
Trail Ridge Road twists through the landscape, gaining in elevation.
Rocky mountain elk drivers#
Completed in 1932, Trail Ridge Road took visitors to new heights and was called a "scenic wonder road of the world." Cresting just over 12,000 feet, it is the highest continuous paved highway in the nation - it is so high that drivers will climb 4,000 feet in a matter of minutes! Covering 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, it is still a major attraction for park visitors today.

The park’s Trail Ridge Road inspired awe even before the first motorist traveled it. Sunset at Sprague Lake will leave you speechless. Meandering rivers and open meadows are surrounded by hilly slopes. The Montane ecosystem has the richest diversity of plant and animal life. Approximately one-third of this national park is above the limit where trees grow in northern Colorado (around 11,500 feet above sea level), creating the alpine tundra ecosystem. Hidden among the trees are crystal-clear lakes and fields of wildflowers that may surprise you. A maze of evergreen trees covers the mountainsides in subalpine areas. Here, you’ll see an amazing range of landscapes in a short distance. Rocky Mountain offers more than rugged mountains. Photo of Longs Peak reflected in Bear Lake by Steve Perry ( 2. At an elevation of 14,259 feet, Longs Peak is the highest peak in the park. With towering landscapes that take visitors to new heights, it’s no surprise that Rocky Mountain is world-renowned for its gorgeous scenery. The park’s Alpine Visitor Center also sits at the highest elevation of all National Park Service sites. Within the park’s boundaries are 77 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet high and the Continental Divide. With elevations from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet, Rocky Mountain makes you feel like you are on top of the world. Rocky Mountain is one of the nation’s highest national parks. One of the U.S.'s most visited national parks, Rocky Mountain hosted more than 4.5 million people in 2016 for world-class recreation opportunities from hiking, biking and fishing to horseback riding, camping and mountaineering.Īs we celebrate more than a century of Rocky Mountain National Park, check out 7 facts about this amazing park.ġ.

Rocky Mountain encompasses 415 square miles of spectacular mountain environments that is just a short drive from Denver, Colorado. On January 26, 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park was established.
