Rocky Mountain National Park
Activities & Programs
Rocky Mountain National Park is more than just a summer destination. Visitors who enjoy the freedom and space found here in the summer, often come back to enjoy the beauty of fall, winter and spring, times when the park is less crowded. Regardless of the season, the park will always offer a wide range of memorable experiences.
SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL
Park Programs
Park rangers conduct a variety of daily summer activities that are fun and educational, such as short nature walks, longer hikes to high-country destinations and campfire programs. You can watch informative films at Beaver Meadows/Park Headquarters and Kawunee-che visitor centers or go to evening programs at Moraine Park, Aspen-glen and Glacier Basin campgrounds, and at Timber Creek Campground on the west side of the park.
Other educational programs are presented year-round at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, including various talks, travelogues and cul--tural performances. Simi-lar activities, though fewer in num-ber, are offered into Sep-tember. Check High Country Headlines for current schedules.
Nature Trails
You can buy booklets at visitor centers that can guide you by car or on foot through various scenic areas of the park.
Climbing and Mountaineering
Climbing has been a popular activity in and around the area known today as Rocky Mountain National Park since the 1800's. The diversity of peaks and granite rock formations in the Park provide excellent opportunities for a wide spectrum of climbing including rock, big wall, snow and ice, bouldering and mountaineering. It is a mecca for local climbers, as well as those from around the world.
Opportunities for climbing exist in many areas of the park including Lumpy Ridge and Longs Peak. Whichever activity you select, it is your responsibility to respect the areas you visit, minimize your impacts, and know and obey all park regulations.
Climbing opportunities range from bouldering for a few hours to multi-day big wall experiences. Day use in the park requires no special registration or permit. For those climbers planning multi-day climbs, 3.5 or more miles from a trailhead, consisting of 4 or more technical pitches, a bivouac permit is required. Contact the Backcountry Office for information on permit procedures, backcountry conditions, and climbing regulations.
For safety considerations, climbers are encouraged to notify family or friends on route selections and contact them at the completion of any climb. Hazards in the form of violent weather (lightning, wind, snow, and rainstorms), snowfields, avalanches (even in summer), waterfalls, rivers, and the dangers associated with climbing, cause injuries every year and can ruin a climb. Be responsible. Always let a friend know your plans. You are responsible for notifying someone when you return. National Park Service rangers will not start a search until after a climber is reported overdue. In the event of an emergency, please call 911 or the Dispatch office at (970) 586-1399.
Classes and Field Seminars
Rocky Mountain National Park has the oldest national park seminar program in the United States. It is offered through the Rocky Mountain Nature Association (RMNA).
RMNA supports college-level day-long, weekend or week-long courses in photography, nature writing and many other subjects. Classes for kids are also available. For course topics, schedules and costs, contact the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, 1895 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517; (800) 748-7002 or (970) 586-3262.
Children's Programs
Special programs for children help them learn about the park's wild wonders. Ask at visitor centers about the park's Junior Ranger Program. Activity booklets are available for children between the ages of six and 12, and when they finish the activities and turn in the completed book-let, rangers will award them Junior Ranger badges. Com-plete listings of youth programs can be found in the park news-paper, High Country Headlines. Parents must accompany children at all times.
During the summer, children's programs include seminars to teach youngsters simple techniques to help cope should they ever become lost in the outdoors, plus fun activities for kids and their families. For more information, see page 45.
Fishing
Fishing is allowed in most streams and lakes, except Bear Lake. A Colorado State license, available in neighboring towns, is required. Ask for information about size limits and catch-and-release requirements.
Saddle Rides
Saddle up and take a scenic ride into the park's high country. Guided rides take you to Mill Creek or Beaver Meadows, among other places. Special rides dedicate time to fish in mountain streams and lakes. Call the park for a complete listing of concession- operated horse rides.
Private horses and llamas taken into the backcountry are subject to the same regulations as commercial packers. The use of livestock is restricted to certain trails. Weed-free feed is required. Ask at a visitor center for Horses and Other Pack Animals, a brochure which explains regulations on taking animals into the backcountry.
