Things are heating up! As I post this page, roughly a third of the way through August, I am witnessing changes in this region. Of course, August is a hot month along the foothills, but it can be considerably cooler in Estes Park and in Rocky Mountain National Park. Most of the large mammals have shed their scruffy winter coats. Bull Moose are growing their velvet covered antlers, while some of the largest bull elk have already shed their velvet. That’s a signal the rut is coming up in September.
The photos on this page were taken with a Sony A1 camera and a Sigma 60-600mm lens.
Posted August 10, 2025
A forest fire near Meeker, CO is pumping amber or rose colored smoke into the sky across much of the state. The smoke and haze changes the scenery by obscuring some peaks and creating layered mountain landscapes. I expect the haze to continue for the rest of the summer and into fall. A few days of rain could change that, of course.
Wildlife & Loose Ends
With the heat, most of the wildlife shots happen early in the morning and late in the evening. You may be turned off by the smoke, but it can also introduce some interesting lighting. Moose should start shedding their velvet around the last few days of August and the first few days of September. If there are moose at Sheep Lakes, expect a large crowds and limited parking. I’ve seen several Long-tailed Weasels this year along with a few Snowshoe Hares. While I haven’t stopped to try to photograph them, I’ve been seeing numerous Red Crossbills this year.
Rocky Mountain National Park Tidbits
Temperatures cool off a bit by late August. Some of the crowds thin as kids head back to school. Both are welcome changes! Even on hot days, you may still need a jacket along the high sections of the Trail Ridge Road. A limited number of timed entry passes are available for the following day through Recreation.Gov, but if you enter the park gates before 9:00 am, you only need a regular park pass for your vehicle.