Wild Basin Trail
Stepping up to the Wild Basin Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park, you suck in a deep breath. Your current elevation is 8,500 feet above sea level, and you can feel the thinness in the fresh air. With this high altitude also comes a pleasant and dry warmth. Whereas other parts of the country are baking in the heat of midsummer, here in the Rocky Mountains, you're experiencing superb hiking weather, further aided by the shady cover of the forests.
You know that your altitude will increase by another 700 or so feet during this hike, but the incline is spaced steadily over 1.8 miles, ultimately resulting in a moderately exerting 3.6 mile round trip, just enough to stretch your legs well. The path follows St. Vrain Creek at some points, and weaves through the forested mountains at others.
You'd planned to hike to all three of the major water features in Wild Basin, Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls, but posted notices alerted you to the fact that a bridge is out before Ouzel Falls due to extreme weather. Instead, you'll hike the first two falls. Although the hike will be shorter than you planned, you'll have more time to enjoy the water features fed by St. Vrain Creek before dusk falls in the forest.