HIQH COUNTRY HEADLINES Planning Your Trip

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

HIQH COUNTRY HEADLINES Planning Your Trip HIQH COUNTRY HEADLINES ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK WINTER SUPPLEMENT Vol .1, No. 1 February 14 -June 12,J992 EMERGENCY INFORMATION National Park Service rangers are here to provide assistance if an emergency occurs. In case of fire, medical or law enforcement emergency call: ESTES PARK ParkHqtrs. 911 or (303) 586-2371 GRAND LAKE Hqtrs. 911 or (303) 627-3471 EMERGENCY PHONES are located throughout the park at McGraw Ranch, Lawn Lake Trailhead, Chasm Falls and Willow r- Park (along old Fall River x Road). Deer Ridge Junction c^ and Fall River Pass (along c Trail Ridge Road). Bear _o. <o Lake parking lot, Longs X -a Peak Ranger Station, Wild > Basin Ranger Station, and a Never Summer Ranch. © EMERGENCY MESSAGES FROM HOME Emergency messages may be Planning Your Trip- What to See and Do efficiently delivered to a camper if the caller is able to provide: Rocky Mountain National Park is filled Wildlife watchers may see some ot offer outstanding views. Rocky's wildlife in only a few hours. Those - person's name with opportunities for adventure, explora­ tion, solitude and reflection. Spend sev­ who wish to spend a day or several days Wildlife Watching - campground name & site will see abundant signs of wildlife by look­ Many small mammals come out of no. eral hours, a day, or many days collecting memories from this special place. ing for trails and tracks in the snow. hibernation as springtime nears. Please - vehicle description & don't feed any park animals. Although license plate no. Time is a treasured commodity. To they beg for handouts, feeding them only make the best use of your interests and Hiking, Snowshoeing and Skiing Please provide this informa­ There are many opportunities for hiking reinforces a bad habit. tion to anyone who might available time, try a few of the following suggestions. during winter on the east side of the park. Springtime in the Rockies is the time need to get an emergency Trails to The Pool, Upper Beaver Mead­ when young are born. Bighorn sheep give message to you. Winter ows, Gem Lake, Chasm Falls, and Deer birth to lambs on high rocky cliffs that pro­ Winter in Rocky Mountain National Mountain offer easy to moderate hikes. tect them from predators. When lambs are GENERAL PARK Time needed ranges from two hours to all several days old they scamper down the INFORMATION Park offers many magical opportunities. This is the season to enjoy the sparkling day. Because conditions are highly varia­ mountains with their mothers (ewes). GRAND LAKE ble in the winter, check with park SHEEP ENCOUNTERS, a ranger-led (303) 627-3471 snow covered peaks, watch wildlife, ski, snowshoe or hike. rangers at Visitor Center Headquarters activity begins in early May. For more ESTES PARK for local snow conditions, weather fore­ details see page three - Ranger-led Activi­ (303) 586-2371 Scenic Wonders cast and current avalanche hazards ties. WRITE: Superintendent, Magnificent alpine scenery, including before each outing. Ranger-led Rocky Mountain National Elk begin calving in early May. Occa­ 14,255 foot Longs Peak, the Contintental snowshoe hikes are offered Saturdays and sionally scrawny, still wet calves are seen Park, Estes Park. CO 80517 Divide, and Never Summer Mountains, Sundays at Hidden Valley, snow permit­ TTY-TDD - Telecommunica­ soon after they have been born. Do not provide spectacular views for photography ting. For more details see page three — approach the motfier and calf, but observe tion Device for the Deaf and sight-seeing. Even a few minutes of Ranger-led Activities. (303) 586-8506 Weekdays from a distance of no less than 25 yards. mountain watching can be very satisfying. Many trails are available to snowshoers Horseshoe Park and Moraine Park are but even better are several days spent VISITOR CENTER and skiers with abilities from novice to good places for elk watching. exploring Rocky Mountain National Park's expert. Half-day, all-day, or several-day SCHEDULE THROUGH scenic wonders. In early summer, elk and bighorn sheep MEMORIAL DAY trips may be planned. Detailed descrip­ tions of ski and snowshoe trails are avail­ climb to higher elevations and may be WEEKEND Wildlife Watching able at visitor centers. Always notify a seen from Trail Ridge Road or Alpine Visi­ Visitor Center Headquarters, Many animals are busy feeding and friend of your trip plans before each out­ tor Center. Estes Park, CO: 8 a.m.-5 keeping energy levels up to survive the ing. A non-fee permit is required for Look for signs left by animals. Porcu­ p.m. severe cold temperatures of winter. Look every overnight backcountry trip. pines peel bark off trees. Elk shed their Kawuneeche Visitor Center. for elk and mule deer in open meadows antlers and winter guard hair. Watch for Grand Lake, CO: 8 a.m.