Swimming
The high altitude of Rocky Moun-tain National Park keeps streams too cold for pleasure swimming (tem-pera--tures may be less than 50°F in midsummer), and snow-melt causes fast-flowing water, creating dangerous conditions. In certain conditions, hypo-thermia can set in within 15 minutes. Check with the YMCA or Estes Valley Recrea-tion and Parks Depart-ment about indoor pools.
Bicycling
There are three main bicycle routes in the park: the Bear Lake Road, Trail Ridge Road and the Horseshoe Park/Estes Park Loop (no trail but biking is permitted). Bicyclists entering the park pay a $10 weekly entrance fee.
Keep in mind that Rocky is a mountain park. Most routes are strenuous and you must be prepared for frequent late-morning and early-afternoon thunderstorms, cold temperatures, high altitudes, narrow roads and heavy traffic.
For touring cyclists, there are youth hostels near Grand Lake.
WINTER
Elk and deer are often seen near the roadside near Estes Park, wisely taking advantage of plowed paths when snow depths make travel difficult.
Coyotes, porcupines and weasels are also active at this time. Remember that the winter months place additional stress on animals. Please watch them quietly from a distance.
Before undertaking any outdoor recreation in winter, know the conditions, have the proper equipment and know your own limitations.
Avalanches can be triggered on seemingly gentle slopes. Ground blizzards, blowing snow caused by high winds, can reduce visibility to zero and wind chills may drop to temperatures of —100°F. These are extreme examples, but outdoor recreation in the Rocky Moun-tain winter is nothing to treat lightly.
Park Ranger Programs
Saturday evening programs are given at Beaver Meadows/Park Headquarters Visitor Center near Estes Park, and on the second Saturday evening of every month at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Topics include current ecological issues, other parks and monuments, and wildlife species. A free, captioned orientation movie is also presented.
Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing
January, February and March are the best months for snowpack. Earlier in the year, snowpack may be spotty at lower elevations, especially on the east side. New snow on ice and wetter -snow-fall on top of light, dry snow create ideal conditions for avalanches, so choose your routes with great care and deliberation.
Ranger-led cross-country ski and snowshoe tours (for all abilities) leave from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In addition, ranger-led snowshoe hikes are offered on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at Bear Lake, on the park's east side.
Free booklets about winter activities are available at visitor center desks. Be sure to ask the park ranger on duty about current weather and snow conditions.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is prohibited in the park, except for a short linkage between the town of Grand Lake and the extensive trail system in the adjacent Arapaho National Forest.
Backpacking
Backpacking is generally good in the winter with chances of snowfall gradually increasing from September onward.
Backcountry permits are required for all back-country camping and bivouac climbs. Permits and information can be obtained at Beaver Meadows/Park Head--quar-ters and Kawuneeche visitor centers. For more information, please see "Backcountry Permits" on page 16.
Ice Fishing
Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park requires a Colorado State fishing license. Ice fishing is permitted in some areas. You may need skis or snowshoes to reach certain ice fishing sites.
Winter Camping
As winter extends its grip on the park, some campgrounds close, while services at others are cut back. Water is turned off in order to prevent frozen pipes. Check at park visitor centers for campground information. Please also see "Camping" on page 53.
Accommoda-tions are available year-round in nearby Estes Park and Grand Lake.
Rocky Mountain In Depth
News from the Parks
Be Green and Stand Out this Halloween
October 3, 2008 - 8:43pm
It’s the time of year when ghouls, goblins, ghosts and good witches show up in public. And as people of all ages embrace their inner child and alter egos, it becomes increasingly difficult to stand out in the crowd. Instead of fighting the masses at your local costume store, save a little dough and create a custom costume that reuses fabrics and items from around your house. Our teammate Leyla inspired us with her homemade strawberry costume. Made from pillowcases, buttons and colored stockings, it’s a shining example of how to be unique and green—whether your kids are trick or treating or you’re heading to a Halloween ball. Take a closer look at Leyla’s technique, and get inspired to think outside of the storefront and see the costume potential all around you. Leyla’s costume consists of two, red heavyweight pillow shams that she folded—like the first step of a paper airplane nose—into tapered berry-like edges. She used safety pins to secure these edges (so you don’t have to be a wiz on the sewing machine for this). She secured the tops of the pillows together in the same way, leaving an opening in the middle for her head. For a final touch on the berry look, she sewed white seed beads to the cases. You can use green felt and pipe cleaners with a hot glue gun to make a strawberry leaf crown. Leyla suggests wearing a green beret as an alternative, if you can find one. With all of the main components in place, the wearer can use their judgment about green or red apparel and stockings. You can find other great costume ideas here: http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm. Learn how you can transform into a bunch of grapes using purple or green leotards and balloons; a bag of jellybeans costume using colored balloons and a clear garbage bag; and a bat costume using black umbrella and tights. Have a Green Halloween!
