ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Estes Park, Colorado
Trail Ridge Road
Grand Lake, Colorado
Mt Evans Scenic Byway
YMCA of the Rockies
Snow Ranch
Rocky Mountain National Park, located in Northern Colorado, seventy miles from Denver, was established in 1915. It's 451 square miles of park resides several miles out of its base camp, called Estes Park, Colorado. There is no park lodging nor eating establishment anywhere in the park and most people stay in Estes Park or get lodging at the adjucent YMCA of the Rockies, the largest YMCA resort camping place in the world. Nancy and I worked a summer at this camp resort (YMCA) for room and board in order to fully immerse ourselves in the Rockies for an extended period of time.
Hiking in the park starts at an evelation of 8,000 ft and there is a several day adaptation period before it is safe to hike. Please plan those days into your visit; I know from first hand experience what height sickness feels like and one doesn't want that experience!
Mountains are the geography of Colorado; the Rocky Mountins extend way beyond the national park and in Colorado, 53 mountains, known as Fourteeners, have an evelation of at least 14,000 feet. Of the 100 highest peaks of all the mountains in the West, 78 are located in Colorado, ten in Wyoming, six in New Mexico, three in Montana, and one each in Utah, British Columbia, and Idaho. The 30 highest peaks are all located in Colorado. The mountains are tall--with a height range from 7,600 feet to 14,259 feet. The great thing about these mounains is that you are actually in them, driving on the roads that take you up and up or hiking on the 355 miles of trails in the park. There are 124 named peaks 8,789 feet or high in the park. Of those: 118 are above 10,000 feet; 98 are above 11,000 feet; 77 are above 12,000 feet;20 are above 13,000 feet; 1 is above 14,000 feet (Longs Peak).
Hiking in the park starts at an evelation of 8,000 ft and there is a several day adaptation period before it is safe to hike. Please plan those days into your visit; I know from first hand experience what height sickness feels like and one doesn't want that experience!
Mountains are the geography of Colorado; the Rocky Mountins extend way beyond the national park and in Colorado, 53 mountains, known as Fourteeners, have an evelation of at least 14,000 feet. Of the 100 highest peaks of all the mountains in the West, 78 are located in Colorado, ten in Wyoming, six in New Mexico, three in Montana, and one each in Utah, British Columbia, and Idaho. The 30 highest peaks are all located in Colorado. The mountains are tall--with a height range from 7,600 feet to 14,259 feet. The great thing about these mounains is that you are actually in them, driving on the roads that take you up and up or hiking on the 355 miles of trails in the park. There are 124 named peaks 8,789 feet or high in the park. Of those: 118 are above 10,000 feet; 98 are above 11,000 feet; 77 are above 12,000 feet;20 are above 13,000 feet; 1 is above 14,000 feet (Longs Peak).
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Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide and encompasses protected mountains, forests and alpine tundra. It's known for the Trail Ridge Road, with its spectular views that takes you to some of the highest points in the park and is similar to Glacier National Parks Road to the Sun. When it is open, the one way (up), dirt, Old Fall River Road, is also well worth taking as it offers switchback after switchback past aspen trees and rivers. The Keyhole Route, a very popular hiking climb crossing vertical rock faces, leads up Longs Peak, the park’s tallest mountain. To hike Longs Peak up and back in one day, hikers have to leave the base of the mountain around 2:00 am. A trail surrounding Bear Lake offers views of the peaks.
Each fall, over the entire park, viewing the millions of aspen trees, set amongs the green of a variety of Evergreen Trees, is a wonderful view of Nature's work, Herds of elk are everywhere, including downtown Estes Park. If you know where to look, most people also enjoy watching Mountain Sheep.
Each fall, over the entire park, viewing the millions of aspen trees, set amongs the green of a variety of Evergreen Trees, is a wonderful view of Nature's work, Herds of elk are everywhere, including downtown Estes Park. If you know where to look, most people also enjoy watching Mountain Sheep.
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ESTES PARK, COLORADO
The community where all the locals live, is Estes Park, Colorado, a small town of 5858 in Larimer Country, Colorado A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Landmarks include The Stanley Hotel and The Baldpate Inn. The town overlooks Lake Estes and Ollympus Dam.
As there is no lodging in the park, Estes Park provided lodging, food and supplies to park visitors. The town is about 4 miles from several entrances to the park.
