One of the most frequented of America’s beautiful National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado belongs at the very tip-top of every adventurer’s bucket list. If you’re planning your first visit to this magnificent natural area, here are five things you should keep in mind along the way. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is the definition of magnificence – come see why.
- The landscape was formed by glaciers.
daveynin/Flickr You’ll notice that Rocky Mountain National Park has an almost otherworldly landscape, especially at the higher elevations. This is partially due to glaciers that melted and creative massive rock fields.
- You can expect to see some truly magnificent wildlife.
mark byzewski/Flickr Wildlife such as elk, big-horned sheet, and even moose frequent the wilderness surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to admire the wildlife from a distance - feeding is prohibited!
- Long’s Peak experiences its own weather system.
Bryce Bradford/flickr Standing at a towering elevation of over 14,000 feet, Long’s Peak is the tallest in the park and nearly insurmountable. This is due to the extreme weather experienced at the top. Through June, the mountain is known to experience wintery weather.
- Most of the park can be experienced from the road.
Andrew Russell/flickr While hiking is prime at RMNP, visitors who are short on time will be glad to hear that a majority of the park is accessible via a well-maintained road. From your car, you’ll be able to experience the three unique ecosystems of the park.
- Leave no trace!
Diana Robinson/Flickr Most importantly, it is vital that every visitor to the park respect the landscape, wildlife, and fellow explorers. This means leaving no trace and ensuring the beautiful area is enjoyed for centuries to come.
For more important information about Rocky Mountain National Park, you can visit the official website.
daveynin/Flickr
You’ll notice that Rocky Mountain National Park has an almost otherworldly landscape, especially at the higher elevations. This is partially due to glaciers that melted and creative massive rock fields.
mark byzewski/Flickr
Wildlife such as elk, big-horned sheet, and even moose frequent the wilderness surrounding the park. Visitors are encouraged to admire the wildlife from a distance - feeding is prohibited!
Bryce Bradford/flickr
Standing at a towering elevation of over 14,000 feet, Long’s Peak is the tallest in the park and nearly insurmountable. This is due to the extreme weather experienced at the top. Through June, the mountain is known to experience wintery weather.
Andrew Russell/flickr
While hiking is prime at RMNP, visitors who are short on time will be glad to hear that a majority of the park is accessible via a well-maintained road. From your car, you’ll be able to experience the three unique ecosystems of the park.
Diana Robinson/Flickr
Most importantly, it is vital that every visitor to the park respect the landscape, wildlife, and fellow explorers. This means leaving no trace and ensuring the beautiful area is enjoyed for centuries to come.
What are your favorite things about RMNP? Tell us in the comments – we love to hear from you.
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Address: Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado February 22, 2022 Tori Jane What are some fun things to do outside in Colorado? Colorado is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true. With quite literally thousands of trails to choose from, 42 incredible state parks, four National Parks, and countless other amazing potential adventures all over the place, it’s pretty tough to decide what to do first. Some of our favorite things to do outside in Colorado include all the classics like camping, hiking, biking, and boating, but there is so much more to this amazing state than just those. Go ziplining, or perhaps embark on a ghost town tour. Take tours of natural wonders like Pikes Peak and the rest of the Colorado Rockies. Visit some amazing hot springs (undeveloped or developed – up to you), and then set up camp in a National Park and look at the millions of stars overhead. Embark on waterfall road trips, or try and conquer a fourteener, which is a peak with a summit elevation greater than 14,000 feet. Take a Jeep tour through Garden of the Gods, or another park offering such adventures. Colorado is THE state to visit when you’re an outdoorsy person – get out and explore. What are the best National Parks in Colorado? Well, considering that there are just four National Parks in Colorado, we would go as far as to say they’re all pretty awesome. The National Parks within Colorado include Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and finally, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Each of them are certainly National Parks for a reason; they’re especially breathtaking and are among the most-visited parks in the entire country. Colorado, as we said, is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true, and we fully believe that the “best” National Park is the one that entrances you the most. Each of them is amazing in its own right, so which will you visit first? For more information about each – plus some of our amazing National Monuments, too – check this article out!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
February 22, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some fun things to do outside in Colorado? Colorado is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true. With quite literally thousands of trails to choose from, 42 incredible state parks, four National Parks, and countless other amazing potential adventures all over the place, it’s pretty tough to decide what to do first. Some of our favorite things to do outside in Colorado include all the classics like camping, hiking, biking, and boating, but there is so much more to this amazing state than just those. Go ziplining, or perhaps embark on a ghost town tour. Take tours of natural wonders like Pikes Peak and the rest of the Colorado Rockies. Visit some amazing hot springs (undeveloped or developed – up to you), and then set up camp in a National Park and look at the millions of stars overhead. Embark on waterfall road trips, or try and conquer a fourteener, which is a peak with a summit elevation greater than 14,000 feet. Take a Jeep tour through Garden of the Gods, or another park offering such adventures. Colorado is THE state to visit when you’re an outdoorsy person – get out and explore. What are the best National Parks in Colorado? Well, considering that there are just four National Parks in Colorado, we would go as far as to say they’re all pretty awesome. The National Parks within Colorado include Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and finally, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Each of them are certainly National Parks for a reason; they’re especially breathtaking and are among the most-visited parks in the entire country. Colorado, as we said, is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true, and we fully believe that the “best” National Park is the one that entrances you the most. Each of them is amazing in its own right, so which will you visit first? For more information about each – plus some of our amazing National Monuments, too – check this article out!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Colorado is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true. With quite literally thousands of trails to choose from, 42 incredible state parks, four National Parks, and countless other amazing potential adventures all over the place, it’s pretty tough to decide what to do first. Some of our favorite things to do outside in Colorado include all the classics like camping, hiking, biking, and boating, but there is so much more to this amazing state than just those. Go ziplining, or perhaps embark on a ghost town tour. Take tours of natural wonders like Pikes Peak and the rest of the Colorado Rockies. Visit some amazing hot springs (undeveloped or developed – up to you), and then set up camp in a National Park and look at the millions of stars overhead. Embark on waterfall road trips, or try and conquer a fourteener, which is a peak with a summit elevation greater than 14,000 feet. Take a Jeep tour through Garden of the Gods, or another park offering such adventures. Colorado is THE state to visit when you’re an outdoorsy person – get out and explore.
What are the best National Parks in Colorado?
Well, considering that there are just four National Parks in Colorado, we would go as far as to say they’re all pretty awesome. The National Parks within Colorado include Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and finally, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Each of them are certainly National Parks for a reason; they’re especially breathtaking and are among the most-visited parks in the entire country. Colorado, as we said, is an outdoorsy person’s dream come true, and we fully believe that the “best” National Park is the one that entrances you the most. Each of them is amazing in its own right, so which will you visit first? For more information about each – plus some of our amazing National Monuments, too – check this article out!
