Rocky Mountain National Park is a wonderful park for you and your family to visit. See animals like bighorn sheep, mule deer, moose and chipmunks while hiking the park's mountains, such as Longs Peak, Deer Mountain, Sundance Mountain and McGregor Mountain. Visitors love coming here to see nature and go sightseeing year-round. The park was established in 1915 and has been one of the most popular Colorado parks ever since.
There is a fee to get into the park. Pets aren't allowed on any of the park's trails.
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Hiking
Hiking is one of the most popular activities to do at this national park because you can hike during any time of the year (so long as you bring the right shoes). Some of the best hikes to do here are:
Emerald Lake Trail - moderate, 3.3 miles
Gem Lake Trail - moderate, 3.4 miles
Chasm Lake - hard, 9.4 miles
Alberta Falls Trail - easy, 1.6 miles
Twin Sisters Peak Trail - hard, 7.5 miles
Bear Lake Nature Trail - easy, .7 miles
Cub Lake - easy, 2.3 miles
Bluebird Lake - moderate, 6 miles
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Taking Photographs
Bring a camera because the mountains and wildlife in Colorado are gorgeous. Some of the animals you can take pictures of, if you can find them, include:
Black bears
Coyotes
Mule deer
Moose
Elk
Western tanager
Pine grosbeak
Red crossbill
American dipper
Boreal toad
Tiger salamander
There are also plenty of plants to stop and look at as you make your way through the park. Use the mountains as a backdrop for your family photos or just to make memories.
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Becoming a Junior Ranger
If your kids love being in nature, then they should become a Junior Ranger! There are three booklets for your kids to choose from: one for kids 5 and under, one for kids between 6 and 8 years old and one for kids ages 9 and up. They simply need to follow the booklet and play the fun games in it to become a ranger and earn their badge for the park. There's a coloring book they can do, too.
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Fishing
Head to the nearby streams and lakes to see if you and your family can catch a big fish. Native fish to the park include trout, suckers and sculpins. Make sure you have your fishing license before baiting your hook or tying on a fly (required for those who are 16 years and older).
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Visiting the Nature Store
Looking for directions in the park or more information about the area? Visit the Nature Store in the park to get the help you need.
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Taking a scenic drive
If the weather is not great, why not take a scenic drive of the Rockies to see why Colorado is a great outdoor destination. The two most popular roads to take are Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road. Get a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains, meadows and trees like spruce, pine and aspen. Be wary of animals crossing.
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Skiing
Jump and glide across the powdery, light snow of northern Colorado. Get an up-close look of the park's wildlife and nature while doing physical exercise.
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Stay with us
We are your home base for your adventure to the Rocky Mountain National Park.
