Rocky Mountain National Park

1000 Highway 36
Estes Park, Colorado 80517

Phone
Information
(970) 586-1206

WELCOME Rocky Mountain National Park

This living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, provides visitors with opportunities for countless breathtaking experiences and adventures.

Camping

With five drive-in campgrounds Rocky Mountain National Park provides a variety of camping experiences. For 2009 two campgrounds, Moraine Park and Aspenglen, are on the reservation system. Glacier Basin, Longs Peak and Timber Creek campgrounds are on a first-come first-served basis. Backpackers may choose from over 200 backcountry campsites when they apply for their backcountry camping permits.

Hiking

359 miles of trail offer endless opportunities to hikers, backpackers and horseback riders. Anglers, bird-watchers and photographers discover the splendor that they traveled so far to find. During the winter, snowshoers and cross-country skiers revel in the white-blanketed tranquility of meadows and forests.

Protecting America's Treasures

Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, cougars, eagles, hawks and scores of smaller animals delight wildlife-watchers of all ages. Wildflower-lovers are never disappointed in June and July when the meadows and hillsides are splashed with botanical color. Autumn visitors can relax among the golden aspens or enjoy the rowdier antics of the elk rut (mating season).

Things To Do

Throughout its 416 square miles of rock-ribbed wildness, Rocky Mountain National Park truly is a land of superlatives. Here at least 60 mountains exceed 12,000 feet, topping off at 14,259 feet on the football field-sized summit of Longs Peak. Names such as Cirrus, Chiefs Head, Isolation, Mummy, and Storm evoke the grandeur of this high landscape.

Although the great peaks comprise the essence of the park, the delicate alpine flowers, clear lakes, rushing mountain waters, and impressive forests appeal to all the senses. An array of wildlife - bighorn sheep, ptarmigan, coyote, elk - adds life to the landscape.

The wide variety of elevations and habitats create a choice of activities for visitors. From scenic drives and short strolls along a gentle trail to more ambitious daylong hikes to vertical mountain climbs, Rocky Mountain National Park offers many ways to experience nature in all its splendor.

Places to Picnic

• East Side
  • Beaver Meadows Visitor Center - 4 tables
  • Big Thompson/Kaley cottages - 2 tables
  • Copeland Lake
  • Endovalley - 32 tables
  • Hidden Valley - 4 tables in pavilion, scattered tables on hillside
  • Hollowell Park - 7 tables
  • Lawn Lake Trailhead - 3 tables
  • Lawn Lake Horse Ramp - 2 tables
  • Lily Lake - 2 tables
  • Lily Lake group picnic area - 12 tables
  • Longs Peak ranger station - 7 tables
  • Park & Ride
  • Prospect Canyon - 2 tables
  • Prospect Canyon south - 1 tables
  • Sprague Lake - 27 tables
  • Tuxedo Park - 2 tables + 5 or 6 by the stream
  • Upper Beaver Meadows - 10 tables
  • West Alluvial Fan - 8 tables
  • Wild Basin Trailhead - 8 tables
• West Side
  • Beaver Creek - 4 tables
  • Beaver Ponds - 6 tables
  • Bowen/Baker - 3 tables
  • Colorado River - 6 tables
  • Coyote Valley - 7 tables
  • Harbison Meadows - 4 tables
  • Holzwarth Historic Site - 3 tables
  • Kawuneeche Visitor Center - 6 tables
  • Lake Irene - 8 tables
  • Timber Lake Trailhead - Beaver Creek - 4 tables
  • Beaver Ponds - 6 tables
  • Bowen/Baker - 3 tables
  • Colorado River - 6 tables
  • Coyote Valley - 7 tables
  • Harbison Meadows - 4 tables
  • Holzwarth Historic Site - 3 tables
  • Kawuneeche Visitor Center - 6 tables
  • Lake Irene - 8 tables
  • Timber Lake Trailhead - 8 tables

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