Rocky Mountain National Park



Because of record snowfall this past winter, there is a
lot of snow in the park.  Lety had never seen snow before.

 




One of the many beautiful views after entering Rocky
Mountain National Park. This view looks back to one of the meadows
where we entered the park from Grand Lake, a photo opportunity.
 Notice all the water because of the heavy snows of last Winter.
This is a good place to park in the late afternoon to watch elk.



A campground inside the park.  Look closely to see the
herd of female elk in the background.  The elk are social
animals and are almost always in herds.



A herd of elk in a meadow.  Elk are related to deer but much larger, weighing 450 to 900 pounds.
Note the large antlers, which can reach four feet above their head.  In the Fall we go into the park
to listen for the bugle of the bull elk that begins
deep and resonant and becomes a high pitched
squeal and ends with grunts.



How many of us know what the Continental Divide is?



Moose are not herd animals.  This a mom and her baby (spot of brown in grass)
Moose are at home in the water (like this one). Their front legs are longer than
their back legs, it is not uncommon to see a moose kneeling to get closer to lunch.
Moose don't see well and can get agressive and charge without notice.



See the snow poles along the side of the road, used to guide the
snow removal equipment.



July in the park



   The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is one mile North of Grand Lake on US Hwy 34.  It is always good to stop in at Kawuneeche Visitor Center and check programs and activities.  We have seen some prime wildlife films, with bighorn sheep, elk, black bear, pronghorn antelope, coyote, mountain lion, moose and red fox and their life in the park.  Ranger guided walks are offered and maps with information on the park.  From the Grand Lake entrance to the park, it is 20 miles up Trail Ridge road to Alpine Visitor Center.  The building is on the edge of a ridge and has an amazing view of the valley below.  The biggest attraction to the park could be the road itself.  Trail Ridge Road is the highest, continuous paved road in America. The park has more than 60 peaks over 12,000 ft. in 416 square miles.  It is one of the country's top wildlife watching destinations with more than 3,000 elk, 800 bighorn sheep with numerous mule deer and moose.  We also saw bighorn sheep moving easily down rocky, rugged mountain terrain.  The rams had impressive large curled horns and the ewes much smaller. Too bad, I was not able to get photos.  You can spend days in the park and not see everything.  If you go all the way through the park to the other side, you will exit at Estes Park.  Estes Park is another beautiful, historic place to visit.  It is one of many places that make an easy day trip.

The park offers several types of fees:
$20. per vehicle for 7 days, $10. individual bicycles and motorcycles for 7 days, $40. annual pass for  unlimited entry to this park, $50. annual to Rocky Mountain National and Arapahoe National Parks,$80 annual pass, America The beautiful that inclusdes all Federal and National Parks in the U.S., BUT seniors get a lifetime pass so we have unlimited entry of any U.S. national park or recreational land that requires a fee.  Seniors, ask for a pass the next time you drive up to the entrance of a national park or recreation area.  It just takes minutes with proper I.D..