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. age and ability. Find a way to explore the park’s ranger-led programs on a and Rocky is here for park. Learn more about While we’re unable to tell trail, check your packing wonders. Lucky for you— wide variety of awesome them, too! From becom- our roads and famous you exactly where wildlife list against our recom- we’ve got quite a lot! See topics. Check out our ing a Junior Ranger to drives, including times will be (they’re wild, after mended items, and learn your program guide for program guide to find the enjoying Discovery Days, of the year when many all!), we’ve got a great where you can get even opening and closing dates perfect program for you there are plenty of fun ac- major roads are closed to guide inside that’ll help more in-depth info. and times and general and yours. tivities for kids of all ages. motorized traffic. you learn more. descriptions. It is your responsibility to be safe and to know and obey Safety park rules. You can find park safety information, rules, and regulations at visitor centers, entrance stations, trailhead bulletin boards, and the park website at nps.gov/romo. The Rocky Pledge “To preserve unimpaired for this and future generations the beauty, history, and wildness therein, I pledge to protect Rocky Mountain National Park.” • To prevent fire scars and human-caused • To respect history, heritage, and natural fires,I pledge to never build a fire outside processes, I pledge to remove nothing of a campground or picnic area fire ring. from the park except my own and oth- • To protect plants, meadows, and alpine ers’ trash. I will leave no trace of my tundra, I pledge to park only on desig- visit so that the next person can expe- nated asphalt or gravel parking areas. rience the same beauty as I did. • To respect other visitors’ experiences, if • To keep my pet, wildlife, and other visitors I need to go but am not near a restroom, I safe, I pledge to keep my leashed pet only on pledge to leave no trace by stepping well roads, in campgrounds, and in picnic and away from the trail and water sourc- parking areas. I will never take my dog on es, burying my waste at least six inch- Rocky’s trails, meadows, or tundra areas. es deep or packing it out in a waste bag, • To preserve them for the enjoyment, educa- and carrying out my toilet paper. tion, and inspiration of this and future genera- • To respect Rocky’s wild creatures and to PLEDGE tions, I pledge to honor, respect, and protect protect myself, I pledge to watch wild- to all our national parks and public lands. life from a distance that doesn’t dis- turb them in any way. I will never feed PROTECT wildlife—doing so causes it harm. Rocky Mountain National Park #rockypledge Altitude Sickness affects many Falling Trees are an ever-present Pets are prohibited on ALL park trails, visitors every year. Symptoms hazard and can fall without warning. tundra, and meadow areas. KEEP WILDLIFE WILD include headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, Be extra careful around dead trees Leashed pets are only allowed in picnic Never feed or vomiting, and in acute situations, even uncon- when it’s windy or following a snowstorm. areas, parking lots, campgrounds, and along approach wildlife sciousness. Altitude can also aggravate preexist- roadsides. Never leave pets in vehicles if it puts ing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take Firearm Possession in the park is them in danger or they become a public Many amazing animals call Rocky home. To your time, drink plenty of water, eat lightly, and permitted for those legally authorized nuisance. When outside vehicles, pets must be keep them and you safe and comfortable: rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go to possess firearms under federal, Colorado, or on leashes no longer than six feet. Service • Obey wildlife closure areas and down to a lower altitude. local laws. However, hunting, recreational animals that have been individually trained to “no stopping” traffic zones. shooting, and target practice are illegal. Federal perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons • Use parking areas along the road. Backcountry Travel should be done law prohibits firearms in park buildings and with disabilities are allowed in the park. If not available, pull your vehicle in a group, not alone. Leave a detailed facilities. Those legally allowed to carry firearms Emotional support (“therapy animals”) and completely off the road and trip itinerary with a friend. This helps must comply with all applicable state and federal service-animals-in-training are not service do not park on vegetation. park authorities if you fail to return. Mountain firearm laws. animals under the Americans with Disabilities • Keep a safe distance. If you cause an weather changes quickly. If conditions are more Act and may not access trails or other non-mo- animal to move or change behavior, difficult than anticipated, turn around. Longs Fishing requires a Colorado state torized areas. you are too close! Approaching an Peak, a popular climb, can have treacherous ice fishing license. Trout in the park include animal puts you at risk and may cause and snow any time of year. Camping is only brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat Rivers and Streams can be deadly. it stress, leading to disease and illness. allowed in designated sites. (including the protected Colorado River and Park waters are frigid. Powerful greenback). Not all park lakes have reproducing currents can knock you over and pull you • Never feed wildlife, including birds and Bicycles are prohibited on trails. They fish populations. For more information, downstream or underwater, where you may chipmunks. are permitted on all roads open to visit go.nps.gov/RockyFishing. become trapped. Streamside rocks are often motor vehicles, paved and dirt, unless slippery, and nearby water may be deep. Always Bears and Mountain Lions otherwise posted. There are no designated Hypothermia can happen any closely supervise children around all water but Seeing a bear or mountain lion is bicycle lanes in the park. Roads are narrow with time of year. Watch for drowsiness, especially near rivers and streams. rare, and interactions are even more rare. few or no shoulders—ride with care. By law, you impaired judgment, excessive shivering, However, keep the following in mind: must ride single file. Shuttle buses do not accept and slurred speech. To prevent, wear insulated, Take only pictures. It is illegal to • Travel in groups and make noise as you bicycles. Visit go.nps.gov/RockyBicycling. wind-proof layers and drink plenty of fluids. take any natural features including hike closely together. Keep children pine cones, rocks, antlers, and artifacts or to close! A predator does not distinguish Campfires are permitted only in Lightning regularly strikes in disturb soil, rocks, or vegetation (including a running child from running prey. campgrounds and picnic areas with fire Rocky. There is no safe place in the flowers). Metal detector use is prohibited. • If you see a bear or mountain lion, grates. During high fire danger, backcountry when lightning strikes. stop, stay calm, and back away campfires may be prohibited. You can purchase Check the forecast before heading out. Watch Ticks are out. In areas with plants, slowly. Never approach wildlife or firewood at campgrounds in summer. Collecting for building storm clouds. Plan activities so you particularly tall grasses, regularly check turn your back and run. Stand tall and vegetation, dead or alive, is prohibited. can quickly return to your car if a storm begins. yourself for ticks.