- and on hillsides. Bighorn sheep can be Summer] otter slides by the Colorado River. 4:30 p.m. seen on rocky slopes. Watch for coyotes Birdwatching hunting mice in meadows. You may see Nearly 75% of Rocky Mountain WINTER ROAD National Park's visitors come during the Although several species of birds remain the tassel-eared Abert's squirrel scurrying in the park during the winter, many migra­ CONDITIONS and bounding among the ponderosa pine summertime. Trail Ridge Road is usually Trail Ridge Road is antici­ open from Estes Park to Grand Lake by tory birds return in mid-April and early trees. Stop at the Beaver Boardwalk along May. The peak nesting period is frdTn mid- pated to open from Estes Trail Ridge Road to see beaver sign Memorial Day weekend, snow pack and Park to Grand Lake on weather permitting. This 48-mile drive June to mid-July. A few hours trip in the including aspen stumps, dams, and park will allow you to see the magpie, Memorial Day Weekend lodges. takes about two to three hours and trav­ erses the five major ecosystems of the common raven, Stellar's jay, Clark's nut­ OPEN - ESTES PARK: Trail You may see moose among the willows park as it rises to 12,183 feet above sea cracker, and the gray jay (often called Ridge Road to Many Parks and frozen streams of the Kawuneeche level. Early summer visitors will find the camp robber). Curve and Bear Lake Road Valley. Foxes are a rarer sight, sometimes high country and the Kawuneeche Valley To see a greater variety of birds it is best to Bear Lake - weather per­ seen on early mornings in open wood­ still cloaked in snow. to select a habitat, and then spend an mitting lands or meadows. Mountain lions are hour or so there. The best time of day to OPEN - GRAND LAKE: even more elusive, but you may be for­ Scenic Wonders watch birds is in the morning when the Hwy 34 to Timber Lake Trail- tunate enough to see big cat paws printed In addition to grand mountain vistas, sun first reaches the area you plan to visit. head - weather permitting. clearly in the snow. Snowshoe hares and summer travelers can gaze at the world Check at visitor centers for sunrise times. During and after winter snow- weasels disguise themselves in winter- beneath them from the top of Trail Ridge An abundance of birds can be seen in white coats. Look for the weasel's black- (Continued on page four) Road. Stops at Forest Canyon Overlook, tipped tail. Rock Cut, Fall River Pass and Milner Pass (Continued on page 4) Moraine Park Museum RMNP Associates Tackle Two More Revitalized Major Projects Rocky Mountain National Park Superintendent Jim Thomp­ The Moraine Park Museum son asked the RMNP Associates and friends of the park for their The colorful on the east side of Rocky help with educational exhibits at the Lily Lake Visitor Center. In Mountain National Park will addition, three scenic trails - Sprague Lake, Bear Lake, and new exhibits reopen May 30 with all new ex­ Adams Falls - have been selected for wheelchair accessibility im­ include 3-D hibits. Based on the theme, provements. "The Making of a Landscape", models, the exhibits feature the forma­ Lily Lake Visitor Center Opens tion of Moraine Park, its touchable geology, climate, weather, The Lily Lake Visitor Center is located at the north edge of the specimens, and flora, fauna, and human Tahosa Valley on State Highway 7 - Scenic Byway. The visitor history. center first opened in June 1991. New exhibits will be several "hands- developed by May 1993 and will cost $158,000. Already on" exhibits The non-profit Rocky Moun­ $58,000 has been raised toward that goal. tain National Park Associates It's expected that the U.S. Forest Service will join the National which illustrate funded the new exhibits by rais­ Park Service and the non-profit Rocky Mountain Nature ing $241,000 from private, Association in operating the Lily Lake Visitor Center. mountain foundation, and corporate building, donations. The exhibits were Sprague Lake Wheelchair Trail designed and constructed by Coming Soon glacier the Denver Museum of Natural Rocky Mountain National Park plans to have the three movement, and History under the direction of park interpreters. The National wheelchair-accessible trails completed by 1993. Efforts to con­ the creation of Park Service funded the struct the trails began in 1987. Sprague Lake is the first of the ac­ cessibility trails to be developed. The Chevron Company pledg­ an ecosystem. building restoration and added new restrooms and an elevator ed $10,000 for this project and will provide volunteer labor to for special needs accessibility. help construct the trail. Curt Buchholtz, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain National Park Associates, stated that $170,000 is needed for completion of the three projects.
