Category Archives: Travel

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – SPRAGUE LAKE #COLORADO #RMNP

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – SPRAGUE LAKE

Sprague Lake is a scenic lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, located on the south side of Glacier Creek, about two miles south of the Hollowell turnoff. The half-mile walk around the lake is wheelchair accessible and features boardwalks and bridges with views of Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak. The lake is popular for Brook trout fishing.

The area is named after Abner Sprague, who started a homestead there in 1874.  Later, he opened a lodge for dude ranching, hunting, and fishing. To improve the fishing, he dammed the far end of the lake. The area became part of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915 and continued to serve guests as the Sprague Hotel. In 1919, guests paid $6.00 per room with a private bath, and $1.00 for regular meals. The hotel, which no longer exists, stood near the present-day parking lot.
~Wikipedia

Sprague Lake Loop – rockymountainhikingtrails.com

Panorama of Sprague Lake
2020 CO Wildfire Map

Our recent visit in September 2020 was not typically.  Wildfires were burning in several areas across Colorado; including in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).  We were in Denver a few days prior waiting on the snow storm to roll in an hopefully dampen the fire some.  I think it helped, but no near enough.  We were not entirely sure we would be able to enter the park as result.

My wife and I really enjoy our visits to Colorado.  We are fond of RMNP and the Sprague Lake area.  Since being married here in 2013, we make every effort to return whenever in the area.  This last trip wasn’t all that different than the November day in 2013 when we both said “I do.”  There was more snow this time and the

lake wasn’t frozen over.  The trail around the lake is very easy to navigate and the views are beautiful; even with the clouds obscuring the view of the mountains.

Views: 273

Destination, Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK – DILLON PASS | YELLOW MOUNDS OVERLOOK #EXPLORESD

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DILLON PASS | YELLOW MOUNDS OVERLOOK

This overlook is placed within the most colorful portion of Badlands geology. Yellow, purple, gray, and striped reddish beds display the sequence of Yellow Mounds, the Interior Paleosol, Chadron, and Brule formations respectively, from bottom to top. ~National Park Service

The yellow mounds were formed when the sea drained, leaving the black ocean mud exposed to air. These formations are some of the oldest in the park. Both sides of the road offer jaw-dropping views. Catch a sunset here to watch all the colors light up.  ~https://www.midwestliving.com/

This is one of my favorite overlooks in the park for all the reason mentioned above.  Our visit to Dillon Pass in September 2020 during the pandemic was extra special.  Shortly after we arrived  we discovered there was a coyote on the hunt.

The layers of sediment are fascinating and natural colors quite beautiful.

YELLOW MOUNDS OVERLOOK

Further along the loop just past the Conata Basic Overlook we were treated to an encounter with Bighorn sheep.

Beautiful views from Burns Basin Overlook.  I always enjoy this park; even though this was just a drive through-quick visit on our way home from Custer.

EXTRA

Views: 412

Destination, Drone, Panorama, Photography, Travel

HUNTERS POINT, COPPER HARBOR, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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HUNTERS POINT

Hunter’s Point Park is a special place to Copper Harbor residents as well as visitors to the area. Access to the point was in jeopardy a few of years ago when a development company purchased it along with the surrounding property. It is now a Township Park and continues to be open to the public.

Hunter’s Point is bursting with natural wonders. Flora is abundant; wildflowers, lichen, mosses, cedars, hardwoods and pines. Otters, martins, beavers, deer, squirrels, chipmunks and various other wildlife enjoy the area too. The geological formations are special on the point. The basalt in this area is the oldest rock on earth-essentially, the earths crust. It’s like a window to the past.

Add Hunter’s Point Park and other attractions to your Copper Harbor trip itinerary using our Copper Harbor route maker tool.
~www.inspirock.com

Hunters Point park is just under a 10 acre parcel of land with 4000+ feet of shoreline.  It is  a great spot to explore and stretch your legs.  There are interesting rock formations to examine and lots of birds and other wildlife scurrying about.

The upper peninsula of Michigan is a splendor of color to behold in the Autumn season.  It was also windy when we were there.  I didn’t get to fly my drone as much as I would have liked, but did manage to get in the air a few time when the wind calmed down for a moment.  Hunters Point was one of those calms spots…for a moment.

