Visitors to Rocky Mountain National park are met with breathtaking views of the spectacular Rocky Mountain range, with 60 peaks over 12,000 feet, small permanent glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and historic and cultural treasures including ancient trails, game drives, cattle ranches, and lodges.

The park includes an amazing diversity of ecosystems: alpine tundra with tiny, brilliant wildflowers that survive the harsh conditions above 11,000 feet, fragrant pines and delicate aspens of the montane forests, to the wet grassy valleys with meandering streams. The park offers over 350 miles of hiking trails, 200 backcountry sites, endless angling, birding and wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

If You Go

The lesser-traveled hike up Estes Cone for spectacular views of Estes Park, the Twin Sisters, Longs Peak and the Mummy Range just to name a few. A drive over Trail Ridge Road provides amazing vistas, and, if you are lucky, a glimpse of Bighorn sheep.

Did You Know?

The Continental Divide runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park atop the high peaks. This accounts for two distinct climate patterns—one arid on the east side near Estes Park and the other more humid with almost twice the annual precipitation in the Grand Lake area on the park's west side.

—Ann Froschauer

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