Rocky Mountain National Park: Unending galore of vistas
Posted in North America | March 29, 2010 | Comment NowClimb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
- John Muir
Rocky Mountain National Park, is the galore of panoramic views and unending galore of vistas. In the hues of cerulean blue permanently attached are the craggy peaks which are extending serrated, protrusions from the down the earth. Down below, beautiful meadows with swaying wild flowers, dotted and spread throughout like pattern of intricate quill. Deep canyons are plunging through lush, foliage and verdant green forests. As rivers stream down and gushes through mountainside and take breathe for a while in a pool and then moves on for the journey to reach beloved sea.
Rocky Mountain National Park, a wilderness spectacle and its well under protection for future generations to savor these ultimate creations of nature. Rocky Mountain National Park is to be experienced, for it has maintained and kept up its natural status as possible with commercial activities is extremely limited inside the park’s boundaries, yet the park is accessible to all for take pleasure in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Its like a price less jewel, exploring Rocky Mountain National Park many facets, early dawn with alpenglow on its peak, catching a glimpse of its wary wildlife hiding in brush, gleaming light of sun in stream, glorious mountain sunsets, mystique of looking at clouds, the solitude of trails that are less traveled and splendor of stars lighted in millions, in the music of birdsongs of twerps and chirpings on the branches and in enigmatic night when there is wild music from bugling elks and howling coyotes.
Rocky Mountain National Park is a multi faced, coz of ancient upheavals, glacial scouring and volcanic eruptions carved the park and set amongst Colorado State Forest and Roosevelt and Arapaho National Forests.
Rocky Mountain National Park:
altitude from 7,500 to 14,259 feet.
Parks has five visitor centers, with park headquarters, Beaver Meadows a Visitor Center: a National Historic Landmark.
The Continental Divide:
splitting the Park into east and west sides giving a different character. The parks’ east side tends to be drier and has cirques and profoundly glaciated peaks. The parks’ west side is wetter and lush, foliage with dominating deep forests.
Location:
- North-central region of the U.S. state of Colorado
- Boulder, Colorado in the Rockies
- Includes the Continental Divide
- Headwaters of the Colorado River
By road:
- U.S. Highway 34,
- U.S. Highway 36,
- State Highway 7
Rocky Mountain National Park Geology:
- Mountain views
- Variety of wildlife
- Varied climates and environments: wooded forests
- Mountain tundra
- montane forests
- Grassland
- The ponderosa pine
- Douglas fir trees
- Subalpine forest. Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir trees
- Alpine tundra
- Lush riparian wetlands
- Arctic Circle ecologically
Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Trails:
359 miles (578 km) - Lakes:
150
- Streams:
450 miles (720 km) - Named higher peaks:
60 12,000 feet (3,700 m), - Highest point of the park:
Longs Peak-14,259 feet above sea level.
Mammals:
- Chipmunks and Squirrels
- Coyote
- Snowshoe Hare
- Marmot
- Pika
- Elk
- Bear
Birds:
- Mallard Duck
- Canada Goose
- Grouse
- Clark’s Nutcracker
- Ptarmigan
- Raven
- Magpie
Wildflowers:
- Bluebells
- Purple Fringe
- Blue Columbine
- Golden Banner
- Alpine Forget-Me-Not
- Indian Paintbrush
- Marsh Marigold
- Moss Campion
- Dwarf Mountain-Laurel
- Parry Primrose
- Spring Flowers
- Wild Rose
- Sunflowers
- Western Wallflower
- Horsetail Fern
- Skullcap
- Wild Iris
- Alpine Avens
- Wild Strawberry
- Nelson Larkspur
- Mouse-ear Chickweed
- Bistort
- Silver Lupine
- Wild Geranium
- Colorado Loco
- Elephant Head
- Chokecherry
Prime elk viewing areas:
Rocky Mountain National Park in the east side
- Moraine Park
- Horseshoe Park
- Upper Beaver Meadows
The West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Harbison Meadow
- Holzwarth Meadow
- Throughout the Kawuneeche Valley
In Estes Park
- 18-hole golf course
- 9-hole golf course
Best Hikes:
- The Pool:
1.6 miles, flat, an easy hike with wildflowers. - Mills Lake:
2.4 miles, moderate elevation, good family hike, with beautiful lake, scenic views of Longs Peak and peaks of Glacier Gorge. - The Loch:
3 miles, moderate elevation, a beautiful alpine lake, falls and high cliffs with glaciers. - Chasm Lake:
4.2 miles and moderately steep. At the base of Longs Peak in east, the most vivid setting in the Park. - McHenrys Peak:
8 miles, 4,000 feet elevation, 3rd-class climbing and for experienced hiker.
Beauty and Nature:
- Cliffs of Pagoda
- Longs Peak at Sunset
- Cascade,
- Rocks and Water at Chasm Lake
Cycling:
- Down from Bear Lake
- “Down” to Boulder
- Estes Park to Loveland
- Meeker Park to Estes Park
- Over Trail Ridge Road
- Behind Twin Sisters to Estes Park
Aspen Gold Rush:
Aspen which starts turning during late August at park’s higher elevations and its so beautiful to see the golden leaves working their way down and reaching to lower elevations by October. The peak season of gold rush in the Rocky Region is usually during the late September. Aspen Gold is affected by elevation and daylight and this sets the onset of the color season. Also affecting are snow, rain, wind and cold which have an effect on the intensity of color.
Favorite drives for fall color:
- Bear Lake Road
- The Peak to Peak National Scenic Byway,
- The Cache la Poudre National Scenic Byway
- The Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway
Scenic Drives:
- Bear Lake Road
- Cache la Poudre Scenic Byway
- Colorado River Headwaters National Scenic Byway
- Glen Haven – Drake Scenic Drive
- Mount Evans Scenic Drive
- Old Fall River Road
- Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
- Trail Ridge Road
Rocky Mountain National Park activities:
- Park drive over the famous Trail Ridge Road, and Fall River Road and Bear Lake Road
- Hikeand backpack: network of 349 miles (562 km) of trail, dozens of selected backcountry camp sites.
Trails-easy to strenuous. - Horseback riding and llamas riding
- Rock climbing, peaks have technical ice and rock routes to long multi-pitch climbs.
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Telemark skiing
- Fishing is found in the many lakes and streams in the park.
- Camping is allowed at several designated campgrounds.
RV resorts and campgrounds:
- Marys Lake Campground
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Resort
- Seven Pines Campground
- Estes Park KOA
- National Park Resort Camping & Cabins
- Elk Creek Campground & RV Resort
- Paradise On The River
- Manor RV Park and Motel
- Elk Meadow Lodge and RV Resort
Rocky Mountain National Park, should be visited once in your life to experience the ultimate pleasure of wild and west type of life and which will leave you with a wanderlust for wildlife and nature.
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