October 3, 2008 - 8:43pm
It’s the time of year when ghouls, goblins, ghosts and good witches show up in public. And as people of all ages embrace their inner child and alter egos, it becomes increasingly difficult to stand out in the crowd. Instead of fighting the masses at your local costume store, save a little dough and create a custom costume that reuses fabrics and items from around your house. Our teammate Leyla inspired us with her homemade strawberry costume. Made from pillowcases, buttons and colored stockings, it’s a shining example of how to be unique and green—whether your kids are trick or treating or you’re heading to a Halloween ball. Take a closer look at Leyla’s technique, and get inspired to think outside of the storefront and see the costume potential all around you. Leyla’s costume consists of two, red heavyweight pillow shams that she folded—like the first step of a paper airplane nose—into tapered berry-like edges. She used safety pins to secure these edges (so you don’t have to be a wiz on the sewing machine for this). She secured the tops of the pillows together in the same way, leaving an opening in the middle for her head. For a final touch on the berry look, she sewed white seed beads to the cases. You can use green felt and pipe cleaners with a hot glue gun to make a strawberry leaf crown. Leyla suggests wearing a green beret as an alternative, if you can find one. With all of the main components in place, the wearer can use their judgment about green or red apparel and stockings. You can find other great costume ideas here: http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm. Learn how you can transform into a bunch of grapes using purple or green leotards and balloons; a bag of jellybeans costume using colored balloons and a clear garbage bag; and a bat costume using black umbrella and tights. Have a Green Halloween!
Steve Fossett's Plane Found in Bear Country
October 3, 2008 - 3:57pm
Steve Fossett's plane and a tiny amount of human remains have been found in California near Yosemite National Park, officials confirmed today. The millionaire U.S. adventurer has been missing since early September 2007.
October 3, 2008 - 3:57pm
Steve Fossett's plane and a tiny amount of human remains have been found in California near Yosemite National Park, officials confirmed today. The millionaire U.S. adventurer has been missing since early September 2007.
Hear the Bugle Call
October 3, 2008 - 3:52pm
Hear the sound of the elk echoing through the Rockies. View the golden aspens glistening in the sunlight. Take a deep breath in of the cool mountain air and watch the majestic bull elk chase his harem through Rocky Mountain National Park. Elk Fest celebrates fall in the Rockies and all things Wapiti — the American elk that calls Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park “home.”
October 3, 2008 - 3:52pm
Hear the sound of the elk echoing through the Rockies. View the golden aspens glistening in the sunlight. Take a deep breath in of the cool mountain air and watch the majestic bull elk chase his harem through Rocky Mountain National Park. Elk Fest celebrates fall in the Rockies and all things Wapiti — the American elk that calls Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park “home.”
Victim ID'd in Skiing Death at Rocky Mountain National Park
October 3, 2008 - 3:51pm
The man who was killed this week trying to ski on Taylor Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park was identified today as Matthew Chesaux of Boulder. Chesaux, 40, died of blunt force injuries, according to the Larimer County coroner. The death also was ruled an accident.
October 3, 2008 - 3:51pm
The man who was killed this week trying to ski on Taylor Glacier in Rocky Mountain National Park was identified today as Matthew Chesaux of Boulder. Chesaux, 40, died of blunt force injuries, according to the Larimer County coroner. The death also was ruled an accident.
Burns Planned for Zion National Park
October 3, 2008 - 3:37pm
A prescribed fire is planned in Zion National Park during the week of Oct. 6. The Three Finger Mesa prescribed fire is 2,100 acres, and the exact date of ignition will depend on weather conditions and the availability to firefighter resources.
October 3, 2008 - 3:37pm
A prescribed fire is planned in Zion National Park during the week of Oct. 6. The Three Finger Mesa prescribed fire is 2,100 acres, and the exact date of ignition will depend on weather conditions and the availability to firefighter resources.
