National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of Rocky Mountain National Park Fall - 2013 September 3 - October 19 NPS Photo/Debbie Biddle Photo/Debbie NPS Visitor Centers East of the Divide – Estes Park Area Alpine Visitor Center Open daily (weather permitting) 10:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m. through Oct. 14. Features extraordinary views of alpine tundra, displays, information, bookstore, adjacent gift shop, cafe, and coffee bar. Call (970) 586-1222 for Trail Ridge Road status. Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Open daily 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. through Sept. 29, then open daily 8 a.m.-4:30 Elk Viewing p.m. Features spectacular free park movie, information, bookstore, large park orientation map, and backcountry permits in an adjacent building. Bull elk "bugle" to gather harems of cows, their shrill calls ringing out through the evening twilight. In the fall, you can see and hear the spectacle of the elk rut, their annual mating ritual. This activity is most easily Fall River Visitor Center experienced in the waning light of day. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 29. Beginning Sept. 30 open weekends only Oct. 5-6 and 12-13 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed for the season Oct. 14. Features beautiful life-size Prime elk viewing areas include: Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, and Upper wildlife displays, a children’s discovery room, information, and Beaver Meadows on the east side of the park. a bookstore. On the west side, elk can often be seen throughout the Kawuneeche Valley, especially Holzwarth Meadow and Harbison Meadow. Moraine Park Visitor Center Closed For the good of the animals and other visitors: • Park using roadside pullouts -- do not park on vegetation • Turn off car lights and engine upon parking • Stay by the roadside when viewing animals • Do not approach animals closely -- wildlife are unpredictable • Never use artificial lights or calls • Do not walk into posted meadows between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. • Watch for other cars & keep an eye on children Beaver Meadows Visitor Center • Never feed wildlife West of the Divide – Grand Lake Area Five meadows are closed to entry between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. daily from September 1 and October 31 to minimize disturbance to elk: Moraine Kawuneeche Visitor Center Park, Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Harbison Meadow, and Open daily 8 a.m.-6 p.m. though Sept. 7, then open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Holzwarth Meadow. Sept. 28, and open daily 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. throughout the remainder of the season. Features free movies, exhibits on wonders of the park, information, a bookstore, and backcountry permits. Important Information Visitor Services • National Park Gateway Stables • Meeker Park Stables Gifts and Food Rocky Mountain Gateway near the Fall Meeker Park (303) 747-2266 Horseback Riding • Trail Ridge Store River Entrance on U.S. 34 • Jackson Stables Call for fall schedule Gifts, cafe, and coffee bar. (970) 586-5269 YMCA of the Rockies Livery • Wild Basin Livery (970) 586-1839 • CowPoke Corner Corral Stables (970) 586-3341 Allenspark (303) 747-2222 YMCA Road on Highway 66 at Glacier • Beaver Mountain Livery at Mountaineering • Sombrero Ranch Lodge (970) 586-5890 Aspen Lodge Resort & Spa Estes Park: 1895 Big Thompson Ave. • Colorado Mountain School • Hi Country Stables 6120 Hwy 7 (970) 577-3448 ( 970) 586-4577 - open year-round. Rock Climbing In Rocky Mountain National Park: Allenspark: 211 Main St. Estes Park, (800) 836-4008 Moraine Park (970) 586-2327 (303) 747-2551 Glacier Creek (970) 586-3244 Pets and Service Animals Picnicking Grand Lake: 304 W. Portal Rd. Pets are allowed in the park but Picnic areas are located throughout (970) 627-1083 Firearms only in picnic areas, Rocky Mountain National Park. • Winding River Resort A federal law allows people who campgrounds and Check the park map for Grand Lake: 1447 County Rd. 491, legally possess firearms under along roadsides. Pets specific locations. (970) 627-3215 federal, Colorado, and local laws, to are never allowed on possess firearms in Rocky Mountain trails or in meadow Food Storage areas. Pets must be on National Park. It is the visitor’s Do not attract wildlife, including leashes no longer than 6 feet when responsibility to understand and black bears, to your campsite. Keep a Bicycles in the Park outside vehicles. For the safety