Rocky Mountain National Park News U.S
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National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of Rocky Mountain National Park Summer - 2013 July 19 - September 2 2nd Edition Bear Lake Road Reconstruction continues. Expect up to two, 20 minute delays in each direction between Moraine NPS/Ann Schonlau Park Visitor Center and the Park & Ride. Welcome to Your Park! Visitor Centers Rocky Mountain National Park is a special place in the hearts of many people. These mountains are home to flowers, forests and wildlife. For East of the Divide – Estes Park Area generations, this place has nourished the human spirit and connected us to the natural world. We invite you to explore your park, make your own Alpine Visitor Center memories, and discover what Rocky means to you. Enjoy it, protect it Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (weather permitting) Features extraordinary views of alpine tundra, displays, information, and be safe out there. bookstore, adjacent gift shop, cafe, and coffee bar. Call (970) 586-1222 for The Staff of Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road conditions. Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Looking for Fun? Open daily 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Features spectacular free park movie, Rocky Mountain National Park has something for everyone! Make information, bookstore, large park orientation your trip memorable with these tips: map, and backcountry permits in an adjacent building. Be inspired – How many times can you say, “Wow!” Find out by driving Fall River Visitor Center Alpine Visitor Center up Trail Ridge Road for spectacular views. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Picnic in the park – Do lunch with a view. Consult your park map for Features life-size wildlife displays, a children’s discovery room, picnic areas that offer do-it-yourself dining in the great outdoors. information, and a bookstore. Join a ranger – Rangers can share unusual insights about the park and Sheep Lakes Information Station nature. Check out the ranger-led activities listed in the newspaper, Open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. though August 18. attend an evening program or chat with a ranger at a visitor center. Horseshoe Park is a good place to look for wildlife, including bighorn “Like” a lake – Take an easy stroll around Lily Lake, Sprague Lake or sheep and elk. Information and ranger programs are available. Bear Lake. Mornings and evenings are magical. West of the Divide – Grand Lake Area Take in the night – Experience the park in the dark when nights skies are filled with diamond-like stars, and mountains are illuminated Kawuneeche Visitor Center Open daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Features free movies, exhibits on wonders of by moonlight. the park, information, a bookstore, and backcountry permits. Get connected – Disconnect to reconnect with nature, yourself and your loved ones. Rocky is full of opportunities to connect with the Moraine Park Visitor Center natural world in a genuine way. Closed for the season. Volunteers are making a difference at Rocky! This summer, hundreds of people from around the country are coming volunteers who collectively served 102,000 hours, making it one of the to Rocky Mountain National Park to volunteer. Our volunteer program largest volunteer programs in the country. This year, we are anticipating is made up of people of all ages and abilities serving in a variety of similar numbers. Our volunteers serve the park through summer-long rolls throughout the park. During your visit to Rocky, you might see a internships, as locals wanting to give back, as retirees looking for new volunteer stationed at a visitor center, at one of the trailheads, along adventure or through groups such as the roads cleaning debris, building trails, or out and about doing scouts and conservation organizations. research. They come to learn, give back and be a part of the action. Volunteers serve anywhere from a Our volunteers can be identified by their couple of days per month to five days brown pants, tan shirts and big smiles. per week. If you see a volunteer in the park during your visit, be sure to say “thanks!” In 2012, Rocky Mountain had nearly 1,700 If you are interested in learning about how you can get involved in your park, please check out our website: www.nps.gov/romo/ supportyourpark/volunteer.htm, or call the Volunteer Office: 970- 586-1330. If you are interested in learning about other volunteer opportunities in other national parks or in your home area, please visit www.volunteer.gov. NPS Photo/Andy Nelson Important Information Visitor Services (970) 627-3215 Glacier Creek (970) 586-3244 Gifts and Food Horseback Riding • National Park Gateway Stables • Meeker Park Stables • Trail Ridge Store Rocky Mountain Gateway near the Fall Meeker Park (303) 747-2266 • Wild Basin Livery Gifts, cafe, and coffee bar. River Entrance on U.S. 34 • Jackson Stables Allenspark (303) 747-2222 (970) 586-1839 (970) 586-5269 YMCA of the Rockies Livery • Sombrero