File:Bearlakeinspring2.jpg File:Logo_of_the_United_States_National_Park_Service.svg File:Bierstadt_Lake,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_USA.jpg File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_Glacier_Gorge_from_Bear_Lake.JPG File:RockyMountainsLocatorMap.png File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_view_from_Many_Parks_Curve.JPG File:RockyMountainTundra.jpg File:RMNP_Ypsilon_Lake_Trail.jpg File:A460,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_Colorado,_USA,_Bear_Lake,_2016.jpg File:A461,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_Colorado,_USA,_Emerald_Lake,_2016.jpg File:ViewFromSummitofHallett.jpg File:Wild_Rose_Beautiful,_from_the_Plains_to_the_Subalpine._Rocky_Mountain_National_Park.jpg File:Beetle_Kill_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_USA.JPG File:Western_Interior_Seaway_-_95Ma.svg File:Andrews_Glacier.jpg File:RMNP_collage_2.jpg File:Majestic_view_from_the_old,_one-way,_dirt_Fall_River_Road_in_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_the_Front_Range_of_the_spectacular_and_high_Rockies_in_north-central_Colorado_LCCN2015633347.tif File:ODESSA_LAKE,_ROCKY_MOUNTAIN_NATIONAL_PARK,_COLORADO.jpg File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_tor_complex_on_Tundra_Communities_Trail.JPG
Source: Wikipedia

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately 76 mi (122 km) northwest of Denver International Airport in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. The eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide run directly through the center of the park with the headwaters of the Colorado River located in the park's northwestern region. The main features of the park include mountains, alpine lakes and a wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments, from wooded forests to mountain tundra.
The Rocky Mountain National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915, establishing the park boundaries and protecting the area for future generations. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the main automobile route, Trail Ridge Road, in the 1930s. In 1976, UNESCO designated the park as one of the first World Biosphere Reserves. In 2018, more than 4.5 million recreational visitors entered the park. The park is one of the most visited in the National Park System, ranking as the third most visited national park in 2015. In 2019, the park saw record attendance yet again with 4,678,804 visitors, a 44% increase since 2012.The park has a total of five visitor centers, with park headquarters located at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center—a National Historic Landmark designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West. National Forest lands surround the park on all sides, including Roosevelt National Forest to the north and east, Routt National Forest to the north and west, and Arapaho National Forest to the west and south, with the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located directly south of the park.

  1. 1 History
  2. 2 Geography
    1. 2.1 Region 1: Moose and big meadows
    2. 2.2 Region 2: Alpine region
    3. 2.3 Region 3: Wilderness
    4. 2.4 Region 4: Heart of the park
    5. 2.5 Region 5: Waterfalls and backcountry
  3. 3 Climate
    1. 3.1 Elevation
    2. 3.2 Continental Divide
    3. 3.3 Climate change study
  4. 4 Geology
    1. 4.1 Glaciation
  5. 5 Ecology
    1. 5.1 Montane zone
    2. 5.2 Subalpine zone
    3. 5.3 Alpine tundra
    4. 5.4 Riparian zone
    5. 5.5 Wildlife
      1. 5.5.1 Elk
      2. 5.5.2 Other ungulates
      3. 5.5.3 Predators
  6. 6 Recreational activities
  7. 7 Access
    1. 7.1 Trail Ridge Road and other roads
    2. 7.2 Estes Park
    3. 7.3 Grand Lake
  8. 8 See also
  9. 9 Notes
  10. 10 References
  11. 11 Further reading
  12. 12 External links

