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