| Rocky Mountain National Park ((in)Rocky Mountain National Park) | |
 | |
| Moraine Park Valley | |
| Information | |
| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| Region | Colorado |
| IUCN Category | II (National Park) |
| Administration | National Park Service |
| Area | 1 078 km² |
| Location | |
 40 ° 20 ′ 34 ″ N 105 ° 41 ′ 1 ″ W | |
| Official site | |
the rocky mountain national park is a united states national park located in Rocky Mountains, in the north-central part of the state of Colorado.
Understand
The park has been recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The park is surrounded by the Roosevelt National Forests to the north and east, Routt to the northwest, and Arapaho to the southwest. The park covers an area of 1 075 km2 and is divided by the continental divide which gives a different character to the western and eastern parts of the park. The east side is drier with peaks and cirque glaciers while the west coast is more humid and fertile and is dominated by forest. He understands 72 pics named whose top is more than 3 700 m ; the highest is the Longs peak at 4 346 m above sea level. The park features diverse wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, cougars, mule deer and moose. Alpine areas include yellow-bellied marmots and whistling hares. In the fall, many visit the park to hear the rutting calls of the elk.
In 2011, he received a total of 3,176,941 visitors.
To go
Entrance fee
As with any National Park, an access fee is charged at the entrance. He wakes up at 20 $ per vehicle and is valid for a period of 7 consecutive days. The annual access card to all National Parks (America the Beautiful) is also accepted, and sold, within the Park, at the price of 80 $ per vehicle.
By car
The park can be reached by three routes: the US Routes 34 and 36 as well as State highway 7.
- 1 US Route 34 on the east side of the park – From the city ofEstes Park. It is the continuation of the US36 road coming from the east.
- 2 Route US36 on the east side – In Estes Park, where it goes towards the southwest, whereas the US route 34 that it meets goes towards the northwest.
- 3 US Route 34 on the west side of the park – From the city of Grand Lake.
Circulate
Walk
The Park includes 575 km of trails. Many trails allow you to see remarkable places from car parks along the roads. Long-distance hiking trails also allow you to cross the Park during expeditions lasting several days.
By car
The Park has two paved roads and a one-way track closed to long vehicles.
- 1 Trail Ridge Road – This scenic route, with a length of 70 km is a portion of US Route 34 and is the highest paved road in North America. Its highest point is at an altitude of 3 713 m and it is closed because of the snow in winter. It crosses the watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Continental Divide). It crosses the park and its two ends are as follows:
- 2 Route US36 on the west side – Ends in the park by joining the US34 road again.
- 3 Bear Lake Road – This paved cul-de-sac road, a length of 14 km, located near the eastern entrances to the Park, provides access to many lakes.
- 4 Old Fall River Road – This one-way track (East to West), with a length of 14 km, whose slope can reach 16%, allows to traverse a small part of the forest present within the park and offers points of view on the surrounding summits. It is prohibited for long vehicles and may be closed in rain or snow.
A free shuttle system allows visitors to visit the Park in summer. Three lines connect the different points of interest and avoid taking a motorized vehicle. This system is connected to the public transport network of the city ofEstes Park.
Information
Before starting the visit to the Park, it is useful to find out about the various possibilities offered as well as the meteorological constraints from one of the rangers in one of the information or discovery centers.
- 1 Kawuneeche Information Center (Kawuneeche Visitor Center) 16018 US Highway 34,
1 970-627-3471 
Mon.- Sun. : 8 h - 18 h. – This center provides information on the Park and a free map. It offers the possibility of purchasing a camping permit. It is also possible to see films on the Park and its centenary, as well as exhibitions on the possibilities of visit. The building houses a bookstore. - 2 Alpine Information Center ((in)Alpine Visitor Center) 1000 US Highway 36, 1 970 586-1206 9 h 00 - 17 h 00 (depending on weather conditions). – It is the highest clearinghouse of all US Parks (3 595 m altitude). It offers an exceptional view of the alpine tundra and provides information on visiting the Park. It also houses a bookstore, souvenir shop and café.
