Rocky Mountain National Park

Enos Mills is the name of the man responsible for this great National Park. He has been called "the John Muir of the Rockies," mainly because, just like Muir did around the same time, or perhaps just before, Enos mills was able to spread "national park sentiment everywhere in the country" (From "National Park Guide, 1993," by Michael Frome).

This living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, provides visitors with opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures. Native American Indians passed through this area more than a thousand years ago, leaving behind priceless anthropological and archeological artifacts, such as arrow heads, tools made from stone "and even fragments of crude pottery" (National Park Guide).

Camping at Rocky Mountains

With five drive-in campgrounds Rocky Mountain National Park provides a variety of camping experiences. For 2009 two campgrounds, Moraine Park and Aspenglen, are on the reservation system. Glacier Basin, Longs Peak and Timber Creek campgrounds are on a first-come first-served basis. Backpackers may choose from over 200 backcountry campsites when they apply for their backcountry camping permits.

RMNP is One of the Best Hiking Locations in the World

Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of hiking trails! They range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. If you are new to the park consult with rangers at the visitor centers and backcountry office. They can provide advice about trails which are appropriate to different fitness and experience levels.

As you plan your hike, keep in mind that park elevations range from 7,500 to over 12,000 feet. Even very fit individuals coming from lower elevations may experience altitude problems. Symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, insomnia and rapid heartbeat. After a few days your body will have made some physiological adjustments to higher elevations, but full acclimation may take weeks. To minimize symptoms drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, don't skip meals and get plenty of rest.

Although you may not feel thirsty, the "thinner" air at high elevations actually results in increased water evaporation from your lungs. Again, drinking extra water may prevent a bad headache or other altitude symptoms.

Ultraviolet light is stronger in the mountains because there is less atmosphere for the sunlight to pass through. Wear sunscreen, a hat, sun glasses and consider wearing a long sleeved shirt if you are out in the sun for an extended period.

If you have never hiked before or are traveling with children, check out the recommended accessible trails. Ranger-led walks are free and can increase your confidence while you learn more about the park. Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to discover how traveling by foot brings you closer to nature.

Trail Ridge Road Tours

Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminars

Throughout its 416 square miles of rock-ribbed wildness, Rocky Mountain National Park truly is a land of superlatives. Here at least 60 mountains exceed 12,000 feet, topping off at 14,259 feet on the football field-sized summit of Longs Peak. Names such as Cirrus, Chiefs Head, Isolation, Mummy, and Storm evoke the grandeur of this high landscape.

Although the great peaks comprise the essence of the park, the delicate alpine flowers, clear lakes, rushing mountain waters, and impressive forests appeal to all the senses. An array of wildlife - bighorn sheep, ptarmigan, coyote, elk - adds life to the landscape.

The wide variety of elevations and habitats create a choice of activities for visitors. From scenic drives and short strolls along a gentle trail to more ambitious daylong hikes to vertical mountain climbs, Rocky Mountain National Park offers many ways to experience nature in all its splendor.

Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA) Field Seminars

Rocky Mountain National Park serves as a premier classroom without walls. This spectacular landscape encompasses montane meadows, subalpine forests and alpine tundra, rising from trout-filled streams and glacier-carved valleys to the summit of Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. The Rocky Mountain Nature Association's Field Seminars program is committed to educating the public through the talents of excellent instructors.

Most seminars include lectures, with field trips that enable participants to experience the Park in an atmosphere of personal instruction. Most seminars require hiking, introducing an element of rigor because of high altitude and variable weather.

For more information, visit the RMNA website.

Directions to Rocky Mountain National Park

From Denver and the east - take U.S. 34 from Loveland, CO or U.S. 36 from Boulder through Estes Park, Colorado.

From Denver International Airport - (or Denver Tech Center, or downtown Denver) - it is approximately a two-hour drive to the park. From the airport take Pena Boulevard to Interstate 70 west. Continue on Interstate 70 west until intersecting with Interstate 25 north. (An alternate route from the airport to Interstate 25 is the toll road Interstate 470.) Go north on Interstate 25 to exit number 243 which is Colorado Highway 66. Turn west on Highway 66 and go about 16 miles to the town of Lyons. At the first traffic light U.S. Highway 36 willl come in from the left. Continue to the right - west - (now being on U.S. Highway 36) all the way to Estes Park, about 22 miles. U.S. Highway 36 intersects with U.S. Highway 34 in Estes Park. Either highway leads to the national park, west of the town.

From west or south - take Interstate 70 to U.S. 40 between Georgetown and Idaho Springs, then to U.S. 34 in Granby, Colorado through Grand Lake, Colorado.

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