The western United States was often visited with our good friends Ken and Audrey TeSelle from Estes Park, Colorado. We often went with them to Rocky Mountain National Park, and its companion YMCA of the Rockies and Snow Mountain Ranch.
The entire Rocky Mountain National Park section is dedicated in the memory of this good friend, Ken TeSelle. Ken was the hiking master for the YMCA of the Rockies for many years. In retirement he continued to hike his mountains even though they took his life via a fall in August 2017. Ken died while still living his life, what he wanted.
As there is no lodging in the park, Estes Park provided lodging, food and supplies to park visitors. The town is about 4 miles from several entrances to the park.
The western United States was often visited with our good friends Ken and Audrey TeSelle from Estes Park, Colorado. We often went with them to Rocky Mountain National Park, and its companion YMCA of the Rockies and Snow Mountain Ranch.
The entire Rocky Mountain National Park section is dedicated in the memory of this good friend, Ken TeSelle. Ken was the hiking master for the YMCA of the Rockies for many years. In retirement he continued to hike his mountains even though they took his life via a fall in August 2017. Ken died while still living his life, what he wanted.
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Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved highway in North America. Its highest point is 12,183 feet (3,713 meters) that continues as a state route taking you beyond the park to such places as Grand Lake and Snow Ranch of the YMCA of the Rockies. The park does offer an active shuttle system duirng the main tourist season and one can do the park entirely by shuttle bus and hiking. There are 92 miles of paved roads and 28 miles of unpaved roads.
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Grand Lake
Another day long side trip would be to go to Grand Lake. This small town is located at the head waters of the Colorado River and situated on the shores of Grand Lake, Colorado's largest natural body of water. A western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is home of the world's highest registered yacht club, the nation's highest altitude golf course with grass greens, and Colorado's premiere summer musical company. It is also next to Arapaho National Recreation Area. Grand Lake has been dubbed the 'Snowmobile Capital of Colorado' due its huge network of groomed snowmobile trails. If ever in Grand Lake, a meal or lodging at Grand Lake Hotel is a fun adventure.
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MT EVANS SCENIC BYWAY
A must take side trip outside of Rocky Mt. National Park is the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, 60 miles west of Denver. It is the highest paved road in North America. A day's trip to the top is a journey that snakes and climbs through nearly 9,000 feet of elevation gain, from the high plains of Denver through five climate zones to the 14,264-foot summit of Mount Evans – one of 54 peaks in Colorado that soar to 14,000 feet and above – the famous “fourteeners.” Because of snow, Mount Evans Scenic Byway is generally open to automobile travel only from Memorial Day to Labor Day. To take this fourteener, head west from Denver on I-70 for 32 miles to Exit 240 at the town of Idaho Springs. There is a National Forest information center here with maps and information on hiking trails and road conditions. The paved road is not for those whose anxiety levels are off the charts in high elevations. Many places along the Byway offer great views up and down on both sides of the road at the same time. It is worth getting to the top, because among all the views, one can walk to a goat salt lick and sit within ten-twenty feet of these magnificant creatures.
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YMCA CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER
Bordering Rocky Mountain National Park is a well kept secret-The largest YMCA Camp and Conference Center in the World. https://ymcarockies.org/.
One can go there and hike, do zip lines, place your children in activity based day care, stay in cabins or lodges, eat in their dining halls, and much, much more. Nancy and I worked there in the Summer of 2008 s0 we could spend a whole summer in and near Rocky Mountain National Park. We did just that and the pictures that you see came from that experience and other week long trips to one of our favorite places.
One can go there and hike, do zip lines, place your children in activity based day care, stay in cabins or lodges, eat in their dining halls, and much, much more. Nancy and I worked there in the Summer of 2008 s0 we could spend a whole summer in and near Rocky Mountain National Park. We did just that and the pictures that you see came from that experience and other week long trips to one of our favorite places.
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SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH
If the thousands of acres & fantastic facilities of the Rocky Mountain YMCA isn't enough for you, go about 90 miles from the Denver airport to Snow Mountain Ranch https://snowmountainranch.org/. This topnotch winter facility is located near Winter Park, and Grand Lake, Colorado. They offer year round activities that a mountain activity center would have, and specialize in winter activities as this is a place that gets a lot of snow!
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