Rocky Mountain National Park

Advertisement

Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountains National Park

Introducing Rocky Mountain National Park

Teeming with stunning natural beauty, from towering peaks to wide-open alpine tundra, Rocky Mountain National Park is a Colorado must-do for visitors. It’s so alluring, in fact, that more than three million visitors mosey in annually. Breathe in crisp mountain air, hike through grassy meadows, gasp at snowcapped peaks and keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep, moose, marmots and bear. Most visitors stay near Trail Ridge Rd (open last Monday in May to mid-October), which winds through spectacular alpine tundra environments. Those who prefer communing with nonhuman nature should venture on foot away from the road corridor; the reward is quiet, superlative scenery.

Advertisement

Late-19th-century hotel and road construction in the settlement of Estes Park prompted naturalist Enos Mills to campaign in 1909 to protect the area. He faced opposition from private grazing and timber interests, but in early 1915 Congress approved the bill creating Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009

Tips & articles

  1. Colorado: a driver’s dream destination

    1 February 2012

    Colorado has 25 nationally designated Scenic & Historic Byways, and a number of mind-blowing drives that didn’t make the list,...

    Read more

See all tips & articles for Rocky Mountain National Park

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. bzookaj avatar
    RE: Driving Seattle To New York

    by bzookaj 30 August 2011

    >with a venture into Yellowstone and possibly further south to the Southern Utah national parks region. From here, I will likely cut through…
  2. jeremyel avatar
    Driving Seattle To New York

    by jeremyel 30 August 2011

    I will be leaving Seattle at the end of September to move to New York. I am looking for advice/ideas on a route. I am going to start…
  3. tomtraveller avatar
    RE: Rocky Mountain and Arches NP in 5 days

    by tomtraveller 14 August 2011

    +manishbit+ welcome to Thorntree and the USA forum. I think you've got some great advice above. I also think that you are trying to…

See all Thorn Tree forum discussions for Rocky Mountain National Park

In our shop

See all shop products

Travel Insurance

Going to USA? Make sure you're covered.

Get a quote

See all travel services

Advertisement