Attractions in the Rocky Mountains

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 dives 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.

The road system of Rocky Mountain National Park offers visitors access to diverse ecosystems characterizing the higher regions of the central Rocky Mountains. The roads take visitors through lowland meadows and aspen groves, along swift-flowing rivers and up through subalpine forests to more than 12,000 feet in elevation. No other national park roads offer the dramatic experience of a long drive across alpine tundra region, and few offer such a wide variety of experiences.

The careful relationship of the park roads to the landscape results in a road system that generally harmonizes with the environment. Roadway alignments were chosen to highlight natural features, and scenic vistas and overlooks were provided to allow visitors to take in the magnificent terrain. The stone parapet walls and road-related structures, constructed in the National Park Service's distinctive rustic style of architecture, relate well to their natural surroundings and help evoke a distinctive experience. Not surprisingly, the park roads are the principal attraction for most of the nearly three million visitors who flock to Rocky Mountain National Park each year.

Fishing
Sport fishing is permitted in Rocky Mountain National Park, a protected area. Fishing activities are balanced with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic environments and life.

Fishing was popular with early settlers and visitors in the Rocky Mountains. In an attempt to improve the sport, many streams and lakes were stocked with non-native species of trout. Waters with no sport fish were also stocked. The National Park Service stocked non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout as late as 1969. The only trout native to the park are the greenback cutthroat and the Colorado River cutthroat.

These efforts to enhance recreational opportunities in National Park areas were reconsidered in the 1970's. Since 1975, native greenback cutthroat and Colorado River cutthroat trout are being restored to park waters and exotic or non-native fish are being removed.

Camping
Aspenglen Campground (8200 ft), located on US Route 34 just west of the Fall River Entrance Station has 54 sites. Opens at noon May 16, 2008; closes at noon September 23, 2008. No reservations taken. Camping fee $20/site/night. Recreational vehicle and trailer length limit is 30 feet.

Glacier Basin Campground (8500 ft), located on Bear Lake Road approximately six miles south of the Beaver Meadow Entrance Station has 150 sites. Opens at noon May 21, 2008; closes at noon September 9, 2008. Reservations recommended. Camping fee $20/site/night. Recreational vehicle and trailer length limit is 29 feet. To see campground photos, click here. To view a campground map (pdf), click here.

Glacier Basin Group Sites - Opens at noon May 21, 2008; closes at noon September 9, 2008. Reservations recommended. Camping fee $3/person/night. Tents only. Small sites fit 10 - 15 people, medium sites 16-25 people, large sites 26- 40 people. No limit on number of tents. No more than five vehicles per site.

Longs Peak Campground (9405 ft), located approximately nine miles south of the town of Estes Park on Route 7 has 26 sites. Open year round. No reservations taken. Tents only. Camping fee $20/site/night when water is on, approximately May 25-September 14, 2008; $14/site/night when water is off.

Biking
Summer
Bicycles are allowed on park roads only.
Be aware park roads have narrow or no shoulders, and often carry heavy traffic. To minimize conflicts with vehicles, plan your ride for the early morning hours.
Try to be off the road in late afternoon when thunderstorms and lightening create serious hazards.

Winter
Winter Roads open to bicycles:

• Upper Beaver Meadows Road
  
• Moraine Park Campground (closed loops)
  
• Endovalley Road
  
• Aspenglen Campground
  
• High Drive
  

• Abandoned Beaver Ponds - 6/6
  
• Alluvial Fan West - 8/0, vault toilet (new).
  
• Beaver Meadows Visitor Center - 4/0.
  
• Big Thompson/Kiley Cottages - 2/0.
  
• Endovalley - 30 tables with grills; 2 tables with no grills, 2 vault toilets
  
• Hidden Valley - 14/0
  
• Hollowell Park - 9/0, vault toilets, open all year.
  
• Lawn Lake Trailhead - 2/0, vault toilets (new).
  
• Lawn Lake Horse Ramp - 2/0.
  
• Lily Lake - Shore Trail open all year; 6/0, pit toilets
  
• Lily Lake - group picnic area - 12/0
  
• Longs Peak Ranger Station area - 7/0, vault toilet
  
• Prospect Canyon - 2/0.
  
• Prospect Canyon South - 1/0.
  
• Sprague Lake - all handicap accessible, 12/12; 5 group sites with tables, fire ring and grill; 1/0, summer flush toilets; winter vault toilets, open all year.
  
• Tuxedo Park - 8/0, open all year.
  
• Upper Beaver Meadows - Mid-way, 5/5, vault toilet.
  
• Wild Basin - tables along the road; at parking area, 8/0, vault toilets