Views: 240

Destination, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Travel

LAKE BAILEY, EAGLE HARBOR, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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LAKE BAILEY, EAGLE HARBOR, MI

Lake Bailey, in Keweenaw County, is a 204 acre lake with an average depth of 3 to 6 feet known for big, fat perch and northern pike.

Along M-26 east of Eagle Harbor, there is a boat launch that gives you a nice vantage point of the lake.

Lake Bailey

Lake Map

Views: 347

Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes, Travel

MINNEOPA FALLS – Minneopa State Park #exploremn

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MINNEOPA FALLS

Minneopa State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was established in 1905 to preserve Minneopa Falls, a large waterfall for southern Minnesota, and was expanded in the 1960s to include the lower reaches of Minneopa Creek and a large tract of prairie.  Minneopa is Minnesota’s third oldest state park, after Itasca and Interstate. Two park resources are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the 1862 Seppman Mill and a district of seven Rustic Style structures built by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s. The park is located almost entirely on the south side of the Minnesota River, 3 miles  west of Mankato. In 2015 the state reintroduced American bison to the park in a 330-acre (130 ha) fenced enclosure, through which visitors can drive in their vehicles. ~wikipedia

Minneopa State Park

It has taken quite a while to get out this way to visit Minneopa State Park.  It certainly did not disappoint.  Views of the falls are easily accessible by concrete sidewalks in very close proximity of the parking lot.

If you are feeling a wee bit more adventurous, you can descend the stone staircase to river level and make your way around to the base of the falls.  The trail is sketchy for a ways after to cross the foot bridge, but levels out nicely closer to the falls.  The views are worth the extra effort.

Views of the Minneopa Creek and Falls from below.

10 Stop ND Filter
10 Stop ND Filter
iPhone Panorama

 

 

 

 

Views: 236

Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

CARON FALLS – Caron Park #exploremn

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CARON FALLS

This 60 acre park is located north of County Road Number 88 (170th Street) and three miles from Nerstrand Woods State Park in the eastern part of the County. Caron Park became reality in 1990 and development continued through 1997.  A cor-ten steel footbridge and 1.5 miles of trail have been established at Caron Park. The park is a remnant of the Big Woods Forest Community and serves as an excellent environmental study area.  Caron Park features are as follows:  Picnic area complete with a shelter, Biking trail, Hiking trail and Nature study. ~Rice County

A nice little park in Rice County; only a few miles from Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Hidden Falls.  To my surprise, there were actually two falls there.  Caron is the larger of the two.  I see on Google Maps that the other falls is identified as Wellstone Falls.  I don’t know if that is accurate or not, but having visited it on the anniversary of the death of Paul Wellstone, I’ll go with that.

Caron Falls

The path to the falls is along a slight grade; it’s most steep at the top – you won’t notice it until the return trip.  The uneven ground, due to a bit of erosion, meanders its way to a valley where the river flows.  The beautiful mature woods opens up to where both falls are located.  There is a large metal bridge that will get you to the other side without getting your feet wet.

iPhone photos

DSLR Shots of Caron Falls with 10 stop ND filter

Top of Caron Falls

I did not get any usable photos of Wellstone Falls, the sun was not in an optimal position and the light was a bit too bright.

Views: 529

Destination, iPhoneography, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

NERSTRAND BIG WOODS – State Park #exploremn

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NERSTRAND BIG WOODS

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, northeast of Faribault near the small town of Nerstrand. The park derives its name from the Big Woods, a large, contiguous forested area covering much of central Minnesota prior to the arrival of European settlers. The park and its forest were an outlying ‘woods’ typical and similar to the Big Woods proper, which were historically found on the more recent glacier deposits located west of the Cannon River 10 miles to the west. Aside from a small waterfall, the outstanding natural feature of the park is the forest itself. ~ wikipedia

It was a beautiful Autumn morning to take a walk out to Hidden Falls in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.  Out and about with two other photog-friends, Jeff & Robert chasing waterfalls and capturing the Autumn palette.

Dan, Jeff & Robert

Albeit past prime with many leaves on the ground, there was still a fair amount of color.    The trail out to Hidden Falls is .5 miles on dirt/gravel and wooden boardwalk trails with some stairs.

