Rocky Mountain National Park Is Administered Thunder Pass
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Within its boundaries, Rocky Mountain Nation- the park better through its interpretive pro- al Park includes 410 square miles of the Front grams, which are available from mid-June to Range of the Rockies in north-central Colorado. September 1. There are exhibits at the Alpine and Moraine Park Visitor Centers, self-guiding High mountains, alpine lakes, glacier-sculptured trails, wayside exhibits, conducted walks and valleys, rugged gorges, and vast areas of alpine hikes, evening campfire talks, and several pub- tundra are features of this park- one of the lications dealing with the history and natural most spectacular yet most easily accessible history of the area. An orientation movie is high-mountain areas in America. This is high shown at park headquarters near Estes Park. country, with elevations ranging from 8,000 Schedules of all activities are available at ranger feet to the 14,256-foot Longs Peak. stations and visitor centers. Trail Ridge Road, which reaches 12,183 feet Fishing is permitted in most of the streams and and stays above timberline for 11 miles, crosses lakes of the park, but you must have a Colorado the crest of the Front Range and the Continen- license. All of the lower streams and lakes, and tal Divide. A trip across this road in summer many of the lakes in higher altitudes, contain provides sweeping views of mountains, forests, one or more species of trout. "Catchable size" and open meadows. At nearly every point on hatchery fish are not stocked. Review fishing this and other park roads are open vistas- regulations at park headquarters or at a ran- ideal for sightseeing from your car. A short ger station before you go fishing. drive to Bear Lake takes you to the very base of the east face of the Front Range rising ab- Skiing and ice skating facilities are located at ruptly above the lake. Hidden Valley, 7 miles from the Fall River En- trance, 6 miles from the Beaver Meadows En- The roads at Rocky Mountain are not high- trance. Access roads to Hidden Valley from the speed highways; they are designed instead to east are kept open, but Trail Ridge Road is help you get the greatest enjoyment from the closed by snow from late October to May. park's scenic views. Speed limits and traffic laws are enforced. Please obey signs. Report Camping. Seven campgrounds-Moraine Park, all accidents and complaints to the nearest Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, Endovalley, Longs ranger station. Peak, Wild Basin, and Timber Creek-provide an enjoyable way to become acquainted with Remember, it is unlawful to feed, touch, tease, Rocky Mountain. Campsites, where your stay or molest any animal. Don't destroy, injure, de- must be limited to 14 days a year, cannot be face, remove, or disturb any public property, reserved, and campqrounds are often full early _ natural feature, or materials. Since Rocky in~the day. Housetrailers are permitted in most Mountain is a wildlife sanctuary, hunting is pro- campgrounds, but don't try to take one to Wild hibited. Any device designed to discharge mis- Basin or up Fall River Road; the roads are nar- siles in the air or under water and capable of in- row and the campsites small. There are no elec- juring or destroying animal life is not permitted. trical, water, or sewer connections in any of the campgrounds. WHAT TO DO Be sure you build your campfire only in desig- While sightseeing by car is popular at Rocky nated places and never near or on roots of Mountain, the person who ventures out on foot trees, dead wood, moss, dry leaves, forest mold, will see much more of what the park offers. or other vegetation. Don't leave campfires Many short hikes lead to scenic features. The unattended. Pour water on your fire and make Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge areas are good sure it is out. If you wish to build a campfire starting points for short hikes to the lakes. at a designated back-country campsite, you Easy strolls start from the Cub Lake and Fern must have a permit, which can be obtained at Lake trailheads. Back-country camping is avail- any ranger station. able at many spots along the 300 miles of trails. You may not take pets on trails or away from ACCOMMODATIONS established roads, but they are permitted if they are kept under physical control. Vehicles There are no overnight accommodations under are not allowed on trails or off the road. Government supervision inside the park. The few that are available are on private land. Rocky Mountain is especially rewarding during September and October, when aspen groves For information about facilities adjacent to the turn golden in a progression of color down the park, write to the chamber of commerce at ei- slopes. Winter in the Rockies, which normally ther Estes Park, Colo. 80517, or Grand Lake, lasts from late October to early May, is