Recommended publications
  • Trait Ridge Road Guide
    Sign No. 9 Medicine Bow Curve (11,640 feet) succeeded more than 80 years ago in bringing water from Never The sign here points northwest to the Medi­ Summer streams through the Grand Ditch and La Poudre Pass Rocky Mountain National Park cine Bow Mountains which extend into Wyo­ to irrigate the semiarid lands east of the Rockies. He failed to 9 ming, 44 miles away. The Cache la Poudre find sufficient precious metals in Lulu City diggings to establish River twists through the glacial gorge before profitable mines. Broken stone chimneys and rotting founda­ you, separating this point from rounded, tion logs are all that remain of this once bustling mining camp. v 7 This country is also a favorite home of the beaver. Trait Ridge brownish Specimen Mountain to the west. Its color provides a clue to the mountain's orgin, Sign No. 12 Shadow Mountain National as a volcano, and the cliffs at Iceberg Lake Recreation Area are of lava from this source. Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby Road Guide Sign No. 10 Continental Divide, Milner Pass are two reservoirs of the Colorado — Big (10,758 feet) 12 Thompson Project, built and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of Surprise! You thought the Continental Divide \ 7 the Interior. From here water flows through would be the highest point on your trip. But Grand Lake and the 13.1-mile Adams Tunnel this delightful spot where an undecided rain­ to Estes Park. There, east of the Continental drop might flow either to the Atlantic or to \10/ Divide, it stairsteps down through penstocks the Pacific is more than a thousand feet below and turbines producing electric power and finally emptying into the Alpine Visitor Center, and 1,425 feet be- reservoirs and irrigation canals east of the Front Range.
    [Show full text]
  • Hiking in the Kawuneeche Valley Rocky Mountain
    National Park Rocky Mountain National Park Service Hiking in the Kawuneeche Valley Adams Falls (East Inlet Trailhead) This easy 1/3 mile hike leads to a small, pleasant waterfall. If you wish to go further, past the falls, you will come to a large, grassy, glaciated valley with a river running through it. Moose are sometimes sighted in this valley. Many types of wildflowers are found in this area. (79’gain) Cascade Falls (North Inlet Trailhead) Photogenic Cascade Falls is 3.4 miles into the North Inlet trail. This easy hike passes through an open meadow where marmots are often found, and by a river that winds through a lodgepole pine forest. Fishing is good for small brook trout and an occasional brown trout. Allow about 3-4 hours for hiking this trail. (300’gain) Lulu City (Colorado River Trailhead) A flowered field is all that remains of this once booming mining town. Pass by the remains of log cabins and look for tailings from Shipler Mine about 2 miles into the trail. The trail parallels the Colorado River and passes meadows on this easy to moderately difficult 7.4-mile round trip hike. (350’gain) Lulu City/Yellowstone Loop (Colorado River Trailhead) After passing Shipler’s cabins, you will come to a sign that will designate Lulu City to the left and Little Yellowstone to the right. Stay right at the Y. Follow the trail all the way to the Grand Ditch. Little Yellowstone is a miniature version of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, formed of stark gray volcanic rock.