Links

Images Gallery

  • Bull elk in a meadow near the headwaters of the Colorado River
  • File:Bearlakeinspring2.jpg
  • File:Logo_of_the_United_States_National_Park_Service.svg
  • File:Bierstadt_Lake,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_USA.jpg
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_Glacier_Gorge_from_Bear_Lake.JPG
  • File:RockyMountainsLocatorMap.png Location of the Rocky Mountains
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_view_from_Many_Parks_Curve.JPG View from Many Parks Curve on Trail Ridge Road. The "parks" in the Rockies are meadows that formed when glacial lakes drained.
  • File:RockyMountainTundra.jpg The alpine tundra of Rocky Mountain National Park taken along the Tundra Communities Trail at approximately 12,000 feet.
  • File:RMNP_Ypsilon_Lake_Trail.jpg Ypsilon Mountain from the Ypsilon Lake Trail
  • File:A460,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_Colorado,_USA,_Bear_Lake,_2016.jpg Bear Lake
  • File:A461,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park,_Colorado,_USA,_Emerald_Lake,_2016.jpg Emerald Lake and Hallett Peak
  • File:ViewFromSummitofHallett.jpg View from the summit of Hallett Peak
  • File:Wild_Rose_Beautiful,_from_the_Plains_to_the_Subalpine._Rocky_Mountain_National_Park.jpg Wild roses (Rosa acicularis) bloom from montane to subalpine regions
  • File:Beetle_Kill_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_USA.JPG Trees killed by mountain pine beetles.
  • File:Western_Interior_Seaway_-_95Ma.svg The Western Interior Seaway 95 million years ago.
  • File:Andrews_Glacier.jpg Andrews Glacier
  • File:RMNP_collage_2.jpg Clickable examples of ecosystem elements
  • File:Majestic_view_from_the_old,_one-way,_dirt_Fall_River_Road_in_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_the_Front_Range_of_the_spectacular_and_high_Rockies_in_north-central_Colorado_LCCN2015633347.tif View from the Fall River Road illustrating the montane ecosystem with forested slopes and grassland in between
  • File:ODESSA_LAKE,_ROCKY_MOUNTAIN_NATIONAL_PARK,_COLORADO.jpg Odessa Lake in the subalpine ecosystem
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_tor_complex_on_Tundra_Communities_Trail.JPG View on Tundra Communities Trail
  • File:Mountain_stream_along_the_old,_one-way,_dirt_Fall_River_Road_in_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_the_Front_Range_of_the_spectacular_and_high_Rockies_in_north-central_Colorado_LCCN2015633354.tif Mountain stream along Fall River Road is an example of a riparian ecosystem.
  • File:Longspeakdream.JPG Longs Peak seen from Dream Lake trail
  • File:Trail_Ridge_Road,_Rocky_Mountains_National_Park_20110824_1.jpg Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuously paved highway in the United States.
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  • File:Bear_lake_in_spring_2_edit.jpg
  • File:OuzelLake_Colorado.jpg
  • File:Ute_Trail.jpg
  • File:RMNP_rodent.JPG
  • File:Alpine_Visitor_Center.jpg
  • File:Moraine_Park_Valley,_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park.jpg
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  • File:Skyline_Arch_at_Arches_National_Park-Unburnsky.jpg
  • File:Great_Sand_Dunes_NP_1.jpg
  • File:Man_and_the_Biosphere_Programme_Logo.svg
  • File:Dream_Lake.jpg
  • File:Ouzelfalls.jpg
  • File:Park_Narodowy_Gor_Skalistych.jpg
  • File:Lilly_Lake.JPG
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_Bear_Lake_looking_toward_Glacier_Gorge.JPG
  • File:Odessa_Lake_-_panoramio.jpg
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_Rock_Cut_Panorama.png
  • File:Nymph_Lake.jpg
  • File:National_Park_Service_logo.png
  • File:Topockgorge.jpg
  • File:Colorado_River05.jpg
  • File:Colorado_River_Avi.JPG
  • File:HooverDamFrontWater.jpg
  • File:RockyMountainsNationalParkColorado.jpg
  • File:Cretaceous_seaway.png
  • File:The_Loch.jpg
  • File:Rmnp_lakes.jpg
  • File:Ice_patches_at_RMNP,_CO_IMG_5288.JPG
  • File:Fall_River_Visitor_Center.jpg
  • File:Rocky_mtn_panorma.jpg
  • File:Yellowbellied_Marmot.jpg
  • File:Picea_engelmannii_Pinus_contorta_Sprague_Lake.jpg
  • File:Snowshoers_in_Bryce_Canyon.jpg
  • File:Fall05-LongsPeakCU_JPG_RSZ_md.jpg
  • File:Hallett.JPG
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_in_September_2011_-_Aspen_in_shade_near_Bear_Lake.JPG
  • File:Longs_Peak_(4346_m)_17-9-2014_12-40-34.JPG
  • File:Rocky_Mountain_NP_-_Forest_Canyon_17-9-2014_13-53-32.jpg
  • File:Flattop_Mountain_Trail_(13907782122).jpg
  • File:Lake_Bierstadt_Hike_7-24_(32390038436).jpg
  • File:Longsbear.JPG
  • File:US_Locator_Blank.svg

Comments

  • gradcjd16

    Beautiful national park with lots to see. The trail ridge road is amazing in itself for the way it was built, offering incredible views from high up. The Bear lake trail is very picturesque, so are the other lake trails. The Alpine visitor center is a must visit. You can’t stop admiring the pristine beauty and elegance of this park while you are there.

    a week ago
  • Rafaela

    For me, one of the best places that I've ever visited in my life. Best views with the snow, the animals, our guide was super cool and super friendly. Hope to come back one day to explore more, because I've only had the chance to see some parts. 💯💯💯💯💯

    5 days ago
  • Jarvis

    Breath taking views! This is one of my favorite places in America! We come every year for our anniversary and we will continue coming back! Pictures don’t do the views justice but they will have to do!

    2 days ago
  • shaughn

    Amazing, wanted to stop at every stop. The beauty was breath taking. Saw elk, deer, and moose( from a safe distance of course) found a spot to get into the Colorado and take a family picture. All together a beautiful day drive.

    a week ago
  • david

    It's our park. Who's house? Our house! This might be the most beautiful place in the world. It's definitely the most beautiful place in the United States. So much to do and so much to see, and it's owned by the citizens of the United States.

    5 days ago
  • Nathan

    This was without a doubt one of the best and most impressive places my wife and I have visited together. We fell in love with the views of the Rocky Mountains, and the scenic drives. I highly recommend taking Trail Ridge Road to see it for yourself. Most importantly: make sure to plan ahead of time and make a reservation! If you don’t, you have to reserve the night before and it’s not guaranteed. Also: the line of cars backs up and gets SUPER long as the day progresses, so definitely go early.

    a week ago
  • The Universal

    Surreal to see it post fire after seeing it for years untouched!! Still a wonderful place to go and almost all staff encountered are super friendly and helpful. Great hiking trails and views. Have seen A TON of wildlife!!! It never gets old coming here!!

    a week ago
  • Maggie

    Only had time to stop for one stretch of trails, took around three hours and was full of beautiful sights and wildlife. Trails were very clearly marked with frequent signs providing direction and mileage, far more often and detailed than in most parks I’ve visited which can be very helpful. No potable water so be sure you have plenty before you enter

    6 days ago

Rocky Mountain National Park

➴ Coordinates: 40° 20‘ N, 105° 41‘ W
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