beauti- Colo. 80447. ful. A fresh snowfall transforms the landscape, and mountain peaks are more spectacular when HOW TO REACH ROCKY MOUNTAIN blanketed with snow. The nearest major rail, air, and busline termi- Interpretive programs. The National Park Ser- nals are at Denver, 65 miles from Estes Park, vice offers you the opportunity to understand and at Cheyenne, Wyo., 91 miles distant. In summer, the Colorado Transportation Co. One-way trail distances from nearest approach makes connections with transcontinental air- roads [Distance to nearest half mile] lines, railroads, and buslines at Denver and with From Bear Lake to Miles buslines and railroads at Greeley and Granby. In winter, it also provides transportation to the Nymph Lake 0.5 Hidden Valley Winter- use Area and shuttle- Dream Lake 1 buses between Lower and Upper Hidden Valley. Emerald Lake................................................ 2 You can obtain further information from this Lake Haiyaha 2 companyat 1805 Broadway, Denver,Colo.80202. Flattop Mountain 4.5 Grand Lake via North Inlet 16.5 IF YOU PLAN TO CLIMB Grand Lake via Big Meadows.................... 19 Bierstadt Lake 2 Mountain climbing. Over the years, Rocky Odessa Lake.................... 4 Fern Lake 5 Mountain has become increasingly popular for mountain climbing. Longs Peak is a favorite, From Glacier Gorge Junction to and there are several routes to its summit which Sky Pond 4.5 provide climbs of varying difficulty. Check at Loch Vale 2.5 park headquarters or at a ranger station for Mills Lake 2.5 information about climbing routes and moun- Boulderfield 8 taineering guide service. Black Lake 5 From Grand Lake to The spectacular high country of the park at- tracts both hikers and expert climbers. Many Shadow Mountain........................................ 4 accidents have occurred when inexperienced Cascade Falls 2.5 hikers have attempted rock climbing or cross- Lake Nokoni.................................................. 9 country routes without realizing the hazards Lake Nanita 9.5 involved. Adams Falls 0.5 Lake Verna 7 Solo climbing is not permitted. You must regis- Lone Pine Lake 5.5 ter at the chief ranger's office or at the nearest From Wild Basin Campground to ranger station if you are planning to Calypso Cascades.. 2 Ouzel Falls 3 1. Make an ascent involving use of tech- Ouzel Lake 5.5 nical climbing equipment (ropes, cara- Bluebird Lake 7 biners, pitons); flnc~ake 5 2. Hike or climb on those parts of Longs Pear Reservoir.... 7 Peak or Mount Meeker above 11,000 feet; Thunder Lake 7.5 3. Make ski or snowshoe trips away from Sandbeach Lake (from Copeland Lake) 4 main roads. From Horseshoe Park to Descriptions of climbing routes and informa- Lawn Lake 6.5 tion on mountaineering guide service are avail- Crystal Lake 7.5 able at park headquarters and ranger stations. Ypsilon Lake 5.5 You must obtain the approval of the superinten- Deer Mountain (from Deer Ridge) 3 dent before attempting to climb "The Diamond" From Fern Lake Trail Junction (M oraine Park)to on the east face of Longs Peak. The Pool........................................................ 2 Fern Lake...................................................... 4 Accidents in the mountains, even minor ones, Odessa Lake...... 5 may have serious or fatal consequences. Se- Cub Lake (from Moraine Park Road) 2.5 vere storms come up quickly, even in summer, From Longs Peak Campground to with attendant exposure to low temperatures, Eugenia Mine 1.5 rain, snow, sleet, and lightning. All hikers and Storm Pass 2.5 climbers should observe the following precau- Chasm Lake 5.5 tions: Never climb alone; register before and Boulderfield 6 after the climb; avoid steep snowfields; don't Longs Peak 8 overextend your physical ability; start early; Twin Sisters (from Colo. 7) 3.5 avoid open high ridges and peaks during light- ning; turn back in adverse weather; move cau- From Estes Park to tiously on steep or rocky areas. Children should Gem Lake (from Devils Gulch Road) 2 not run downhill. From Phantom Valley Parking Area to ADMINISTRATION Lulu City (ghost mining camp) 3 La Poudre Pass 7 Rocky Mountain National Park is administered Thunder Pass................................................ 7 by the National Park Service, U.S. Department Red Mountain 3 of the Interior. A superintendent, whose ad- dress is Box 1080, Estes Park, Colo. 80517, From Poudre Lake (near Milner Pass) to is in immediate charge. Specimen Mountain.. 3 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ,I I I \ • Stormy Peaks '.... 12,148 .•...•.., ~ .•..- --, -~"•..•.. _-- •..•-..-. ..•.•... ~(l ......•.•.•c~~~--.. • Hagues Peak \ La Poudre Pass \ ('J , I I I I \ / • Ypsilon Mountain I 13,514 Lulu Cityo' ( Mt. Chiquita ,-'I . ,, ,I "..•., I CLOSED IN WINTER " I , 9JCa// , River The Needles P • ~ TIMBER Baker CREEKA .Mountain 12,397 ~* Mt. Julian • Stones Peak 12,922 • .• • • to.. • Snowdrift Peak • 12.274 I Battle I Mountain l ....•.