Our visit Rocky Mountain National Park and the area of Estes Park, Colorado, took place during one of the most scenic times of year. The aspen trees were in full golden foliage, and the elk herds had migrated down from the higher elevations before winter set in. Estes Park itself, which lies on the eastern side of the mountain range, is at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, and one day we drove up a narrow dirt road to the top, above the tree line and over 12,000 feet. The following day, the road was closed because of snow. It was October 5.