Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the north central region of the U.S. state of Colorado in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River.
The park is surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest on the north and east, Routt National Forest on the northwest, and Arapaho National Forest on the southwest. Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses approximately 1,076 km2 of land in Colorado's northern Front Range.
The park is separate by the Continental Divide, which gives the eastern and western portions of the park a different character. The east side of the park tends to be drier, with heavily glaciated peaks and cirques.
Also the park contains 578 km of trails, 150 lakes and 720 km of streams. The park contains over 60 named peaks higher than 3,700 m, and over one fourth of the park resides above tree line.
The highest point of the park is Longs Peak, which rises to 4,345 m above sea level. Several small glaciers and permanent snowfields are found in the high mountain cirques, including Andrews Glacier, Sprague Glacier, Tyndall Glacier, Taylor Glacier, Rowe Glacier, Mills Glacier, and Moomaw Glacier.
The lowest elevations in the park are montane forests and grassland. The ponderosa pine, which prefers drier areas, dominates, though at higher elevations. Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir trees are common in this zone.
These forests tend to have more humidity than the montane and tend to be denser. Above tree line, at approximately 3,500 m, trees disappear and the vast alpine tundra takes over. Due to harsh winds and weather, the plants in the tundra are short with very limited growing seasons.
Bear Lake, in the heart of the park, is a popular destination and trailhead.
The lake rests beneath the sheer flanks of Hallett's Peak and the Continental Divide. The Bear Lake Road is open year round, though it may temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions.
The Mummy Range is a small mountain range in the north of the park. The Mummies tend to be gentler and forested than the other peaks in the park, though there are some heavily glaciated areas, particularly Ypsilon Mountain and the area around Mummy Mountain.
The snow capped Never Summer Mountains are found in the west side of the park. The mountains are the result of volcanic activity and are very craggy, frequently covered in deep snow. This area saw the most extensive mining activity in the park, and trails lead past old mines and ghost towns.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful parks with a view to its majestic mountains, with a variety of wildlife, varied climates, and forested environments easily accessible.
Facts have shown that Native Americans have visited the park for the last 10,000 years but their influence in the region was limited. The Ute Tribe visited the west side of the park only around the Grand Lake. The Arapaho visited and hunted in the Estes Park region.
The Long Expedition visited the area in 1820, though they never entered the mountains. Longs Peak now bears the name of the expedition's leader, Stephen H Long. In 1859, Joel Estes and his son stumbled across the meadows that finally became Estes Park.
He moved his family there in 1860 and raised cattle. He only stayed until 1866, forced out due to long harsh winters. In the next years, various settlers and homesteaders staked their claims in the Estes Park region.
Tourists, particularly those fascinated in climbing the high peaks of the region, appeared after this time.
By 1883 the rush went bust and the majority of the town population moved on. Enos Mills, then a 14 year old boy, moved to Estes Park in 1884.
He quickly began exploring the mountains of the area, and wrote many environmentalist books and articles describing the region. He later became a supporter of the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, and he split his time between the mountains he loved and the cities of the eastern United States.
The legislation was drafted by James Grafton Rogers, a Denver lawyer and avid outdoorsman. Mills' original proposal included what is now the Indian Peaks Wilderness, but after compromising with local and mining interests, the borders were drawn very close to the current border of the park.
The law passed congress and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915. A formal dedication ceremony was held on September 4, 1915 in Horseshoe Park.
The park boundary has increased during the years, with the largest parcel, the Never Summer Range added in 1929. Beckoned by the scenic drives and miles of trails set amongst spectacular peaks, people of all ages come to the park to enjoy exploring the west's natural wonders.