Celebrating our 30th Wedding Annivesary in Estes Park & RMNP 2026

On Monday, April 27, we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.  I could not be happier to be celebrating it in one of my favorite places- Rocky Mountain National Park.  

 

We began the morning by taking photos. 

 

We then enjoyed a buffet breakfast in the YMCA dining hall.

 

The boys both have live math classes on Monday mornings so we left them at the lodge and went into town by ourselves.  We stopped and explored the Stanley Hotel.  It is beautiful!

 

 

us on the steps of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park 

 

 

I loved this old car.  

Of course it made me think of my dad. 

 

The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for the movie The Shining.  They had several movie themed things for sell in the gift shop.

 

Before leaving, we stopped by their coffee shop for a coffee and a cappuccino.  

 

We then drove out to Lily Lake and walked the loop around it. 

 

 

Just like almost every other hike we did on the trip, as soon as we got out of the car, the snowflakes started falling.  It just made our trip magical!  I would love to see this park in the fall, but because of the snow, I think I'll always be drawn back there in the spring.  I just love snow!  It makes me happy!

 

Lily Lake 

 

It's only a 0.8 mile flat walk around the lake.

 

 

I loved seeing these tiny pine cones. 

 

 

 

 

walking around Lily Lake on our anniversary 

 

Lily Lake  

 

Lily Lake 

 

 

We returned to the YMCA and picked up the boys in time for lunch.  Prior to our trip, I had researched good hamburger places in Estes Park.  Fresh Burger Stop came highly recommended in most all of my searches so we went there for our anniversary lunch.  Much to my surprise, it was located in a gas station.  The boys thought surely I would not want to eat there once we arrived, but my curiosity was up and I had to try the burgers.  Just as recommended, they were delicious and the onion rings were perfect. Don't let the location deter you! There is also a burrito shop and a donut shop (Donut Haus) located there.  The donut shop closes at noon and the sweet young guy working there gave us free donuts for dessert.  If you know me, I love donuts!!  That young man had no idea how much joy that small gesture gave me.  Because all of our meals were provided at the YMCA and we had picnic lunches, this was the first meal we had eaten out since the Atlanta airport on our flight there.  

 

 

I had packed a few of our wedding napkins to use on our anniversary. 

 

 

After eating, we drove into the park for an afternoon hike. 

 

We drove to the Cub Lake Trailhead. 

 

We hiked to Cub Lake.  It was 2.3 miles one way. 

 

 

hiking to Cub Lake 

 

 

me and Ben

 

 

more pretty purple flowers on the trail 

 

 

And, soon after starting the hike, it began to snow.  We had off and on snowflakes the rest of the hike there and back.

 

 

And then, because Colorado weather is so crazy, just a few minutes later it was nice and sunny. 

 

 

And then came round two, which lasted a while.

 

'

me and Ben relishing the snowflakes 

 

 

arriving at Cub Lake 

 

 

Cub Lake 

 

 

 Cub Lake

 

 Cub Lake

 

our family at a snowy Cub Lake on our 30th wedding anniversary

What a fun memory! 

 

 

 Cub Lake

 

 

 Cub Lake

 

 

 Cub Lake

 

 

me and my boys at Cub Lake 

 

 Cub Lake

 

Cub Lake 

 

 Cub Lake with those beautiful mountains in the background

 

i 

wildlife on the hike back down

 

the last of the rock climbing for Ben 

 

David and the boys on the Cub Lake trail 

 

Oh how I miss this mountain view!!! 

 

Cruz on the trail

 

One last photo in the park on our 30th anniversary

 

hiking back out 

 

 

 

the creek that runs through Moraine Park 

 

This trip had been incredible in every way!  I am so thankful we were able to celebrate our anniversary in a place we both truly love. 

 

Thirty years.  

Three decades.  

One incredible journey!  

 

 

April 27, 1996  

 

Hiking to The Pool and Fern Falls in RMNP 2026

 Here is a look at Day 3 of 4 in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

 

We finally stopped for a photo at the park entrance sign. 

This was the Beaver Meadows entrance.

 

 

Seeing the animals never got old. 

 

 

Driving towards the Beaver Meadows park entrance.  As you can see in the distance, it was not a clear day.  There was a prediction for rain and snow that day.  I had a different hike itinerary but ended up changing it because of the uncertainty of the weather. 

 

We headed back to the Moraine Park area and parked at the Fern Lake Trailhead.  We started out hiking to The Pool. 

 

hitting the trail

This trail was mostly flat and took you through a forest with a creek that ran alongside the whole trail.  We loved listening to the water as we hiked. It was very peaceful.

 

Ben on the trail 

 

 

Can you guess what happened just as we started out on the trail?

It began to snow!!!  Snowflakes fell off and on the while time we were there.

 

 

I love purple! 

 

 

the creek running alongside the trail 

 

 

Ben 

 

Ben climbing rocks. 

 

 

 

 

1.7 miles later we arrived at The Pool

I had not really researched this trail so we did not know what to expect. It turned out to be a highlight of our trip.  We loved hanging out there!  The guys climbed all over the rocks and the logs over the water. Seeing the boys play and explore brought a smile to my face.  We spent close to an hour there just soaking it all in. It was a beautiful area!

 

 

The Pool 

 

 

The Pool  

 

 The Pool 

 

 

 The Pool with snowflakes falling

 

 The Pool 

 

 

 The Pool 

This was our anniversary eve. 

 

 The Pool 

 

Ben at The Pool   

 

David 

 

 

 The Pool 

 

 

Cruz at The Pool  

 

The bridge over The Pool   

 

 The Pool 

 

Ben at The Pool   

 

David and Ben playing on the logs.

 

 

David and Cruz playing on the logs. 

 

our family enjoying the views at The Pool 

This will be a hike I'm certain we'll repeat if we return. 

 

 

Fern Falls was just another mile up so we decided to hike on and see it. 

 

hiking from The Pool to Fern Falls 

 

 

 

 

 

Fern Falls 

 

 

 Fern Falls 

 

Ben at Fern Falls 

 

 

 Fern Falls  

 

 

David at Fern Falls 

 

 

 Fern Falls 

It did not snow on the hike up, but shortly after arriving the snowflakes began to fall. 

 

 

 Fern Falls 

 

 

 Fern Falls 

 

 

our family at Fern Falls 

 

 

snowing hard as we started the hike back down 

It was beautiful! 

 

If you look close, you'll see Ben up ahead on the trail. 

 

crossing the bridge at The Pool 

 

more rock climbing for Ben 

 

I miss this creek and its sound. 

 

 

 

 

our view as we drove back through Moraine Park 

 

 

 

It was cold and snowy when we left the trailhead.  We decided to drive and park at the Moraine Park Discovery Center and have our picnic lunch in the car.  From where we parked we had a great view of the valley below.

 

We drove into Estes Park and visited this coffee shop for coffee and hot chocolate.

 

warming up at Coffee on the Rocks

 

Before returning to the YMCA we made a loop back through the park starting at the Fall River entrance and coming out at the Beaver Meadows entrance. The boys fell asleep so we had a nice quiet drive. It was a fun and relaxing way to end the day.

The next day was our 30th wedding anniversary and our last day in the park. I'll share about that next.