Rocky Mountain U.S

National Park Service Rocky Mountain U.S. Department of the Interior National Park / Colorado

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

Set in the Southern Rockies, Rocky The park is home to 77 named peaks Mountain National Park could be called above 12,000 feet. Longs Peak, at 14,259 “the top of the world.” Here treeline and feet, is the northernmost “fourteener” tundra—the miniaturized alpine world— in the 2,700-mile-long Rocky Mountain are accessible to all along the park’s chain stretching from Mexico to Alaska. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous Great earth forces thrusted the Rockies paved highway in the United States. It skyward 70 million years ago, but tops out at 12,183 feet above sea level much of the exposed granite rock was not far from the Alpine Visitor Center. formed more than1.3 billion years ago!

At the Tundra Communities Trail east Several major glacial episodes sculpted of the Alpine Visitor Center, you can the scenery that inspired citizens walk in an alpine realm that hikers to persuade Congress to make this elsewhere might labor uphill thousands a national park in 1915, one year of feet to experience. Nearly one before Congress created the National third of the park is above treeline— Park Service (NPS). For over 30 years, approximately 11,400 feet of elevation— most of the park was managed as the limit above which conditions wilderness, and in 2009, 95 percent are too harsh for trees to grow. of Rocky Mountain National Park was ofﬁcially designated as wilderness. Ecosystems of the Rockies

BIGHORN SHEEP RAM Alpine: Above 11,400 feet Alpine tundra occurs above treeline Engelmann spruce and Subalpine where the climate is extremely harsh. fir dominate the landscape. But Fierce drying winds, bitter cold, abundant moisture produces a rich intense ultraviolet light, thin soil, understory of Broom huckleberry and a brief growing season let only and Juniper shrubs, as well as many specialized plants and animals thrive. colorful wildflowers like Arnica, Fairy slipper, Twinflower, and Senecio. Alpine plants are tiny, growing close to the ground. Many have waxy leaf Limber pines thrive in wind blown areas surfaces to resist moisture loss, or and often have a twisted growth habit. dense, tiny hairs to trap warmth Winds can also stop growth on the against stems and leaves. Plants just windward side of spruce and fir trees, inches tall may grow taproots 6 feet creating flag or banner trees. At treeline, long to get moisture and anchor them low-growing trees called krummholz against the wind. Alpine winters are (German for “crooked wood”) grow long—for nearly eight months, average more horizontally than vertically, and temperatures do not rise above freezing. some may be hundreds of years old.

Mammals and birds survive by Pine martens, Long-tailed weasels, migrating, hibernating, or staying put. Chickarees (pine squirrels), and Snowshoe hares frequent the The White-tailed ptarmigan, a subalpine forests. Birds like the ground dwelling, grouse-like bird, Hermit thrush, Ruby-crowned kinglet is well-adapted for staying put. and Pine grosbeak are more often Its large, dense, feather-covered heard than seen in the dense cover. body retains heat well. Ptarmigan can even gain weight in winter by Montane: below 9,000 feet eating nutrient rich willow buds. As you enter the park, you are entering Yellow-bellied marmots, one of the the montane ecosystem—a land of largest members of the squirrel family, pine forests and beautiful mountain escape winter by piling on fat in meadows. Open stands of Ponderosa summer, nearly doubling their size, then pine dominate the drier south-facing hibernating seven to eight months. slopes of the montane. Mature trees They survive by greatly slowing their can be 150 feet tall and 400 years metabolism and heartbeat, and by old. As the ponderosa ages, its bark lowering their body temperature to 40ºF. changes from gray-brown to cinnamon- red and often gives off a sweet Most other birds and mammals migrate fragrance when warmed by the sun. when shorter, cooler days arrive. American pipits ﬂy to Central America, Many grasses, shrubs, and ﬂowering while other tundra dwellers like elk and plants thrive in the montane. coyotes move down into lower valleys. Chokecherry and wax currant bushes provide food and shelter for many Subalpine: 9,000–11,400 feet insects, birds, and other animals, The subalpine ecosystem lies including Mountain bluebirds, bears, between 9,000 and 11,400 feet and tassel-eared Abert’s squirrels, coyotes, is characterized by long, cold winters, Red-tailed hawks, and deer and elk. short, cool summers, and high annual precipitation—30 inches or more. It is the highest, windiest, and snowiest forest. Rocky Mountain National Park Map Legend Point of Interest Historical Site Park boundary Continental Divide Emergency Self-Guided Telephone Nature Trail Park Entrance Wayside Ranger Station Campground Wheelchair- River / Lake Unpaved Road Paved Road Picnic area Restrooms Accessible

d a o R Alpine h c Visitor Center l Fall River u G

s Visitor Center l i Site of O v l e Lulu City d F D 34 all Fall River River Beaver Meadows Roa Entrance Tr d Visitor Center a il R Station idg Sheep e

