Loch Vale

Lyman Byxbe

The United States government acquired the land now known as Rocky Mountain National Park with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. In 1843, Rufus Sage wrote the first account of Rocky's wonders, called Scenes in the Rocky Mountains. On 26 January 1915 President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act.

The great range Rocky Mountains stretches 3,000 miles from northern Canada to New Mexico. National Park status protects about 415 square miles and the park is located north of Denver between Estes Park and Grand Lakes. Ninety-four percent of the Rocky Mountain National Park was designated as a wilderness area by Congress. Rocky Mountain National Park is known for its lofty peaks, having over sixty mountains higher than 12,000 feet.

The Rocky Mountain National Park has 350 miles of hiking trails and more than 100 lakes. While exploring the part, visitors can expect to see waterfalls and perhaps catch a glimpse of elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, and moose.

In this drypoint, Lyman Byxbe depicts the grandeur and serenity of Loch Vale; one of three lakes in the Rocky Mountain National Park referred to as The Loch. It is a subalpine lake, situated at 10,190 feet. Dominating the views directly across from the foot of the lake is Taylor Peak and Taylor Glacier.