COMPLIMENTARY $2.95 2017/2018 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE OFFICIAL PARTNERS This summer, Yamaha launches a new Star motorcycle designed to help you journey further…than you ever thought possible. To see the road ahead, visit YamahaMotorsports.com/Journey-Further AD AD AD Some motorcycles shown with custom parts, accessories, paint and bodywork. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. ©2017 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. BLEED AREA TRIM SIZE PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME LIVE AREA Welcome to Rocky Mountain National This guide to Rocky Mountain National Park and some of the highest mountains Park is provided by Xanterra Parks & Zion National Park in the continental United States. This Resorts® and American Park Network and is the result of erosion, “park in the sky” captures the full gran- is designed to enhance your appreciation sedimentary uplift, and deur of the Rocky Mountains and is un- and enjoyment of the park. It has been derstandably one of the country’s most made possible by the support of the Stephanie Shinmachi. frequently visited national parks. sponsors whose messages appear in- 8 ⅞ “This is a beautiful world, and all who side. Have a great time in the park! go out under the open sky will feel the gentle, kindly influence of nature and 8 ⅜ hear her good tidings,” wrote Enos Mills, FUN FACTS a dedicated naturalist whose vision and Established: Congress passed the determination helped to save this spec- 7 ⅜ Rocky Mountain National Park act in tacular land. 1915 focused on preserving the Rockies’ The park unveils a stunning array of natural wonders, especially the tundra 5 ⅞ mountain peaks, 77 of which reach environment. elevations of 12,000 feet or more. For- Land Area: The park protects over 5 ⅜ ests of pine, spruce and fir tower over 265,000 acres. wide valleys where aspen and willow Highest Elevation: The summit of Longs line meandering streams. Peak reaches 14,259 feet. 4 ¾ At the highest elevations, above the Natural Features: Rocky Mountain AD treeline, is the fascinating, arctic-like National Park is the highest national park in alpine tundra, fraught with blizzards in the country, with elevations ranging from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet. There are 77 winter and filled with flowered meadows peaks above 12,000 feet. in summer. All of this is just 65 miles Popular Activities: Summer and fall northwest of Denver. are best for hiking, climbing and fishing. Colorado and Rocky Mountain Na- Winter is great for snowshoeing and wild- tional Park offer visitors a variety of ac- life watching —elk, deer and coyotes are tivities throughout the year, ranging from active. snow-related pursuits during the winter, Bicycling: Trail Ridge Road and the to hiking, rock climbing, camping and Horseshoe Park Estes Park Loop are the fishing during the summer. Plan visits to main bicycle routes. There are no desig- the park during different seasons so that nated bike lanes along park roads. Bicycling you may experience all of its wonders. is not allowed on park trails. Hiking: There are more than 350 miles of During your visit, please remember trails to explore. to respect the park’s fragile resources Camping: There are five drive-in camp- and minimize human impact. With all grounds and more than 180 wilderness of our help, its natural resources will campsites. Permits are required for over- Join the community at continue to be protected and preserved night stays in the wilderness. for future generations. nationalparks.org 2 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK | APN Ads_fullpage.indd 2 4/28/16 1:01 PM CONTENTS Welcome 2 American Park Network® publishes What’s New! 6 OhRanger.com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® guides —a collection of visitor Plan Your Visit 8 guides for public lands all across America. American Park Network is an official partner of the National Forest Foundation, National Parks Park Regulations & Safety 15 Conservation Association, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, American Hiking Society and Who’s Who at the Park 18 the Student Conservation Association. History & Culture 19 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief MARK J. SAFERSTEIN Preservation 24 Associate Publisher & Executive Editor Savings can take you to sights. Joel S. Saferstein Estes Park 28 Group Sales & Partnerships Director Savings can take you to amazing sights. Alex Frenkel Centerfold Map amazing EDITORIAL / PRODUCTION Grand Lake 31 Managing Editor: Kate Morgan Editors: Nell Alk, Monette A. Bailey, Scott Deckman, Cinnamon Janzer, Julie McCool, Things To Do 34 Renee Sklarew, Andy M. Smith Proofreader: Shannon Kronstadt Sights To See 40 Graphic Designers: Mario Arce, Dennisse Cruz, Mike Dion, Yamileth Recinos, Tatiana Hurtado Camping 42 DIGITAL AD Technology Managers: Scott Falconer, Josh Eckstein Walking & Hiking 44 ADVERTISING SALES & MARKETING (212) 581-3380 Just for Kids 46 [email protected] Business Development: Sharon Burson, Nature & Wildlife 47 Randy Burton, Mary Pat Kaleth, Pat Keane, Craig King, Kristi Rummel Photography 52 Operations Manager: Matthew Price American Park Network If You Only Have a Day 56 41 East 11th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10003 @OhRanger ©2017 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network Cover: Bugling elk photo by rpBirdman/iStock. are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce PEFC/29-31-75 www.pefc.org GET THE APP! The publisher of this guide and the advertisers herein are not IT’S FREE! DOWNLOAD NOW geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Oce affiliated with, or endorsed by, the National Park Service. FOR MORE INFORMATION For answers to all your questions, Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Distribution requests go to OhRanger.com GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; [email protected] Some discounts, coverages, paymenta Berkshire plans Hathaway and features Inc. subsidiary. are not available © 2017 in GEICO all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO [email protected] ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK 5 PLAN YOUR VISIT WHAT’S NEW! WHY PARKS MATTER There is nothing so American as our national parks. – Franklin Delano Roosevelt ® Access to parks is one of the things that’s truly great about life in America. Not just na- tional parks, like FDR stated, but all parks. Parks afford everyone, regardless of race, income, Mark, Joel & Alex – Support parks, stay healthy! social status or age, the opportunity to escape Take a deep breath in a park and you’ll immedi- the concrete jungle and step into the wild. It ately know the value of greenspace. doesn’t matter whether it’s a small step into a Health & Wellness Studies show a high local park or a giant leap into the backcountry. correlation between time spent in parks and The effect is the same. Time in nature feels improved health (and, in my view, happiness). good. Other values that parks bring may be You move more when you’re outside, which de- less obvious. Since we take care of the things creases stress, makes you more fit and reduces we value, I’d like to highlight a few other ben- the risk of many health issues, such as diabetes, efits we all receive from public lands: high blood pressure and heart disease. Exercise Economic Impact America’s federal, state (which parks inspire) also positively impacts your and local parks and public lands generate $200 cholesterol levels. A few years ago, I started bi- billion in annual economic activity and support cycling to work every day. A year later, my over- more than one million jobs! You might help a all cholesterol went down while my HDL—the AD dozen businesses during a weekend hiking trip. “good” cholesterol—went up. The results of Imagine the impact of a week-long national park a small change in your exercise routine can be adventure. Parks raise property values, too! amazing! Parks invite this change. Conservation Trees produce the oxygen The value of parks is undeniable, so follow we need to survive, but did you know that FDR’s lead and support our public lands. It’s they also help save money? It’s estimated that the all-American thing to do. (Congress, take trees in cities save $400 billion in costs to re- note!) You’ll save the country money while im- tain stormwater. A single tree can store 100 proving our nation’s health—and your own, too. gallons or more, which helps keep streets from Not a bad combination! flooding and reduces the need for artificial stor- age facilities. A tree can also absorb as much as three tons of carbon gas during its lifetime. [email protected] Five national parks GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! One iconic American road trip VisitUtah.com/itineraries Parks are about enjoying nature, but what if you want to share a great picture or are awaiting an important email? If you’re looking to add connectivity to your park, or if you already have Wi-Fi and would like help adding content or generating sponsor revenues, please let us know at [email protected].