R Lakes o ad Timber Creek 34 Aspenglen 34

Holzwarth Historic Site 36 Moraine Park Beaver ESTES 36 PARK Meadows Moraine Park Entrance Coyote Valley Trailhead Discovery Center Station

d a 66 R o Bear Lake Lake Glacier Basin Trailhead Sprague Lake Trailhead 34 Lily Lake

C Longs Peak Grand Lake o n (tents only) Entrance Station tine nta l Kawuneeche D iv i Visitor Center d Longs Peak e 7 14,259 ft Shadow 4,346 m Meeker Park Mountain Grand Lake Lake Wild Basin Wild Basin Entrance Station Trailhead (no water)

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34 N 0 2 3 Kilometers Lake Granby All visitor centers are accessible including restrooms. 0 2 3 Miles Rocky Mountain National Park Map Legend Point of Interest Historical Site Park boundary Continental Divide Emergency Self-Guided Telephone Nature Trail Park Entrance Wayside Ranger Station Campground Wheelchair- River / Lake Unpaved Road Paved Road Picnic area Restrooms Accessible

d a o R Alpine h c Visitor Center l Fall River u G

s Visitor Center l i Site of O v l e Lulu City d F D 34 all Fall River River Beaver Meadows Roa Entrance Tr d Visitor Center a il R Station idg Sheep e

R Lakes o ad Timber Creek 34 Aspenglen 34

Holzwarth Historic Site 36 Moraine Park Beaver ESTES 36 PARK Meadows Moraine Park Entrance Coyote Valley Trailhead Discovery Center Station

d a 66 R o Bear Lake Lake Glacier Basin Trailhead Sprague Lake Trailhead 34 Lily Lake

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34 N 0 2 3 Kilometers Lake Granby All visitor centers are accessible including restrooms. 0 2 3 Miles NEVER SUMMER MOUNTAIN Mountain People FROM KAWUNEECHE VALLEY

Mountain Ute and Arapaho Denver, Boulder, and Golden. Mining Following retreating glaciers 10,000 didn’t pay much here, but people years ago, humans ﬁrst began living discovered the areas beauty. Gold- intermittently in these mountains. By seeker Joel Estes found the valley now 6,000 years ago the Ute, or Mountain named for him. In 1860, he built cabins People, lived in bands scattered for ranching, but scenery soon outpaced throughout Colorado and Utah. commodities in value and tourism grew. They followed game and traveled Protectors over set seasonal routes collecting plants. Other groups, including the Tourism continued growing in Estes Cheyenne and Arapaho, lived primarily Park and Grand Lake as word of the on the plains, hunting buffalo, with surrounding mountains beauty spread. occasional mountain excursions. A forest preserve was created, but many conservationists feared the European Americans Arrive surrounding mountains would be Early 1800s European American fur exploited. Through the efforts of trappers and traders sought beaver Enos Mills, F.O. Stanley, James Grafton throughout the Rockies until pelt prices Rogers, Joe Mills, and other Colorado fell in the 1840s. The 1859 Colorado citizens, Congress established Rocky gold rush created the boom towns of Mountain National Park in 1915. Roaming the Rockies ELK GRAZING

Park Information Hunting and Fishing Check your free park newspaper, check Hunting is prohibited in the park. at a park visitor center, or call the park Contact the park for regulations on Information Office, 970-586-1206 for the possession of weapons, including more for important information about firearms. Fishing requires a Colorado visitor centers, ranger-led programs, fishing license. Abide by park safety, wildlife, shuttle buses, and more. regulations; details on our website, at Nearby towns of Estes Park and Grand visitor centers, or entrance stations. Lake offer accommodations and services. Regulations Accessibility Camp only in designated campgrounds. We strive to make our facilities, services, All backcountry camping requires a and programs accessible to all. For permit. Leaving property unattended information go to a visitor center, ask for over 24 hours without prior a ranger, call, or check our website. permission is prohibited. Vehicles, including bicycles, must stay on Pets roads or in parking areas. Stopping Pets are prohibited in all park areas not or parking on roads is prohibited. accessible by motor vehicles, including Overnight parking requires a permit. trails and meadows. Pets are allowed along established roads, in parking areas, Safety and within established campgrounds Altitude sickness is common among park and picnic areas. Pets may not be left visitors. Consult your doctor if you have in vehicles if it endangers the pet or a respiratory or heart condition. Natural becomes a public nuisance. Where hazards in the park include swift water, allowed, pets must be kept on a six- waterfalls, lightning, sudden weather foot leash. Service animals are welcome changes, falling trees, hypothermia, and anywhere foot travel is permitted. giardiasis from drinking untreated water. Wilderness Ninety-five percent of the park is protected under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Road corridors and adjacent visitor use areas are excluded. TRAIL RIDGE ROAD

For More Information For Trail Ridge Road status Rocky Mountain National Park call 970-586-1222.

1000 U.S. Highway 36 Rocky Mountain National Park is one Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 of over 400 parks in the National Park 970-586-1206 System. To learn more about national 970-586-1319 TTY parks and programs in America’s www.nps.gov/romo communities, visit www.nps.gov

For information call 970-586-1206