Location:   The Wild Basin Trailhead, RMNP.  The Wild Basin Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide between Meeker Park and Allenspark. Turn west on to Wild Basin Road from Colorado Highway 7, about 13 miles south of Estes Park or 2 miles north of Allenspark. Continue west to the Copeland Lake area, roughly one-half mile from Highway 7. The Wild Basin Trailhead is about 2 miles beyond Copeland Lake on a narrow gravel road. The trailhead is on the south end of the parking area at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. Access to this parking area is limited during seasons when snow is still present; so it is generally open June-October.

Time:               8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Course Description:  Enjoy a leisurely hike through Wild Basin to Ouzel Lake.  Walk along the beautiful North St. Vrain Creek; learn about the many plants that grow along the water’s edge, and visit impressive Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls.  Learn how the land recovers from fire as you traverse through a 1978 fire burn; then, savor the splendor and wildness of Ouzel Lake.  

Course Level:  IV

Moderate hike of more than five miles per day with elevation gain of more than 1,000 ft.

Roundtrip mileage: 9.9

Elevation gain: 1,510 ft.

Maximum elevation reached: 10,026 ft.

Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org):

Jeff worked as a park naturalist for the National Park Service from 1977 to 2009. His special area of interest is birds. He is a Pennsylvania native and has a degree in outdoor education and natural science from Pennsylvania State University. Jeff has worked at Mammoth Cave National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Edison National Historic Site, Gateway National Park, Redwood National Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. He came to Rocky Mountain National Park in 1990.

Expectations:  Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times.  Individual ideas will be respected.  Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions.

Tentative Course Schedule:

8:00 AM           Meet at the Wild Basin Trailhead.

Noon                Lunch

4:30 PM            Arrive back at trailhead.

What to Bring: