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