Thunder Lake

Pilot Mountain and Mount Alice catch the first rays of sun and clouds skirt over North Ridge deep within Wild Basin. Without a doubt Thunder Lake is one of the most beautiful places in all of Rocky Mountain National Park. It takes some work to get to Thunder Lake but it's worth the effort. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm F4 TS-E
Pilot Mountain and Mount Alice catch the first rays of sun and clouds skirt over North Ridge deep within Wild Basin. Without a doubt Thunder Lake is one of the most beautiful places in all of Rocky Mountain National Park. It takes some work to get to Thunder Lake but it’s worth the effort. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 17mm F4 TS-E
There are hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, and then there are, lets just say ‘hikes’ in Rocky Mountain National Park. There’s not a lot of low hanging fruit for photographers in the Wild Basin area once you’ve photographed Copeland, Calypso, and Ouzel falls all which require hikes of less than 3 miles to reach.

Wild Basin is host to some of Rocky Mountain National Park’s most beautiful alpine scenery and mountain lakes. Wild Basin lives up to it’s name while at the same time requiring visitors to put in the time and work to witness it’s beauty.

Anyone who has visited Thunder Lake has no doubt stopped to admire the idyllic patrol cabin near its shore. At the same time you have to get a chuckle from the sign attached to the front door of the cabin. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-105mm F4 IS
Anyone who has visited Thunder Lake has no doubt stopped to admire the idyllic patrol cabin near its shore. At the same time you have to get a chuckle from the sign attached to the front door of the cabin. Technical Details: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-105mm F4 IS

All of the alpine lakes in Wild Basin require travel of over 4 miles one way to reach. Areas like Bluebird Lake, Thunder Lake and Lion Lakes require you to invest in one way hikes of at least 6.5 miles over moderate to strenuous grades.

For me, this makes these places and hikes even more special. It’s remote, there are far fewer people and the scenery is breathtaking. Most visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park wont visit places like Lion Lakes, Bluebird and Thunder Lake. I was lucky enough to spend a morning photographing sunrise from the outlet of Thunder Lake. It’s without question one of the most beautiful locations in all of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Residing at the base of Pilot Mountain and Mount Alice, Thunder Lake makes for a spectacular composition that can only begin to convey the beauty and wildness of this alpine basin. If you have the ability and time Thunder Lake should be on the top of your must see list.