- 3 Fall River Information Center ((in)Fall River Visitor Center) 3450 Fall River Road 9 h 0017 h 00. –
This center provides information on the wildlife within the Park. It houses a bookstore and an arts and exhibition center. - 4 Beaver Meadows Information Center ((in)Beaver Meadows Visitor Center) 8 h 00 - 18 h 00. – This center allows you to obtain information on the Park and to watch two films on the Park. It houses a bookstore. It is possible to buy a camping permit there.
- 5 Moraine Park Discovery Center (Moraine Park Discovery Center) 9 h 00 - 16 h 30. – This center houses interactive exhibits, activities for families and a bookstore.
Mon.- Sun. : .jpg/15px-Rocky_Mount_N.P.,_Alpine_Visitor_Center_8-28-12_(8083931969).jpg){kind=small}
This center provides information on the wildlife within the Park. It houses a bookstore and an arts and exhibition center.
To see
Nature made up of mountains, valleys, waterways with astonishing meanders, and the fauna profiting from the protection that thoughtful man has snatched from it.
Remarkable places
- 1 Holzwarth Historic Site (Holzwarth Historic Site)
free. – In 1917, the German immigrants Sophia and John G. Holzwarth settled there, after the closure of their saloon of Denver because of Prohibition. In the 1920s, they began to welcome their city friends to the lodge fitted out by them. This place then became the Never summer ranch (because of the proximity of Never summer mountains) in which fishing, hunting and horse riding were offered. Abandoned later, this place became part of the National Park in 1975. You can now visit the buildings that made up this ranch, after having followed on foot a track that crosses the Colorado River, in a place where it is still very unimpressive. because little water is supplied. - 2 Milner Pass – 3279m
- 3 Highest point of the road (Highest point) – 3713m
- 4 Long peak (Longs Peak) – Highest point of the park with its 4346m.
- 5 Bear lake (Bear lake)
freeDo
Summer activities
Walks and hikes
Walks and hikes allow you to enjoy the many remarkable places in the Park, whether they are lakes, waterfalls, streams. They also allow you to get as close as possible to the flora and fauna of the Park. We can see moose, deer and bighorn sheep (bighorn sheep). More than 575 km trails are set up within the Park. Here is a non-exhaustive list of tours that can be done with the family.
Trails West of the Park
- 1 Adams Falls – A short trail (1 km round trip), without particular difficulty, close to Grand Lake which leads to waterfalls and then continues to lush meadows.
- 2 Cascade Falls – This path of a fairly sustained level (10 km round trip) provides access to a rocky waterfall.
- 3 Coyote Valley Trail –
This path without particular difficulty (1,5 km round trip), follows the Colorado River with several views of the Never summer mountains. It is possible to see moose, birds and wild flowers typical of the region. - 4 East Shore Trail – This path without particular difficulty (8 km round trip) allows you to get to the campsite Green Ridge. It is then possible to make a loop in the meadow, then join the main path again, adding 1,5 km to hiking.
- 5 Granite Falls – This hike for experienced walkers (16 km round trip, 500 m of positive difference in height) through a calm forest along a mountain stream provides access to waterfalls. There is a longer alternative return trip (21 km).
- 6 Lulu City – This hike without any particular difficulty (11 km round trip) allows access to the little that remains of the city of Lulu City, which has now disappeared.
- 7 Onahu Creek - Green Mountain Loop – This circuit (loop of 11 km) allows you to walk in a calm forest, then in the meadow, along a mountain stream.
This path without particular difficulty (Trails to the East of the Park
- 8 Alberta Falls – This shady path, without particular difficulty (2,5 km round trip), provides access to the waterfall Alberta from a height of 10 m about.
- 9 Bear lake – This short and very accessible trail (loop of 800 m, without particular difficulty) allows you to go around Bear Lake (Bear lake) and is lined with information panels on the flora and fauna visible around the lake.
- 10 Deer mountain – This trail (11 km round trip, 400 m of positive elevation) is one of the few in the Park that allows access to the top of a mountain. From this summit, the view of the surrounding mountains and valleys is impressive.
