I am in the process of planning our next trip, and at this stage looks like it could be New Mexico and Colorado. I am trying to determine the practicalities of heading up to RMNP about May 9-16. Can anyone advise what the conditions are likely to be? Is there still too much snow around to make it worthwhile? Or maybe some other suggestions?
And just so you're visit to this post is worthwhile, heres a couple of pics from the last few days....had some really nice clouds around here!
cheers, and thanx, Andrew
check out the website - Just got back from there less than two weeks ago - weather was wonderful, spent the day hiking to Cub Lake where snow was still on the ground. Look at the info regarding road closures to better plan your access to spots.
There are some very good maps available for sale, I'll see if I can find some links for you - many highlight popular trails on the reverse side with details about elevation change, length, and scenery.
Early May is still pretty chilly in Colorado or the Rocky Mountains of New Mexico, for that matter. Not all of the visitor centers will be open yet, but you should have pretty good access and it won't be miserably cold. I'd go, if I were you. Should be plenty of snowy peaks to photograph and it shouldn't be crowded.
Lovely takes here, Andrew. Love the smooth soft light in the 1st.
RMNP in May may not be completely open, as Jim said. Trail Ridge Road will probably still be closed. But with recent years weather patterns in the area (my brother lives near Boulder so I get regular updates), you may not know 'til you get there.
I'd definitely go!
Trail Ridge Road usually opens Memorial Day weekend, so in early/mid May most of the high stuff is still out of reach. That doesn't mean that RMNP is a washout, but it is not the typical Colorado experience. At that time of year Great Sand Dunes NP and Mesa Verde, both in southern Colorado, would be my first choices in the state. Though GSDNP is pretty high, it is seldom snowed in. Plus it has a broad variety of scenery to work with so you can see and do a lot regardless of what the weather is doing. Mesa Verde is warmer still and in early May is almost deserted, allowing photo ops that just 2 weeks later would be full of people . In addition both parks give you easy access to other interesting areas as well (from the Dunes you are only a couple of hours drive to Taos, while Mesa Verde sits at the top of the four corners region).
If you go for southern Colorado, the San Juan Mountains, especially the areas around Silverton, Ouray, and Teluride are spectacular, though more commercialized and intruded upon than Rocky Mountain National Park. A ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway is always good. They normally start running their summer schedule sometime in May, but check their web site. http://www.durangotrain.com/
Rocky Mountain National Park will probably have more visible wildlife than the San Juans, if that is a deal breaker for you.
If you are thinking about going to New Mexico and then to Colorado, I agree with Todd's advice. Great Sand Dunes is a wonderful place to photograph, and the drive from Santa Fe and Taos to the Sand Dunes, and then to further points north is much more picturesque than driving the interstate highway (I live in Fort Collins, Colorado but was born and raised in Santa Fe, so I do the drive often).
The high reaches of Rocky Mountain National will most likely still be snowed in. But the lower terrain near Estes Park will be accessible, and is not lacking in beauty. If you are interested in hiking, check out Cub Lake, Lily Mountain, and possibly some of the trails around Bear Lake (those may still be snowcovered). For photography, the areas around Moraine Park and Sprague Lake will provide you with some great mountain vistas.
Shameless self-promotion: If you're interested in hiking, I maintain a Colorado Hiking Trails web site that documents most of the hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National. The URL is http://www.coloradohikingtrails.net.
