Established
by Congress on January 26, 1915, the park exhibits the massive grandeur of
the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide and
looks out over dozens of peaks that tower more than 13,000 feet high.
Longs Peak, the highest peak in the park, is 14,255' in elevation. The
high point on Trail Ridge Road is 12,183'. The road is closed from late
fall, to the Memorial Day weekend. Because of the high elevation of the
park (8,000' to over 14,000') visitors need to take time to acclimatize.
People with various medical problems should check with their physician
before coming to the park. Elk, mule deer, big horn sheep, moose, coyotes
and a great variety of smaller animals call the 416 square miles (265,769
acres) of the National Park home. During the winter months snow shoeing and
cross country skiing are very popular. Hiking is available on 346 miles of
trails. Many trails can be hiked any time of the year. |
Nymph Lake
|
Flattop Mountain |
June and July are
the best months for seeing the wild flowers. Weather conditions determine
when and where flowers bloom. The hike to Emerald Lake is just a beauty. |
Mountain Sheep |
Emerald Lake
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