One of my favorite areas of Rocky Mountain National Park is Timberline also referred to as Treeline. Timberline in Rocky Mountain National Park occurs at about 11,400 ft above sea level. It’s an amazing environment to travel through and photograph. It’s an absolutely amazing place in the middle of summer as well. In my opinion, July is the best time in RMNP to travel and photograph timberline.
The stunted and wind twisted pines, the green grasses, wildflowers galore, seasonal streams and tarns and kettle ponds brimming with water from snowmelt and rain. On a good year, you might have about a month or so where this alpine zone is perfect for photography. From about the first week of July through the first week of August is just about bliss at 11,000 ft.
With this in mind, I headed out yesterday to one of my favorite seasonal tarns to photograph sunrise. Traveling across the tundra and taking in the breathtaking views of Forest Canyon, Gorge Lakes and Longs Peak always fills my soul with the easiness of the short summer season in Rocky. There is always a tinge of sadness mixed with over riding joy that summer at timberline in Rocky Mountain National Park is so fleeting. With that in mind, I plan to spend as much time as possible photographing these beautiful areas of RMNP before the seasons once again begin to transition to fall.