of comply with all applicable state and clean camp! Never leave food items Bicycling is permitted on public your pet and for the protection of federal firearms laws. unsecured or unattended. roads, both paved park wildlife and other visitors, • Hunting, recreational shooting, Improperly stored or unattended and dirt, but not on pets and their food should not be and target practice are not allowed in food items will result in a violation trails. There are no left unattended. You may not leave Rocky Mountain National Park. notice. “Food items” include food, bike paths, and your pet unattended in vehicles if it • Federal law prohibits firearms in drinks, toiletries, cosmetics, pet food many roads are creates a danger to the animal or if it certain facilities in this park; those and bowls, and odoriferous narrow with little or no shoulders. becomes a public nuisance. Pets may buildings are posted with signs at attractants. Garbage, including Please ride cautiously. not be left tied to vehicles, trees or public entrances. empty cans, food wrappers, etc., other objects. • If you have questions, please must be disposed of in trash or Bicycles in National Park Service A Pet Brochure is available at visitor contact the Park Information Office recycling receptacles. areas must ride single file. There are at (970) 586-1206. centers and lists all regulations. no bicycle racks on shuttle buses. Service animals that have been See page 6 for food storage 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 entrance stations. Campfires are permitted in in the park. A service animal that is Regulations prohibit disturbing and To fish in Rocky campgrounds and allowed in park facilities, trails, etc., taking any natural features Mountain National picnic areas where must be doing so in the service of a including pinecones, rocks, antlers, Park, you must have fire grates are disabled person. artifacts, soil, rocks, or vegetation a valid Colorado state provided. Collecting Under the Americans with in the park. The use of metal fishing license. vegetation, living or 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 along the road. Entrance Fees America the Beautiful – National America the Beautiful Military Pass - If not available, pull your Automobile 7-day pass is valid for Parks and Federal Recreational National Parks and Federal vehicle completely off the road and seven consecutive days, including Lands Annual Pass - Available to Recreational Lands Annual Pass do not park on vegetation. date of purchase. $20 everyone which provides access to, - Free unlimited entry to federal • Approaching animals may cause and use of, federal recreation sites recreation sites (including National them stress, leading to disease or Rocky Mountain National Park that charge an entrance or standard Parks) for active duty military illness. Annual Pass - Provides unlimited amenity fee for one year from date of personnel and dependents with If you cause an animal to move or entry to this park for one year from purchase. $80 required proper identification (CAC change its behavior, you are the date of purchase. $40 Card or DD Form 1173) for one year. too close! America the Beautiful – National • Wildlife can be unpredictable. Rocky Mountain National Park/ Parks and Federal Recreational America the Beautiful – National For your safety and theirs, enjoy Arapaho National Recreation Area Lands Senior Pass - A lifetime pass Parks and Federal Recreational and photograph wildlife from Annual Pass - Provides unlimited for U.S. citizens or permanent Lands Access Pass - A free lifetime a distance. entry to both areas for one year from residents age 62 or older. $10 pass for U.S. citizens or permanent • Never feed wildlife, including birds the date of purchase. $50 residents with a permanent disability. and chipmunks. Fees may be paid by check, cash, or credit card. New technology moves at the speed of light, and Rocky Mountain National Park is committed to bringing it to you. Take a look! • The Season of the Elk • Bears and Campground Food Storage Lockers • Climbing Longs Peak-Keyhole Route RMNP Podcasts • The Ten Essentials Check out nps.gov/romo RMNP Podcasts and click on PHOTOS & MULTIMEDIA Follow us on Twitter @ RMNPOfficial for more podcasts, blogs, and videos! Like us on Facebook @ Rocky Mountain National Park Park Phone Numbers Hearing impaired persons may call the TTY at Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222 (970) 586-1319 from 8 to 5 daily 110K Call Park Information (970) 586-1206 with your questions. We are available to assist you from 8 to 4:30 daily.