Horseshoe Park is one of the most peaceful spots in Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the best places to experience wildlife up close. Its wide open meadows, mountain backdrop and calm atmosphere are truly stunning. You can easily take photos and observe wildlife without having to walk far from your car. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to see elk, moose, bears and sometimes bighorn sheep. The landscape is shaped like a wide U shaped valley formed by ancient glaciers, which makes the scenery even more impressive.
It was in this spot way back in early August that I was observing with eyes full of wonder not just one moose but a family of moose- a female and her young! Given that moose are generally more difficult to find than elk or mule deer, such breathtaking sightings like this are even more rare and thrilling. Moose are among America’s most extraordinary animals, both in terms of size and unique features. They are among this country’s tallest animals, with a shoulder height of up to 7 ft tall, and one of America’s heaviest terrestrial creatures, weighing up to 1,500 pounds! Despite being a member of the deer family, moose possess antlers with a distinct, unmistakable shape that sets them apart from other deer species (in fact, less than 30 minutes before the moose family sighting described above, I was in a different area of Rocky Mountain National Park gazing with astonishment at a male moose with gargantuan antlers, most likely a bull moose!). Based on personal experience, the best chances of seeing moose are usually when the weather is overcast or rainy, as those were the conditions during all of my moose encounters. Such experiences like these enhance the thrill of exploring and journeying through national parks, no matter what type of day it is!
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Horseshoe park is only one of the many places to stop while there. Elk, moose, and deer frequent this area. It's one of my favorite places.
After 7pm in summer is the best view and nearly no other tourists.
I love Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park. We came in October to see the elk in the rut. It food not disappoint!!! Great time!