There was a nice flow when we arrived at the falls.  We even had the whole place to ourselves for a little bit.  A nice day brought out several people that we passed on our way out.  Since you are in the area, be sure to stop at Nerstrand Meats & Catering for a snack or picnic supplies.  Their smoked meat products are phenomenal.  Cheddar Stix and Cajun Jerky are two of my must have favorites whenever I pass through the area.

iPhone shots of the Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

DSLR shots with 10 stop ND filter

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

 

Views: 241

Destination, Drone, Panorama, Photography, Travel

WOLVERINE MINE, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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WOLVERINE MINE, MI

The Wolverine Mine was a small copper mining operation in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, that was in operation from January 1882 until November 1884. In August 1890, possession of the company was obtained and reorganized as the Wolverine Copper Mining Company.  It mined the Kearsarge lode until 1922 when it closed. ~wikipedia

Area map These photos were shot from the faint yellow circle area between Centennial and Wolverine.

180 View
180 Panorama
180 View
180 Panorama – Slaughterhouse Creek

This structure looks like it was built well after 1922.  I wasn’t able to find solid information to confirm what exactly is going on here, but it appears to be mining.  The wind had been quite strong during our trip and it just happened to let up while in the area so I went to the air to capture some scenery and Fall color.

360 View
360 Panorama
360 Sphere
360 Sphere

I managed to find some old photos of Wolverine Mine
~ www.mindat.org

 

Views: 232

Destination, Drone, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Travel

LAC LA BELLE, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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LAC LA BELLE, MI

Lac La Belle (French: “Lake The Beautiful”) is a small unincorporated community in Keweenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The town was originally the site of a stamping plant for the copper mines of the Keweenaw, specifically the Mendota Mine and the Delaware Mine. Copper-bearing rock was transported from the mines to the stamping plant, where it was processed and loaded onto freighters.

The nearby lake of the same name averages approximately 30 feet in depth and empties into Lake Superior at Bete Gris.  The Little Gratiot River and several creeks empty into Lac La Belle. A small roadside park within the town contains Haven Falls on Haven Creek, which also empties into the lake. ~wikidpedia

The weather wasn’t great for our trip, but it wasn’t all that bad either.  We endured intermittent rain and the occasional snow flurry with party cloudy skies the majority of the time.  The wind was actually calm enough to fly a few times.  These shot were taking right from our cabin.  The first shot is oriented East shortly after sunrise.  The second is oriented West, you can see Lake Superior beyond Mount Bohemia and Lac La Belle.  Such a pretty area in the Autumn.

LAC LA BELLE
LAC LA BELLE
Mount Bohemia
MOUNT BOHEMIA

Our cabin was right on the Lake.  We were 4 short miles from Bete Grise/Lake Superior and 15 short miles from Copper Harbor – Hwy 41 was absolutely on fire with color; the canopy over the road was spectacular – more on that in another post.  Here are some images of the cabin and surrounding area.  A wonderful place to call home for a few days.

Lac La Belle
Marina Cabin
View of cabin from Lac La Belle
Cabin from the road
View of Lac La Belle from Deck
Cabin from the air
Cabin waterfront
Mailboxes across the road from cabin

Views: 255

Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, River-scapes, Travel

COPPER FALLS STATE PARK, WI – Autumn Color #travelwisconsin

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COPPER FALLS STATE PARK, WI

Copper Falls State ParkCopper Falls State Park is a 3,068-acre state park in Wisconsin. The park contains a section of the Bad River and its tributary the Tylers Forks, which flow through a gorge and drop over several waterfalls. Old Copper Culture Indians and later European settlers mined copper in the area. The state park was created in 1929 and amenities were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. In 2005 the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a site with 10 contributing properties. ~wikipedia

We stopped by Copper Falls State Park on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  A welcomed pit stop to get out and stretch our legs.   The puppy-kid welcomed the pit stop as well – they had been sleeping since we left home for the most part.

Puppy-Kids
Clover, Harley & Lucy

The Fall color was peaking in North Wisconsin along Rustic Road 95 on our way North and East toward the UP.
–Explore WI Rustic Roads–

Rustic Road 95
Rustic Road 95

Copper Falls State Park was teaming with color.  We didn’t take the time to hike out to the water falls here, but rather a quit walk about and a few iPhone photos.  We had many more miles to travel to get to Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park.

Views: 299