere and was hoping to see some elk, or bear, or snow capped mountains, that someone would put them online for me to hope and dream. Well, that means that if I don't post pictures, I'm just not being as considerate as I wish others were, not cool.
Fine, you convinced me. I'll do it.
This page is about sharing fun photos of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and what it's like to live here. I might even include some random pictures just to have fun.
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Driving home after dinner, see this big bull elk was relaxing in a neighbors driveway, tucked away.
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On an early fall trip over to wild basin (which is part of Rocky Mountain National Park) I was doing a bit of fly fishing. It was really nice with the foliage changing and the fish doing some biting. It is always fun to share the natural scenery, and this day was just fantastic. Below is a cell phone pic of a Bull Moose hanging out to see what I'm up to.
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Every once in a while, a picture just falls into your lap. As did this photo of Moraine Park at 5:45 AM - stunning.
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My latest hobby has been fly fishing and I have to say, it has it's moments in the beginning. Tangles, trying to tie on flies so small you can barely thread the hook on the tippet and more. But it also has it's great moments. The satisfaction of the correct approach, stealth, fly selection, and playing the fish until it's in the net can all be rewarding. Here is a recent photo that might even motivate you to get out on the rivers around Estes Park.
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So this youngin' was just hanging around the house the other day. I still can't get over those ears...
Ok, on to the next, and I think you'll agree that this is yet another reason to question why you are living anywhere else BUT estes Park. Simply put, nature has a way with color that us humans will never master.
Here are a few pictures of a baby hummingbird we rescued after finding him struggling on the ground near lake Estes. We nursed him back and here are the pictures to share our fun experience.
Well, I am expecting that if you've been here on my website a bit, you know I'm a lover of scuba diving. Here is a picture that I took down in Cozumel, Mexico. I believe it is a parrot fish making flashy moves as I take a picture of him. It is a bit pretentious and very self confident, but I don't really mind considering the colors here. Amazing! If only I could dive without a drysuit in Estes Park!
I can understand wanting to get back to the mountains, I mean, you don't have to tell me, I live here. Here is one I enjoy from somewhere in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park. I love being able to see for miles, and this picture delivers. Feel the vastness.... yet a stone's trow from good old Estes Park.
This is definitely on my list of favorite pictures. It has a narrow scope of colors, excellent greys, yellows and blacks, and Mr. subject matter is a picture of health. He even decided to lean a bit like the trees.
I'm sure there are a few folks here that enjoy scuba diving and taking pictures while underwater. As I'm sure they'd tell you, it is not the easiest task. Fish for one, don't usually pose like people when you're take their picture, they run, or a...swim. Its also much darker down there, depending on how deep you go. Add to that the notion that you have a tank strapped to your back, you are breathing through a tube, and of course my favorite, you are trying to take a picture while you are floating!
The good news is that with practice you can get better. Every once in a while you might even get a great picture, and I think this one is pretty neat. I hope you agree... this is a poisonous Lionfish.
Here Is a lesser quality photograph, with a good reason for not getting closer. This is a pair of resting White Tip Sharks. Yes, these are aggressive, and they have a reputation worthy of respect. I remember feeling my heart beating like a drum as I took the picture. 
This was the spectacular view above Lawn Lake in RMNP. I live the clouds in this photo!
Yet another amazing picture I was lucky enough to take. I believe this is a queen angel fish, and was taken off the coast of Cozumel Mexico. I never knew there was so much color in the oceans until I started diving.
Ok, I admit this is turning into a scuba photo page, I promise to add more local pictures in a bit, but I am having fun. This is a Grey angelfish. 
This is a Tiger Grouper photographed when I dove Utila, a fun island off the coast of Honduras.
I imagine that by now you are thinking .."hey, this is supposed to be an Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park picture album". I agree, you caught me, but I'm back on track now. This was the view from a quick hike in town after work. Not too shabby, huh? 
I went snowshoeing over the winter, and there was this little guy, kind of following me. He kept flying around and checking me out, so I stopped for a bit and watched him. Sure enough, he started to get VERY friendly. I'm assuming he has been fed by people and that he's looking for more here, but regardless it was still a fun experience. And in case you are wondering, I did not feed him anything. Nature is best served by allowing it to stay wild.
This is one of the few Bighorn Sheep Photos I have, and I think it actually came out great! Have I told you the wildlife here is fantastic?!?! These guys just love rocky mountain territory. If you are enjoying these pictures and want to try your luck at photography, Estes Park will provide endless material!
This is the state flower, the Columbine! I'm quite happy with the quality of this image considering it was taken with my cell phone...
I took this one a few months ago in Estes Park, love it! Mountain Views in Estes Park, beautiful.
Mountain views from Moraine Park, inside Rocky Mountain National Park.
This was taken at Moraine Park in Rocky Mountain National Park... the endurance of these elk amaze me. I get cold just looking at this picture!
In Estes Park, views are a big part of the attraction for visitors and residents alike. When I took this picture, it made me feel like I was in an airplane, courtesy of the Lily Lake trail near the top.
Now this picture of Bierstadt Lake is postcard worthy, at least based on my photography talents! Rocky Mountain views at their finest.
more to follow....
Jim Idler, REALTOR - Range Realty
Estes Park Real Estate
970-480-1121
