Jessica and I headed up to the east portal of the Moffat Tunnel. It is the starting point for a wide variety of hikes into the James Peak Wilderness.
As we started up the trail, we saw a Union Pacific coal train exit the tunnel heading east toward Denver.
An old cabin up the trail. Jessica and Roxy heading up the raised trail.
The aspens here have almost all lost their leaves here.
Alpine meadows in the fall.
Snow in the woods from the first heavy snowfall of the year.
The continental divide through the trees.
Going up through the snow.
A little wet meadow below the lower Crater Lake.
Upper Crater Lake in all its glory.
What a great little lake! It was incredibly windy here.
The little rocky meadow at the outlet of upper Crater Lake.
Another beautiful view of the lake.
Logs floating in the lake.
It got windy enough that I needed a coat.
Yes, I hiked through the deep snow in my Five Fingers. It was a wee bit chilly.
Lower Crater Lake.
Heading back down toward the car, we saw this great view.
We stopped in Rollinsville at The Stage Stop for dinner. The sky was absolutely on fire.
Absolutely beautiful… I felt like I was a tag a long… taking in all the views!
It was a fun hike! I’m hoping to get out more often this fall to other interesting locations nearby.