Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall is a beautiful sight to see: bursts of bright yellow color among a sea of evergreen covered mountains and tons of elk everywhere in the park.
![aspen trees](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6848.jpg)
![6R8C6272](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6272.jpg)
![The cause of all the traffic jams in the park](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6589.jpg)
![Here is another one](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6578.jpg)
![fall colors](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6441_mix.jpg)
![What year is it?](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6647.jpg)
The alpine forests turn into tundra at higher elevation with cold temperatures, high winds, no trees and cloud cover.
![The road into the cloud](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6622.jpg)
![The elk are everywhere](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6628.jpg)
We stopped in Grand Lake over night, a cute little town near the west entrance to the park.
![Morning sky](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6544.jpg)
![Evening hike to a waterfall](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6493.jpg)
![Cute red fox](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6509.jpg)
The next day we drove to Bear Lake area where we hiked around Bear Lake and Dream Lake.
![Bear Lake](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C66622.jpg)
![6R8C6719](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/6R8C6719.jpg)
Lessons leaned:
1. Find out when they offer free admission to the park and avoid it at all costs. The traffic is not worth it.
2. Altitude sickness is real and will make hiking at high altitudes very challenging.