    [Show full text]
  • To See the Hike Archive
    Geographical Area Destination Trailhead Difficulty Distance El. Gain Dest'n Elev. Comments Allenspark 932 Trail Near Allenspark A 4 800 8580 Allenspark Miller Rock Riverside Dr/Hwy 7 TH A 6 700 8656 Allenspark Taylor and Big John Taylor Rd B 7 2300 9100 Peaks Allenspark House Rock Cabin Creek Rd A 6.6 1550 9613 Allenspark Meadow Mtn St Vrain Mtn TH C 7.4 3142 11632 Allenspark St Vrain Mtn St Vrain Mtn TH C 9.6 3672 12162 Big Thompson Canyon Sullivan Gulch Trail W of Waltonia Rd on Hwy A 2 941 8950 34 Big Thompson Canyon 34 Stone Mountain Round Mtn. TH B 8 2100 7900 Big Thompson Canyon 34 Mt Olympus Hwy 34 B 1.4 1438 8808 Big Thompson Canyon 34 Round (Sheep) Round Mtn. TH B 9 3106 8400 Mountain Big Thompson Canyon Hwy 34 Foothills Nature Trail Round Mtn TH EZ 2 413 6240 to CCC Shelter Bobcat Ridge Mahoney Park/Ginny Bobcat Ridge TH B 10 1500 7083 and DR trails Bobcat Ridge Bobcat Ridge High Bobcat Ridge TH B 9 2000 7000 Point Bobcat Ridge Ginny Trail to Valley Bobcat Ridge TH B 9 1604 7087 Loop Bobcat Ridge Ginny Trail via Bobcat Ridge TH B 9 1528 7090 Powerline Tr Boulder Chautauqua Park Royal Arch Chautauqua Trailhead by B 3.4 1358 7033 Rgr. Stn. Boulder County Open Space Mesa Trail NCAR Parking Area B 7 1600 6465 Boulder County Open Space Gregory Canyon Loop Gregory Canyon Rd TH B 3.4 1368 7327 Trail Boulder Open Space Heart Lake CR 149 to East Portal TH B 9 2000 9491 Boulder Open Space South Boulder Peak Boulder S.
    [Show full text]
  • 5-10-2021 Evening Meeting Packet
    E1 Town of Grand Lake Board of Trustees Workshop & Meeting The Town of Grand Lake upholds the Six Pillars of Character: Citizenship, Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness and Caring 5-10-2021 Board of Trustee Workshop & Evening Meeting This Virtual Meeting will be streamed live online Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. https://www.gotomeet.me/JennThompson/grand-lake-board-of-trustee-workshop--evening-me-5 You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (646) 749-3122 Access Code: 404-998-853 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/404998853 Monday May 10, 2021 – Work Session 4:30 PM ________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Conflicts of Interest 4. Request for Economic Development Funds – Ken Wright 5. Grand County Housing Authority – Sheena Darland 6. Chamber of Commerce Presentation – Emily Hagen 7. Board of Trustee Committee Assignments Monday May 10, 2021 – Evening Meeting 6:00 PM _____________________________________________________ A. Call to Order B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Announcements D. Roll Call E. Conflicts of Interest F. Public Comments (limited to 3 minutes) G. Meeting Minutes – Consideration to approve meeting minutes dated April 26, 2021 (Pg. E2) H. Financial – Consideration to approve Accounts Payable for May 2021 (Pg. E7) I. Consideration of Resolution 13-2021, a Resolution to Allow an Accessory Structure on a Vacant Lot located at Subdivision: Coker’s Corner Minor Subdivision Lot: A&B, More Commonly Referred to as 1670 Sunnyside Drive (Pg. E13) J. Consideration of a Motion to Recommend a Consultant for the Municipal Lands Master Plan Contract (Pg.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix C Table 1, Camp Area Summary
    Backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Appendix C Appendix C Table 1, Camp Area Summary Designated Areas/Sites Individual Camp Areas Campsites People East Side 60 109 763 West Side 59 88 616 Total 119 197 1379 Group Camp Areas Campsites People East Side 10 10 120 West Side 11 11 132 Total 21 21 252 Accessible Camp Areas Campsites People East Side 1 1 12 West Side 0 0 0 Total 1 1 12 Wood Fire Camp Areas Campsites East Side 8 13 West Side 9 13 Total 17 26 Stock Areas/Sites Individual Camp Areas Campsites People Stock East Side 3 3 18 24 West Side 3 3 18 24 Total 6 6 36 48 Group Camp Areas Campsites People Stock East Side 2 2 24 32 West Side 2 2 24 32 Total 4 4 48 64 Llama only Camp Areas Campsites People Stock East Side 2 2 14 10 West Side1175 Total 3 3 21 15 Wood Fire Camp Areas Campsites East Side 8 13 West Side 9 13 Total 17 26 Rocky Mountain National Park C-1 Backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Appendix C Crosscountry Areas Areas Parties People East Side 9 16 112 West Side 14 32 224 Total 23 48 336 Summer Totals for Designated, Stock and Crosscountry Areas Camp Areas Campsites/Parties People East Side 80 136 1004 West Side 84 131 969 Total 164 267 1973 Bivouac Areas Areas People East Side 11 88 West Side 0 0 Total 11 88 Winter Areas Areas Parties People East Side 32 136 1632 West Side 23 71 852 Total 55 207 2484 Rocky Mountain National Park C-2 Backcountry/Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Appendix C Appendix C Table 2, Designated Camp Area/Sites Number
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain National Park Lawn Lake Flood Interpretive Area (Elevation 8,640 Ft)
    1 NCSS Conference 2001 Field Tour -- Colorado Rocky Mountains Wednesday, June 27, 2001 7:00 AM Depart Ft. Collins Marriott 8:30 Arrive Rocky Mountain National Park Lawn Lake Flood Interpretive Area (elevation 8,640 ft) 8:45 "Soil Survey of Rocky Mountain National Park" - Lee Neve, Soil Survey Project Leader, Natural Resources Conservation Service 9:00 "Correlation and Classification of the Soils" - Thomas Hahn, Soil Data Quality Specialist, MLRA Office 6, Natural Resources Conservation Service 9:15-9:30 "Interpretive Story of the Lawn Lake Flood" - Rocky Mountain National Park Interpretive Staff, National Park Service 10:00 Depart 10:45 Arrive Alpine Visitors Center (elevation 11,796 ft) 11:00 "Research Needs in the National Parks" - Pete Biggam, Soil Scientist, National Park Service 11:05 "Pedology and Biogeochemistry Research in Rocky Mountain National Park" - Dr. Eugene Kelly, Colorado State University 11:25 - 11:40 "Soil Features and Geologic Processes in the Alpine Tundra"- Mike Petersen and Tim Wheeler, Soil Scientists, Natural Resources Conservation Service Box Lunch 12:30 PM Depart 1:00 Arrive Many Parks Curve Interpretive Area (elevation 9,620 ft.) View of Valleys and Glacial Moraines, Photo Opportunity 1:30 Depart 3:00 Arrive Bobcat Gulch Fire Area, Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest 3:10 "Fire History and Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Efforts" - Carl Chambers, U. S. Forest Service 3:40 "Involvement and Interaction With the Private Sector"- Todd Boldt; District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service 4:10 "Current Research on the Fire" - Colorado State University 4:45 Depart 6:00 Arrive Ft. Collins Marriott 2 3 Navigator’s Narrative Tim Wheeler Between the Fall River Visitors Center and the Lawn Lake Alluvial Debris Fan: This Park, or open grassy area, is called Horseshoe Park and is the tail end of the Park’s largest valley glacier.