Ranch (970) 586-3341 Mountaineering Estes Park: 1895 Big Thompson Ave. • CowPoke Corner Corral Stables YMCA Road on Highway 66 at Glacier • Beaver Mountain Livery at ( 970) 586-4577 - open year-round. • Colorado Mountain School Lodge (970) 586-5890 Aspen Lodge Resort & Spa Allenspark: 211 Main St. Rock Climbing 6120 Hwy 7 (970) 577-3448 Estes Park, (800) 836-4008 (303) 747-2551 • Hi Country Stables In Rocky Mountain National Park: Grand Lake: 304 W. Portal Rd. Pets and Service Animals Picnicking Moraine Park (970) 586-2327 (970) 627-1083 Pets are allowed in the park but Picnic areas are located throughout • Winding River Resort Firearms only in picnic areas, Rocky Mountain National Park. campgrounds and Grand Lake: 1447 County Rd. 491, A federal law allows people who Check the park map for along roadsides. Pets legally possess firearms under specific locations. are never allowed on Bicycles in the Park federal, Colorado, and local laws, to trails or in meadow Bicycling is permitted on public possess firearms in Rocky Mountain Food Storage roads, both paved areas. Pets must be on National Park. It is the visitor’s Do not attract wildlife, including and dirt, but not on leashes no longer than 6 feet when responsibility to understand and black bears, to your campsite. Keep a trails. There are no outside vehicles. For the safety of comply with all applicable state and clean camp! Never leave food items bike paths, and your pet and for the protection of federal firearms laws. unsecured or unattended. many roads are park wildlife and other visitors, • Hunting, recreational shooting, Improperly stored or unattended narrow with little or no shoulders. pets and their food should not be and target practice are not allowed in food items will result in a violation Please ride cautiously. left unattended. You may not leave Rocky Mountain National Park. notice. “Food items” include food, your pet unattended in vehicles if it • Federal law prohibits firearms in drinks, toiletries, cosmetics, pet food During the Bear Lake Road creates a danger to the animal or if it certain facilities in this park; those and bowls, and odoriferous reconstruction project, bicycle use is becomes a public nuisance. Pets may buildings are posted with signs at attractants. Garbage, including strongly discouraged on Bear Lake not be left tied to vehicles, trees or public entrances. empty cans, food wrappers, etc., Road due to rough conditions and other objects. • If you have questions, please must be disposed of in trash or major delays. Bicycles in National A Pet Brochure is available at visitor contact the Park Information Office recycling receptacles. centers and lists all regulations. Park Service areas must ride single at (970) 586-1206. file. There are no bicycle racks on See page 8 for food storage shuttle buses. Service animals that have been Fishing individually trained to perform while camping. Obtain specific park regulations at specific tasks for the benefit of Campfires visitor centers or park persons with disabilities are allowed Take Only Pictures Campfires are permitted in entrance stations. in the park. A service animal that is Regulations prohibit disturbing and campgrounds and To fish in Rocky allowed in park facilities, trails, etc., taking any natural features picnic areas where Mountain National must be doing so in the service of a including pinecones, rocks, antlers, fire grates are Park, you must have disabled person. artifacts, soil, rocks, or vegetation provided. Collecting a valid Colorado state Under the Americans with in the park. The use of metal vegetation, living or fishing license. Disabilities Act (ADA), emotional detectors within the park is dead, is prohibited. support (“therapy animals”) are not not allowed. Firewood is for sale in summer at all Lost and Found service animals but are considered park campgrounds. Campfires can be Please turn found items in at any pets. They may not access trails, park Viewing Wildlife prohibited during periods of high park visitor center. To inquire about buildings or other non-motorized When viewing any wildlife, please: fire danger. lost items, call the Backcountry areas. Service dogs-in-training are • Obey wildlife closure Office at (970) 586-1242. not service animals under ADA, but areas and “no stopping” are considered pets. traffic zones. • Use parking areas Entrance Fees along the road. Automobile Entrance Fee - Single- America the Beautiful – National America the Beautiful Military Pass - If not available, pull your family vehicle entrance fee is valid Parks and Federal Recreational Free unlimited entry to federal vehicle completely off the road and for seven consecutive days, including Lands Annual Pass - Available to recreation sites (including National do not park on vegetation. date of purchase. $20 everyone which provides access to, Parks) for active duty military • Approaching animals may cause and use of, federal recreation sites personnel and dependents with them stress, leading to disease or Rocky Mountain National Park that charge an entrance or standard required proper identification (CAC illness.