| Rocky Mountain National Park, which | | | | from your lungs quite quickly and |
| extends to just 400 square miles, is | | | | headaches are common if you who do not |
| certainly not the largest park in the | | | | drink enough water. |
| system but many of its millions of | | | | Whether you are driving or hiking you |
| visitors each year will tell you that it | | | | will find that there is plenty of |
| is one of the finest of the United | | | | wildlife to see as the park is home to |
| States' national parks. | | | | more than 3,000 elk, 800 bighorn sheep |
| The centerpiece of the park for many is | | | | and some 280 different bird species. If |
| Trail Ridge Road which is some fifty | | | | you visit the Bighorn at Sheep Lake |
| miles long and crosses the park from | | | | between May and the middle of August you |
| east to west. The road drops into the | | | | will see moose wandering through the |
| Kawuneeche Valley, from where visitors | | | | willows along the Colorado River in |
| can view the Colorado River, and along | | | | Kawuneeche and, if you keep a close eye |
| the way climbs up to over 12,000 feet as | | | | out, you might even spot some river |
| it passes through some of the highest | | | | otters as well. |
| peaks in America. | | | | At both dawn and dusk you can witness |
| The views along this route are simply | | | | some of the many bats which hover over |
| spectacular and as you make your way | | | | the lakes feeding on insects and marmots |
| through the famous 'Roof of the Rockies' | | | | are fairly easy to spot on the tundra |
| you will come across glacier-carved | | | | along Old Fall River road. Stellar jays |
| mountains around every bend. Pause at | | | | also dot the skies along Trail Ridge |
| Forest Canyon Overlook and you can look | | | | road and they share the sky with prairie |
| out over alpine forests that are among | | | | falcons and the occasional golden eagle. |
| the most magnificent you will see | | | | Another fascinating bird which calls the |
| anywhere. It is also well worth taking a | | | | park its home is the white-tailed |
| few minutes to visit the Alpine Visitor | | | | ptarmigan. |
| Center at Fall River where you can pick | | | | The park is also home to a number of |
| up a great deal of information about the | | | | museums and historical sites of which |
| area, including hiking maps and guide | | | | the Moraine Park Museum is one of the |
| books. | | | | best. Here you will find hundreds of |
| Rocky Mountain National Park offers some | | | | items from the area which give a very |
| great hiking along more than 350 miles | | | | good overview of the natural flora and |
| of trails and Bear Lake is a very | | | | fauna. Another favorite is the Never |
| popular starting point. Located at the | | | | Summer Ranch which offers a look at what |
| base of Hallett's Peak at the | | | | a resort from past years was like. |
| Continental Divide, Bear Lake is a | | | | Unlike some of the other national parks, |
| wonderful sight in itself. | | | | Rocky Mountain is open year round which |
| Hiking in this area can be a bit more | | | | makes it possible to explore this |
| demanding than it is in other parks with | | | | wonderful area in all of its glorious |
| elevations ranging from 7,500 feet to | | | | seasons and visiting during the winter |
| over 14,000 feet. At these heights the | | | | months will not only allow you to see |
| air is thin and the UV strong so you | | | | sights which summer visitors simply do |
| need to be prepared. You will need to | | | | not experience, but it will also allow |
| take plenty of water with you as the | | | | you to see the park without the usual |
| thin, cool air will evaporates moisture | | | | summer crowds. |