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain National Park Trail System
    Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Map HOURGLASS RESERVIOR Rocky M4ountain National Park Trail System 1 TRAP LAKE Y TWIN LAKE RESERVIOR W PETERSON LAKE H JOE WRIGHT RESERVIOR O L O C ZIMMERMAN LAKE MIRROR LAKE R E P P U , S S A P Y M Corral Creek USFS Trail Head M (! U M LAKE HUSTED 4 HWY 1 LOST LAKE COLO PPER LAKE LOUISE LOST LAKE, U #*Lost Falls Rowe Mountain LAKE DUNRAVEN LOST LAKE 13184 , LOWER Dunraven USFS Trail Head LONG DRAW RESERVIOR D (! Rowe Peak 13404 Hagues PeaDk 13560 D MICHIGAN LAKES TH LAKE AGNES E S SNOW LAKE La Poudre Pass Trail Head AD Mummy Mountain (! DL E 13425 D Fairchild Mountain 13502 D CRYSTAL LAKE LAWN LAKE TH UN Ypsilon Mountain DE R 13514 PA B SS D L A C R K PE C P SPECTACLE LAKES A , U N ER Chiquita, Mount Y IV D O R ST 13069 N E WE , DR IL U U A Y P O 4 TR P P P 3 TE Chapin Pass Trail Head S E Bridal Veil Falls LAKE OF THE CLOUDS Y U (! IL W O R #* H S N ER Cow Creek Trail Head U L K, LOW (! R A REE K OW C E C E V C(!rater Trail Head I (! U R POUDRE LAKE Cache La Poudre Trail Head S H O (! W D Milner Pass Trail Head Chasm Falls Y A #* R 3 Horseshoe Falls 4 Rock Cut Trail Head O ! #* L ( Thousand Falls O #* C Lawn Lake Trail Head FAN LAKE (! Colorado River Trail Head SHEEP LAKES (! Timber Lake Trail Head (! Beaver Ponds Trail Head (! CASCADE LAKE HIDDEN VALLEY BEAVER PONDS Lumpy Ridge Trail Head Ute Crossing Trail Head (! (! FOREST LAKE Deer Mountain/ Deer Ridge Trail Head ARROWHEAD LAKE ROCK LAKE (! U TE T TOWN OF RA LAKE ESTES IL Never Summer Trail Head INKWELL LAKE EA ESTES PARK (! ST U Upper Beaver Meadows
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain NATIONAL PARK
    Rocky Mountain NATIONAL PARK The Official Newspaper and Trip Planner of Rocky Mountain National Park 2019 Summer 1 | June 16–September 2 Longs Peak and columbine. NPS PHOTO / JIM DAUGHERTY VIP Welcome to Your National Park Set aside more than 100 years ago, Vehicle access to Bear Lake, Alpine Contact Us Rocky Mountain National Park has Visitor Center, or Wild Basin may be been entrusted to your care. Please restricted when parking areas fill and Trail Ridge Road Status Line take pride in your park and treat it with heavy congestion warrants. When 970 586-1222 respect! Generations of future visitors restrictions are in place, consid- will thank you. er using our shuttle system (back Park Information page), visiting other areas, or return- 970 586-1206 Read and follow important safety ing before 9 am or after 3 pm. information on page 2, then take TTY the Rocky Pledge. Our rules and Plan ahead for your next visit, 970 586-1319 regulations weren’t invented to ruin whether tomorrow or in a decade. anyone’s fun—they were created to Planning ahead can help you avoid Emergencies keep you safe and to keep your park the not-so-fun stuff so that you have PLEDGE 911 beautiful. Read and take heed! more time and energy to enjoy the to totally-fun stuff. For details, vis- website nps.gov/romo/ it our website at nps.gov/romo/. PROTECT instagram @RockyNPS #RMNP facebook.com/RockyNPS Rocky Mountain National Park twitter @RockyNPS #rockypledge youtube.com/user/RockyNPS Things to Do in a Day or Less Take a Scenic Drive Watch Wildlife Hike a Trail See Visitor Centers Join a Ranger Just for KIDS PAGE 4 PAGE 9 PAGE 10 PROGRAM GUIDE PROGRAM GUIDE PROGRAM GUIDE Driving Rocky’s roads is Rocky is home to many Rocky has trails for every Visitor centers are a great Year-round, Rocky offers Our kids are our future, a great way to explore the animals, big and small.
    [Show full text]
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison Great Sand Dunes Mesa Verde Rocky
    COLORADO NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNER Black Canyon of the Gunnison Great Sand Dunes Mesa Verde Rocky Mountain TOP 4 ROAD TRIPS 14 Cody Dinosaurs and Deserts Thermopolis GETTING Wildlife and Natural Wonders 120 Best of Colorado Loop Idaho Land of Enchantment Falls 26 THERE Lander Dinosaur National Monument Plan your dream vacation Laramie with our top routes to Colorado’s national parks and monuments. Grand Estes Park 40 Lake Learn more at Steamboat Lyons 40 Glenwood Springs MyColoradoParks.com. Springs 133 Delta Cripple Creek Colorado National Montrose Monument Park and Preserve. For 25 BEST OF a unique wildlife 550 Great Sand Dunes COLORADO LOOP experience, drive east National Park 160 Alamosa and Preserve from Denver to Pagosa Miles 1,130 Springs Keenesburg to visit The Farmington The ultimate Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary, road trip includes home to more than 450 550 Taos 25 Bandelier charming mountain rescued tigers, lions, National Monument towns, hot springs, wolves and bears. Santa Fe desert scenery and impressive peaks. Head straight to Rocky DINOSAURS Mountain National Park AND DESERTS from Denver and take Trail Ridge Road west Miles 1,365 to Grand Lake. Soak in Go from red-rock the pools of Hot canyons to alpine Phoenix Sulphur Springs before meadows on this loop. heading to Winter Park Abilene Start in Salt Lake City Carlsbad Caverns and Dillon. Stop in National Park and drive southeast to Glenwood Springs to Vernal, Utah, the experience the town’s Flaming Gorge National Map by Peter Sucheski legendary hot springs Recreation Area and and adventure park. Just south you’ll find with New Mexican stunning San Luis Dinosaur National Continue west to the WILDLIFE AND Grand Teton National deserts on this Valley.
