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Rocky Mountain National Park
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Orientation
Nowhere else in the United States can a visitor see so much alpine country with such ease. Only 2 hours’ drive from Denver, Trail Ridge Road takes visitors into the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, traversing a ridge above 11,000 feet [3,352.8 meters] for 10 miles [16.1 kilometers]. Along the way, tiny tundra flowers contrast with sweeping vistas of towering summits; 78 of them exceed 12,000 feet [3,657.6 meters]. Alpine lakes reflect the grandeur. The summits form at least the third generation of mountains to rise in this region. The first probably protruded as islands above a shallow sea more than 135 million years ago, when dinosaurs reigned. Another range grew out of a later sea some 75 million years ago. Over the eons these summits eroded to rolling hills, which rose once again, although unevenly: Some portions sank along fault lines, helping create the striking texture of the current scenery. Rock as old as that at the bottom of the Grand Canyon—nearly two billion years—caps the Rockies’ summits. Within the last million years, glaciers, grinding boulders beneath them, carved deep canyons. Erosion later scoured the more jagged summits into their present profiles. Rocky Mountain, though only about 1/8 the size of Yellowstone, accommodates nearly as many visitors—2.8 million or more a year. In 1917 a superintendent promoted the park by hiring a young woman to live off the land, clad in a leopard-skin; visitation soared. But today overcrowding worries park officials and conservationists, who cite distressed animals, trodden plants, and eroded trails. Condominium development is crowding the park’s borders also, shrinking the habitats of elk and other wildlife and threatening to turn the park into an island of nature.
When to Go
If possible, avoid mid-June to mid-August, when the park receives about half its yearly visitors. Trail Ridge Road stays open from roughly late May to mid-October; trails thaw out by around July 4. In May, sub-alpine wildflowers bloom; in late June, the tundra flowers. September, the sunniest month, is a prime time to visit: Elk move to lower elevations, and you can hear their mating bugles. The tundra turns crimson early in the month; aspens turn golden later. In the winter there is skiing and snowshoeing.
Statistics
- Area: 265,668 acres [107,512 hectares]
- Date Established: January 26, 1915
- State: Colorado
Getting There
By Plane - Denver International Airport (DEN) 67 miles [107.8 kilometers] from the park
- Official Airline Guide: Denver Information
By Car - Take I-25 north from Denver (about 65 miles [105 kilometers] away) or south from Cheyenne, Wyoming (about 90 miles [145 kilometers] away), then US 34 west at Loveland. From the west, pick up US 34 at Granby. Airports: Denver and Cheyenne.
By Train (Nearest Station)
How to Visit
On a 1-day blitz, drive Trail Ridge Road as far as Farview Curve for the classic overview of the park’s mountains, valleys, and tundra, then double back and take Bear Lake Road to see a collection of scenic lakes (which can get very congested in summer). If you wish, make a loop of the first leg by driving one-way, unpaved Old Fall River Road west, then Trail Ridge Road east. Old Fall River Road gives you an intimate look at a wooded mountainside, but it’s usually closed by snow until early July. With more time, drive all the way to Grand Lake on the west side the first day, then take your trip to Bear Lake the second day. Spend extra time on the excellent nature trails and day hikes. If you go in summer and plan to backpack and hike, be sure not to be caught above timberline between about 1:30 and 3 p.m., when lightning storms are frequent.
Activities
Free naturalist-led activities: nature and history walks, hikes, campfire talks, slide shows, arts programs, snowshoe walks. Also, hiking, horseback trail rides (stables in Grand Lake; phone +1 303 627 3514), bicycling, fishing and ice fishing, rock- and mountain climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, limited snowmobiling.
Park Information
Headquarters Estes Park, Colorado 80517. Phone +1 970 586 1206. Fax +1 970 586 1338 or +1 970 586 1256. Seasons & Accessibility Park open year-round. Trail Ridge Road closes mid-Oct. to late May, depending on snow. Old Fall River Road closes Oct. to early July. In summer, free shuttle bus service on Bear Lake Road. Visitor & Information Centers Headquarters Visitor Center, on US Hwy. 36 at east entrance to park, and Kawuneeche Visitor Center, on US Hwy. 34, open all year. Alpine Visitor Center, open June through Sept. Moraine Park Museum and Visitor Center open May to Oct. Call +1 970 586 1206 for visitor information. From May 2000 the Fall River Visitor Center on US Hwy 34 will be open from late May to October every year. Entrance Fee $10 per car for 7 days; $20 annual. Pets Not permitted on trails or in backcountry. Must be on 6-foot [1.8-meter] leashes at all times in parking lots and campgrounds. Facilities for Disabled Visitor centers and museums are wheelchair accessible, as are amphitheaters in campgrounds, but not all rest rooms. Also accessible, the Bear Lake and Sprague Lake nature walks, the boardwalk at Hidden Valley Creek beaver ponds, and Coyote Valley Trail. Handicamp, at Sprague Lake, accommodates wheelchair backcountry campers—call +1 970 586 1242. Overnight Backpacking Permits required, obtainable by mail or in person from headquarters or the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Call +1 970 586 1242. Fees charged for backcountry permits in summer. Campgrounds Five campgrounds. Longs Peak has 3-day limit, others 7-day limit June through Sept. Additional days permitted other times of year. Glacier Basin and Moraine Park open June through Sept.; reservations required late May through Labor Day. Other campgrounds open all year—first come, first served. Fees $16 per night in summer; and $10 per night in winter, when water is not available. No showers. RV sites except at Longs Peak; no hookups. Reservations required at Glacier Basin Group Campground. Cafeteria in Trail Ridge store (summer only).
Lodging
Hotels, Motels, & Inns (unless otherwise noted, rates are for 2 persons in a double room, high season) In Estes Park, Colorado 80517: Aspen Lodge Ranch Resort 6120 Hwy. 7, Longs Peak Route. 800 332 6867 or +1 970 586 8133. 59 units. $143 per person, includes all meals and activities. 3-day min. Pool. RiverSong Bed & Breakfast Inn P.O. Box 1910. +1 970 586 4666. 9 units. $135-$250, includes breakfast. The Stanley Hotel (333 Wonderview Ave.). 800 976 1377 or +1 970 586 3371. 92 units. $109-$169. Pool, rest. Winding River Ranch 5770 Highway 7. +1 970 586 4212. 800 523 4212. 28 units. $855-$1355 per person per week, includes meals. Pool. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. In Grand Lake, Colorado 80447: Bighorn Lodge (613 Grand Ave.). 800 341 8000 or +1 970 627 8101. 27 units. $65-$70. Driftwood Lodge (12255 Hwy. 34). +1 970 627 3654. 17 units, 9 with kitchenettes. $60-$90. Pool. Western Riviera Motel (419 Garfield). +1 970 627 3580. 25 cabins, 7 with kitchenettes. $63-$95. Open mid-Dec. to early April and mid-May through Oct. For additional accommodations contact the Chambers of Commerce of Estes Park 800 443 7837; and Grand Lake +1 970 627 3372.
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