Rocky Mountain National Park – Calypso Cascades

Sunday, July 3, 2016

The day before Independence Day, I awoke at dawn to head towards Rocky Mountain National Park. The sky was clear and I made it into the park before the weekend crowds. Today’s goal was Calypso Cascades, 1.8 miles from the Wild Basin trailhead. This hike was made all the more awesome by the constant flow of water and many amazing waterfalls as I made my way up the 720 feet of elevation gain. After reaching the cascades I spent some time up and down the trail a bit finding some smaller falls and having a bite to eat. On the way back I caught glimpses of Copeland Falls as well.

I think it’s safe to say RMNP is one of my favorite places in this state….

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Lower Copeland Falls along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Lower Copeland Falls along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

An orchid grows along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

An orchid grows along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Chipmunks play along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Chipmunks play along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

The trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Upper Copeland Falls along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

Upper Copeland Falls along the trail leading to Calypso Cascades inside Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

St. Vrain Canyon outside of Allenspark, Colorado on the way back from Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, July 3, 2016.

St. Vrain Canyon outside of Allenspark, Colorado on the way back from Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, July 3, 2016.