Rocky Mountain National Park
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Rocky Mountain National Park
The park is located in North-Central Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place for a family adventure vacation. With countless outdoor vacation activities, this rates high on the must-see list of national parks! Wilderness adventure abounds with all sorts of climbing, fly fishing, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, down hill skiing, backpacking, hiking, wildlife viewing and bird watching, all mixed together with some spectacular scenery. Check below for great Rocky Mountain National Park Information.
Uniqueness
Established on January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, a visitor to the park has countless breathtaking experiences and plenty of family adventure vacation opportunities. The spectacular mountain scenery of the park is literally brought to life by the plants and animals that make their home here. Flowering plants, from the first pasque flower in April to the last aster in September, add color, fragrance, and movement to the landscape. Especially intriguing are the alpine wildflowers that survive the extreme climate of the tundra, completing their yearly life cycle in just a few weeks.
Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals delight wildlife and bird watchers of all ages. Wildflower-lovers are never disappointed in June and July when the meadows and mountainside meadows are splashed with botanical color. Autumn visitors can relax among the golden aspens or enjoy the rowdier antics of the elk rut (mating season). Ranger-led activities are an entertaining way to learn more about your surroundings. Plan some time to acclimate to the high altitude and come find your adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Here are more than seventy-two peaks over 12,000′. Here are the headwaters of the Colorado and other rivers, as well as dozens of magnificent alpine lakes. Permanent small glaciers overlay rock that is often granite more than a billion years old. Rocky Mountain is the highest national park in the US, with elevations from 7860′ to 14,259′. More than one-fourth of the park is above tree line (11,200-11,500′), and tundra is a primary protected resource of the park. The forests range from relatively moist subalpine spruce and fir through open ponderosa and aspen stands. Great meadows lie adjacent to moraines on broad valley floors. Some valleys, like that of the Fall River, are classic glacial shapes. From scenic drives and short strolls along a gentle trail to more ambitious daylong hikes to vertical mountain climbs, Rocky Mountain National Park offers many ways to experience nature in its entire splendor.
With 359 miles of trail, you are offered endless opportunities for hiking, backpacking and horseback riding. Fly fishing, bird-watching and photography are also great wilderness adventure options. During the winter, snow-shoers and cross-country skiers revel in the white-blanketed tranquility of meadows and forests. Skiing and snowshoeing conditions are best in January, February, and March. There are 60 peaks rising above 12,000 feet that challenge intrepid hiking and mountain climbing. These areas are definitely for the physically fit. Anyone visiting between Memorial Day and late autumn can see many of these peaks eye-to-eye, where the scenery is spectacular, by driving over Trail Ridge Road. Topping out at 12,183 feet, this is the highest, continuous, paved road in North America. You will also find front-country and backcountry camping with hundreds of campsites to choose from. Overhead, the night sky is often awash with the Milky Way, if the moon is not near bright fullness. Sounds of wind in the pines, the rush of fast-moving streams, and the hush of the deep forest dominate. Clear air and natural sounds are protected in Rocky Mountain National Park, as much as plants and animals. This national park is a fantastic family vacation idea.
Kids are born naturalists. They access the natural world by asking questions, which sometimes come in bunches. Why not start them out in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the country’s premier outdoor wonderlands? Infants can be carried in a front pack, which can be tucked inside the jacket if it’s chilly. Hike anywhere. When they reach the toddler stage, children begin to more actively interact with nature. Explore the edges of Bear Lake while enjoying the guidebook-guided trail tour that explains the area’s natural and human history. Water holds an amazing variety of plant and animal life that will pique a child’s curiosity. Discover Rocky Mountain’s amazing array of wildlife. At particular times during the summer (ask a park ranger); the bighorn sheep come down to Sheep Lakes. Kids especially enjoy watching them cross the road after the lambs are born. While some children might enjoy expending energy hiking along a trail, most seem happiest thoroughly exploring a smaller area. On any hike with 3 to 5 year olds, it’s a good idea to include a magnifying glass in the backpack. Textures of trees, plants, bugs and rocks are exciting close-up. Kids love climbing on rocks. The trail to Gem Lake is a rocky paradise lined by boulders that are perfectly arranged for climbing. There are numerous programs geared just for kids, like the Jr. Ranger program, the Children’s Adventure, and Rocky’s Engineers, among others. When hiking with your children, please keep them close by due to mountain lions and bears.
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