Bighorn Lambs in Waterton Canyon

Finally got to do something I’ve been wanting for many years. The stars aligned for a mountain bike ride to capture the bighorn sheep lambs in Waterton Canyon!

A Slow Start and a Tip

It was already a hot and humid morning when we arrived at the trailhead to get our bikes ready for the ride up the canyon. The first spot where sheep like to congregate came and went with no sign of the animals. Same with the second. Finally we ran into Joe, our ranger friend who told us that the lambs had been frequently seen up at the end of the trail by the Strontia Springs dam.

A Long Ride

It was our first ride of the season so we weren’t sure we were ready for such a long ride. However, faced with a potential shutout, it looked like we didn’t have much of a choice. So we powered ahead, all the way to the Bighorn Sheep Viewing Area at the top where a few other people had already congregated. We sat and ate our lunch while chatting with some tourists and a couple Colorado Trail through hikers.

The Reward

As we chatted with our new friends our luck changed. The ewes with their young began to make their way down from the high ground surrounding the reservoir. First a lone ewe and her lamb made their way onto the road and entertained us before heading downstream. Then the rest of the herd followed and eventually climbed the mountain on the south side. But not before stopping for a snack in a particularly lush grove of trees where the lambs posed for a few pictures.

A Little Thunder and Rain

We could see dark clouds gathering over the reservoir and wondered if they were headed our way. Soon thunder began to echo throughout the valley and it seemed a good time to start the ride back down.

However we had already had a great day and several hundred images on our memory cards to take  home. Here are a few more images to commemorate the successful day! Hope you enjoy!