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Rocky Mountain National Park Official Brochure

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Rocky Mountain National Park Official Brochure Rocky Mountain National Park National Park Service Rocky Mountain Colorado U.S. Department of the Interior 100th Anniversary 1915–2015 With g.’s western sidecool,also Fur Trapper Mountain Jim pocket gopher Nature’s Knife Edge To ascend Rocky Mountain National Park’s Trail Park your vehicle at the Alpine Visitor Center west side, in the Never Summer mountains, the R Ridge Road is to leave this world and enter and behold 360-degree views of astonishing Colorado River begins as a tiny stream fed by O another. It carries you, breathless with wonder peaks, lakes, snowfields, canyons, forests, and snowmelt. Downstream, it will provide water to C K and altitude, toward a fragile alpine realm, the meadows spread over 400 square miles. For a 40 million humans. Y tundra. Most animals hibernate or migrate dur- close look at the alpine ecosystem walk the M ing the harsh winters. No trees can live here. Tundra Communities Trail to the east. To the Thrust skyward by Earth’s forces between 40 The Rocky Mountains O west, the Rockies’ spine divides the continent and 70 million years ago, then sculpted by three form one of the world’s U longest ranges, stretch- N Despite the brief, six-week growing season, into two watersheds. One flows west to the glacial episodes, the Rockies are “new” in geo- ing almost unbroken T plants survive. Most conserve energy by minia- Pacific, the other east to the Atlantic. logic terms. In 2009 Rocky Mountain National from Alaska to below A the nation’s southern I Rocky Mountain turizing. Each July thousands of brilliant alpine Park, a small neighborhood within this vast border. The park N National Park preserves a small but S sunflowers, Rydbergia grandiflora (above), On the park’s drier east side, snow blows in mountain range, became one of the nation’s important neighbor- hood within this range. burst from the thin blanket of soil that covers from the wetter west, replenishing the few “newest” designated wildernesses. Nature has parts of the tundra. For decades these hardy remaining glaciers. All rest in cool, dark valley always ruled this wild, fantastic place. But as Above: Alpine sunflow- ers at the Continental plants have worked toward this moment. Many cirques, or bowl-shaped depressions. Higher human-triggered events outside park boundar- Divide. tundra flowers track the sun to maximize their summer temperatures since the 1990s have ies increasingly affect life within the park, how NPS / ANN SCHONLAU intake of light, required for photosynthesis. caused the glaciers to melt back. On the park’s will nature respond? What is our role? Nature’s Guideposts Travel through Ecosystems along Trail Ridge Road Montane Subalpine Pika Alpine below 9,000 feet 9,000–11,400 feet above 11,400 feet The montane ecosystem is the park’s Snow that falls in the alpine zone blows Extremely thin soil, strong ultraviolet gateway whether you enter from Grand down to the subalpine, creating a wet light, drying winds, and bitter cold define Lake, Estes Park, or Wild Basin. On warm, ecosystem with over 30 inches of precipi- life on the tundra. Many plants hug the south-facing slopes the ponderosa pines tation annually. Sharp-tipped, pungent ground in dense mats (avens, below will greet you with their sweet fragrance. Engelmann spruce and flat-needled fir right), preserve moisture with waxen leaf The open, sunlight-dappled forest of tall trees prevail, reaching 100 feet. The un- surfaces, or trap warmth against stems (up to 150 feet) trees feeds and shelters derstory supports shrubs like blueberry, and leaves with hairs. the tassel-eared Abert’s squirrel. wax currant, huckleberry, and Wood’s rose. Wildflowers like arnica, fairy slipper, Animals also must adapt or die. Marmots Chokecherry, currant, and serviceberry twinflower, and purple elephant’s head store fat, then draw upon their reserves as bushes sustain many animals, insects, and colonize open meadows. they hibernate. Bighorn sheep graze here birds. Beavers and otters work and play in in summer, but migrate in fall, like many the montane’s streams. Elk, one of the On the park’s southern edge, the water other species in the park, to lower eleva- park’s larger mammals, gather here to rut ouzel, or American dipper, defies fast-run- tions. The resilient white-tailed ptarmigan in fall. They eat the aspen trees’ soft inner ning streams to dive for food. Downy and is an exception. This bird stays all winter bark and shoots, and leave a calling card hairy woodpeckers, bold Steller’s jay, and in the alpine zone, warmed by feathered of abraded aspen trunks. On cooler, the yellow-rumped warbler share the eyelids, nostrils, legs, and feet. north-facing slopes, forests are dense woods. Look for the pocket gopher and ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT: © SHATTIL / ROZINSKI with Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine. golden-mantled ground squirrel. PHOTOGRAPHY Ptarmigan Montane Subalpine Alpine Above: Aspen (Popu- Above: Elk, or wapiti, Above: Hikers atop lous tremuloides) and graze amid Engelmann Ypsilon Mountain. lodgepole pine (Pinus spruce (Picea engel- Left: Five-petaled avens contorta). Left: Com- mannii). Left: The park (Guem rosii ssp turbi- mon sulphur butterfly is home to over 350 nata) hug the tundra. (Colias philodice) polli- bighorn sheep, which Far left: Yellow-bellied nates a purple aster were nearly extinct marmot. (Erigeron simplex). here in the 1950s. ABOVE AND FAR LEFT: © JACOB W. FRANK; LEFT: © SHATTIL / ROZINSKI ABOVE: © ERIC STENSLAND ABOVE: NPS / JT-FINEART PHOTOGRAPHY LEFT: © JACOB W. FRANK LEFT: © JACOB W. FRANK Legacy of Stewardship 1915 2015 Native Americans lived on Influential Estes Park resident Mary King In 1873 a fur trapper called Mountain Jim Over one million people now pour into As Rocky Mountain Na- and cared for this land Sherman (1862–1935) also campaigned helped Isabella Bird climb Longs Peak. He the park in a six-week period each sum- tional Park moves into for centuries. As human hard to establish the park. She promoted was one among many who traveled to mer. Nearby urban areas affect how the its second century it numbers and uses grew, outdoor education, citing better health the Rocky Mountains in search of natural park is managed. Decades of fire suppres- will continue to people recognized that and an increased sense of civic duty as beauty or bounty. sion created dense undergrowth, which preserve natural preservation was need- benefits. Her ideas are cornerstones of only increased the threat to surrounding systems and cul- ed. Many passionate ad- National Park Service programs today. Native Americans preceded all others in communities and caused changes in the tural stories for vocates for a park emerged, this wild place. Tools, pottery, and rock forest composition. Over 35 invasive future generations. including naturalist and guide Enos Mills Long before anyone envisioned a Rocky piles whisper of human presence over plant species now mingle with natives. What role can you (1870–1922). He led the push for a wilder- Mountain National Park, Isabella Bird 10,000 years ago, when Paleo-Indians sea- play in the park’s next ness park. Mining, grazing, and logging (1831–1904) published A Lady’s Life in the sonally hunted and possibly traded here. To better understand these and other one hundred years? interests lobbied for a national forest Rocky Mountains. Her book helped make Later, Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho bands challenges, the park has set aside areas where commercial activities could contin- others aware of the region’s rugged came to these mountains. They probably for science and research. It is also home ue. In 1915 Congress dedicated Rocky beauty and ”unprofaned freshness” and wore the path now known as Trail Ridge to the Continental Divide Learning Cen- Mountain National Park. paved the way for preservation. Road. They left few other traces. ter, where education and research pro- Clockwise from upper left: Dedication, September grams focus on park resources. 4, 1915; Mary King Sherman; Volunteer assists a visitor; Learning to snowshoe. CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: PHOTO BY HARRY MELLON RHOADS, COURTESY DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY; ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ARCHIVES; NPS / PETER BIDDLE; NPS / ANN SCHONLAU Roaming Rocky Mountain National Park Park Information Check your free park many natural hazards. • While driving, out prior permission. • All vehicles, includ- More Information Preserving Wilderness news paper for current information about stay alert for wildlife crossing the roads. ing bicycles, must stay on roads or in park- Rocky Mountain National Park visitor centers, safety and high country ing areas. Stopping or parking on roads is 1000 Hwy. 36 In 2009 Congress protected survival, ranger-led programs, services, Pets Pets are prohibited in all areas not prohibited. • Overnight parking requires a Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 most of Rocky Mountain National Park as wilderness hiking trails, wildlife, shuttle buses, and accessible by motor vehicle, including permit. • Do not feed, approach, or try to 970-586-1206; TTY 970-586-1319 under the 1964 Wilderness more. Find lodging and visitor services at trails and meadows. Do not leave pets touch any wild animal. • Leave wildflow- www.nps.gov/romo Act. Wilderness is a gift to Estes Park and Grand Lake. unattended in vehicles. Where allowed, ers and other plants for others to enjoy. people today and to future pets must be kept on a six-foot leash. • Open alcoholic beverage containers in For information call 970-586-1206 generations. The designa- Safety Avoid lightning. Begin your hike vehicles on park roads are illegal. • Mari- tion protects forever the early in the day. Get below treeline or to a Hunting, Fishing, and Firearms Hunting juana use is prohibited in the park. For Trail Ridge Road status call land’s wild character, natu- shelter by afternoon, when thunderstorms is prohibited in the park.
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