El Dorado Canyon State Park, Colorado

Iconic bridge of El Dorado

Soaking it in

  Exploring El Dorado Canyon State Park in Colorado, USA. 

  Just outside of Boulder, CO you reach the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. Here one finds a changing geology from the uplift of plates colliding into one another. The folding of the land up into mountains brings a stark change to the vast flat prairies that lead up to it. It is also here that rock climbing, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts head to find their zen, their wilderness, and their adventure.

Looking down towards the prairies

Climbers getting vertical

  One such place that encompasses all of this is the El Dorado Canyon. The wooden bridge arcing across the rocky mountain river is one of the first things you see once you drive into the park. It is also a great place for some long exposure photography, especially if you have a neutral density filter to block out some of the light. It is an iconic picture that you often see for the state park brochures. There are also some amazing rock climbing routes among the monolithic peaks of the canyon. I saw at least four groups of climbers busting out all of their gear and working their way higher up the rock face. It is no wonder that so many great climbers come out of the Boulder area with access to world class climbing right in their backyard.

Train coming through the park way up in the mountains

Reflections on the trail

  I wanted to explore as much as I could so I asked around about hiking opportunities for photography. I was told to head up rattlesnake trail, past the site of the old hotel, all the way up to the continental divide lookout for great views over the park. I was not led astray. The views were great, the weather just got better and better, and I even timed it right to have a train come by when I was up near the railroad tracks. Some puddles on the trail gave me a fun opportunity for some reflection shots and all in all it turned out to be a great place for a day outing.

El Dorado Springs town

 On the drive out you pass through the tiny town of Eldorado Springs which is worth a stop as well. A local pool and unusual art museum line the street and the few homes are tucked in next to a beautiful winding river. If you are in the Denver/Boulder area and looking for a nice escape for the day, here you go.

Find more of my pictures of the rocky mountains here.