s/y Nine of Cups Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado June 2012 |
We entered the park at the east entrance through Estes Park. High on the hill sits the majestic Stanley Hotel, the setting for Stephen King's "The Shining". |
Trail Ridge Road Highway 34, known as Trail Ridge Road, runs through the park and connects the town of Estes Park on the east to Grand Lake on the southwest. The road reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m), with long stretches above tree line and is closed by snow in winter. It passes the Alpine Visitors' Center and crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass. Numerous short interpretive trails and pullouts along the road serve as educational and informational points on the history, geography and ecology of the park. Trail Ridge Road is one of ten America's Byways and a nationally designated All American Road. It also has the distinction of being the highest continuously paved road in the USA. |
Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses ~266,000 acres of varied ecosystems and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River. It was designated a national park in 1915. |
We stopped all along Trail Ridge Road for quick hikes and picture opps. Above, with our grandson, Taylor, high above Forest Canyon. |
The circuitous route of the Fall River in Horseshoe Park. |
Long's Peak at 14,259' is the highest point in the park. |
We looked for bighorn sheep, but saw none. Elk were out grazing though. |
Above, the snow was still a bit too high for hiking some of the trails. Right, David & Taylor admire "mushroom rocks". |
Clark's nutcrackers were everywhere and proved to be quite cheeky while we were trying to eat our lunch. |
Poudre Lake was beautiful with just a touch of snow left in place. |
David & Taylor climbing on the Tundra Communities Trail rocks. |
The tundra area, bare of trees, still supports flora and fauna. It also provided an unobstructed view of the mountains beyond. |
Next National Park/Monument on the agenda...Custer's Last Stand at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Hardin, Montana. |
Tiny tundra flora |