Rocky Mountain National Park

rocky mountain

rocky mountain

Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the country’s best and most popular national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park is a pristine reserve for protected Colorado land and wildlife. Explore the 415 square miles, hike over 300 miles of trails, observe wildlife, and find yourself beneath the clear blue skies and unhindered starry nights.

Start your trip at one of the seven visitor centers around the park. Here you can find exhibits and information on a variety of subjects as well as maps and trail guides to begin your journey. Ranger-led programs are also offered starting at the visitor centers and feature topics including the park, Colorado natural history, wildlife, and flowers in the area among others.

Hiking the area’s many trails is perhaps the best way to explore the region and see what the park truly holds. Lake trails, waterfall trails, and summit hikes are all cleared for your use with varying levels of difficulty from easy to advanced. Cub Lake Trail, which loops around the lake at 2.3 miles, is a popular choice for its scenic vistas and easy incline. Glacier Gorge, which is only .6 miles long, is one of the most hiked trails for it ends at the picturesque cascading Glacier Gorge waterfall. Lastly, summit climbs are more difficult but all around amazing for the spectacular views once you reach the peak. Twin Sisters Peaks reach 11,428 feet but the tallest in the park goes to Flattop Mountain at 12,324. Both peak climbs can get treacherous and need expertise as technical equipment may be necessary.

After your hike, take a relaxing picnic lunch in one of the plains and observe the wildlife. You might see bighorn, elk, mule deer, or one of the other 57 species of mammals roaming the park’s lands. Rocky Mountain National Park is a bird-watcher’s dream with at least 280 recorded species of birds flying the skies and nesting in the trees.