- 11 Estes Cone – This difficult trail (11 km round trip, 700 m of elevation gain) has as its counterpart magnificent views at the top!
- 12 Eugenia Mine – This trail (3 km round trip) leads to an abandoned mine.
- 13 Gem Lake – This rocky path (5 km round trip, 300 m of elevation gain) offers beautiful views and leads to a small lake fed by a spring.
- 14 Lily lake – This trail around the lake Lily, accessible to all (loop of 1 km), allows you to observe wild flowers and offers beautiful views of the mountains. Note, however, that it was damaged on its south shore following flooding.
- 15 Moraine Park Discovery Center Nature Trail – This short trail (1 km round trip) allows you to have beautiful views of the Moraine valley. A guide is available at the Discovery Center for information on the flora and fauna visible from the trail.
- 16 The Pool – This trail (5 km round trip) runs along a torrent in a deep and shaded valley.
- 17 Sprague Lake – This very accessible trail (loop of 800 m) goes around the artificial lake Sprague, created by Abner Sprague in the 1900s, so that guests of his resort could fish, an activity still possible today. At the end of the day, it is not uncommon to see wild animals by the lake.
Trails along Trail Ridge Road
- 18 Alpine Ridge Trail – This trail runs, without any particular difficulty (800 m round trip), leads to a small summit near the information center of the same name, and has great views in all directions.
- 19 Tundra Communities Trail – This easy trail (800 m round trip) allows you to walk along the alpine tundra, the only vegetation at this altitude, and offers panoramic views of the Park.
- 20 Ute Trail – This trail (loop of 800 m) offers views overlooking the surrounding forests. It should be avoided at the end of the day, because of the risk of a thunderstorm.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is permitted on most trails. Some that are closed to horses nevertheless allow llamas as pack animals because of their smaller size and less hard feet.
Peach
There are more than 50 lakes and numerous rivers within the Park where fishing is permitted. A Colorado state fishing license is required to practice this activity.
Winter activities
Sled
It is possible to go sledding only in the Hidden Valley to descend a hill which is the lower part of an old ski resort.
Snowshoe hike
Most of the Park's hiking trails can be walked on snowshoes during the winter season. The rangers also organize free outings. It is possible to rent the equipment necessary for the practice of snowshoes in dedicated stores in the towns ofEstes Park and Grand Lake.
Cross-country skiing
It is possible to practice cross-country skiing throughout the Park, but in general the western part is more suitable, because the snow is more abundant there. The rangers also organize free outings. It is possible to rent the equipment necessary for the practice of cross-country skiing in the dedicated shops of the towns ofEstes Park and Grand Lake.
To buy
There is no grocery store on the Park site. However there are many solutions at the West exit to Grand Lake and east to Estes Park.
All information centers have a bookstore or even a souvenir shop.
Eat
- 1 Trail Ridge Store – The only restaurant in the park, open from the end of May to around the beginning of October.
Housing
Camping
Be careful to check the accessibility of certain camps.
- 1 Moraine Park Campground – This campsite offers 244 pitches in summer and 77 pitches in winter. Reservation is required from the end of May to the end of September.
- 2 Timber Creeks Campground – This campsite offers 98 pitches without the possibility of reservation. It is open from the end of May to the end of October.
- 3 Aspenglen Campground – This campsite offers 52 pitches. It is open from the end of May to the end of September. Reservation is advised.
- 4 Glacier Basin Campground – This campsite offers 150 pitches. It is open from the end of May to the beginning of September. Reservation is advised.
- 5 Longs Peak Campground – This campsite offers 26 pitches, without the possibility of reservation. It is open from the end of May to the end of October.
Hotel
There is no hostelry available within the grounds of the Park. However, there are many accommodation options at the West exit at Grand Lake and east to Estes Park.
Around
- 1 Brainard Lake Recreation Area – A recreation area is set up around this high-altitude lake, allowing many activities.
- 2 Denver – The capital of Colorado is nicknamed the thinnest city in the United States because its inhabitants are known to be sporty.