    [Show full text]
  • Rocky Mountain National Park High Country Headlines
    Rocky Mountain National Park HIGH COUNTRY HEADLINES Winter 2006-07 October 29 - March 30 Your Park in Winter Reflected sunlight sparkles in the snow. Tracks of tiny mice and great elk cross INSIDE your trail. Frozen alpine lakes ringed 2 You Need to Know by massive peaks can be reached by snowshoe, ski, and even on foot. For 3 Survival those who are prepared, winter in Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful time 4 Ranger-led Programs full of crisp adventures. 5 Camping 6-7 Winter Tours 8 Park Map The park’s west side holds the best snow. photo: Harry Canon This newspaper is designed to help you most of the winter. Easy trails head toward drifts, Trail Ridge Road is too dangerous comfortably and safely enjoy this high Lulu City or Sun Valley, and many more to try to keep fully open through the and wild park during its longest season. challenging options are also available. On winter. Yet much of the park is still open Information on visitor centers, important the east side of the park (Estes Park area), year-round. You can drive to magnificent phone numbers, winter travel, and snowshoeing is more reliable than cross- view areas like Many Parks Curve and recreation are on pages 2 and 3. Free country skiing. The lofty peaks of Rocky Bear Lake on the east, and through the ranger-led programs are listed on page 4. Mountain National Park tend to catch and spectacular Kawuneeche Valley on the Camping is described on page 5. Some hold more snow on their western slopes west.
    [Show full text]
  • TRAIL RIDGE ROAD SNOW PLOWING by Katy Sykes, Assistant to the Superintendent
    May, 2003 TRAIL RIDGE ROAD SNOW PLOWING By Katy Sykes, Assistant to the Superintendent Trail Ridge Road, one of the great alpine highways in the United States, traverses the park for 48 miles and reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet. The highest continuous road in America, the road connects the towns of Estes Park on the east and Grand Lake on the west. The park does not plow the central portion of the road in the winter, but keeps it partially open to Many Parks Curve on the east side and the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. Plows work to clear snow from Trail Ridge Road. The rotary plow in front works as a "pioneer" to make the first path through the snow. Then a second plow widens the Plowing operations start in April. Of course, spring storms cleared area, usually the width of the road, to allow the and squalls can bring snow to already plowed areas, roadway to melt out. causing plow operators to re-plow some areas, some years many times over. Last weekend, 14 foot high drifts blew back on the road in one area! According to Chuck Stalker, Acting Roads Foreman, plowed roads act like snow fences to accumulate blowing and drifting snows. Enthusiastic and dedicated plow operators work safely and take the storms in stride. Snow depths are encouraging after last year's drought. As of the first week of May, east side plow operators are to Rock Cut, where drifts are up to 22 feet deep, which is higher than the rotary plows! On the west side, plows are to Medicine Bow Curve.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This Form Is for Use in Nominating Or Requesting Determination for Individual Properties and Districts
    NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determination for individual properties and districts. See instruction in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If an Item does not apply to the property being documented, enter' N/A for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials and areas of significance, enter only categories and su^categories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name Fern Lake Trail other names/site number 5LR.10920________________________________________ 2. Location street & number Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO) [N/A] not for publication city or town Estes Park_______________________ ____ [N/A] vicinity state Colorado code CO county Larimer code 069 zip code 80517 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this [X] nomination [ ] request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property [X] meets [ ] does not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant [ ] nationally [ ] statewide [X] locally.
    [Show full text]