Cub Lake Loop Trail

First, Julie and I always stayed up late making lunches for the next day.  Sometimes wine was involved.  But I had to document, so that we didn't forget THE BAGEL SANDWICHES.  We might forget with this amazing wine Julie brought...

But on this particular morning, we left fairly early to get a parking spot at Bear Lake, but we had to turn around because it was already full, so we adapted the plan and decided to hike to Cub Lake.

Our deck these first three nights was so nice!  Right on the little creek...

We hiked up to the pool (a bridge where we had lunch) and then trekked up the mountain to Cub Lake.  The portion up to the pool was more traveled than the Cub Lake leg, but overall, this was a great hike.  Creek trail, boulders, new forest, old forest, lily pad lakes, Aspen groves...and--spoiler alert--a moose!  The kids hiked over SEVEN miles today!  This was my favorite day.

SEVEN MILES!  The kids earned their RMNP stuffed animals for real today!  We stopped at Moraine Visitor Center and Micah got a little fox, Josh picked a mountain lion, and Grace adopted a black bear.  They were thrilled, and got to enjoy their animals the rest of the trip.  As a COMPLETE bonus, as we were leaving the visitor center, stopped cars alerted us to wildlife:  a mama bear and her TWO cubs!  We love this place.

Oh, and on our way out of the park we had to slow for this mammoth elk.  No big deal.

Swimming!!!!!!