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Location Information:
Rocky
Mountain National Park is a National
Park located in the north-central
region of the U.S. state of
Colorado. It features majestic
mountain views, a variety of
wildlife, varied climates and
environments - from wooded forests
to mountain tundra - and easy access
to back-country trails and
campsites. The park is located
northwest of Boulder, Colorado in
the Rockies, and includes the
Continental Divide and the
headwaters of the Colorado River.
The park has five visitor centers.
The park headquarters, Beaver
Meadows Visitor Center, is a
National Historic Landmark, designed
by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of
Architecture at Taliesin West.
The park may be accessed by three
roads: U.S. Highway 34, 36, and
State Highway 7. Highway 7 enters
the park for less than a mile, where
it provides access to the Lily Lake
Visitor Center. Farther south, spurs
from route 7 lead to campgrounds and
trail heads around Longs Peak and
Wild Basin. Highway 36 enters the
park on the east side, where it
terminates after a few miles at
Highway 34. Highway 34, known as
Trail Ridge Road through the park,
runs from the town of Estes Park on
the east to Grand Lake on the
southwest. The road reaches an
elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m),
and is closed by snow in winter.
The park is surrounded by Roosevelt
National Forest on the north and
east, Routt National Forest on the
northwest, and Arapaho National
Forest on the southwest. The park is
dominated by Longs Peak, which is
visible from many vantage points,
and has an elevation of 14,259 feet
(4,346 m). Each year thousands of
people attempt to scale it. The
easiest route is the Keyhole Route,
impassable to regular hikers in all
but the hottest summer months,
however, due to snow and ice. This
eight-mile one-way hike has an
elevation gain of 4,850 ft (1,480
m). The vast east face, including
the area known as The Diamond, is
home to many classic big wall rock
climbing routes.
Bear Lake, in the heart of the park,
is a popular destination and
trailhead. The lake lies below
Hallett Peak and the Continental
Divide. Several trails start from
the lake, ranging from easy strolls
to strenuous hikes. Bear Lake Road
is open year round, though it may
close temporarily due to bad
weather.
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