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At only an hour and a half drive from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park , the park is a memorable summer day trip — and at $25 per automobile per day, it’s also a very affordable one.
The fastest route from Denver to Estes Park is via I-25 to U.S. 36 E near Boulder. In Estes Park , U.S. 36 meets up with U.S. 34, with the Big Thompson Canyon and continues through Rocky Mountain National Park to Granby and Grand Lake. The drive is an estimated an hour and a half from the central part of Denver .
The Rocky Mountains include at least 100 separate ranges, which are generally divided into four broad groupings: the Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies of Montana and northeastern Idaho; the Middle Rockies of Wyoming, Utah, and southeastern Idaho; the Southern Rockies, mainly in Colorado and New Mexico; and the
People have a soft spot for the mammals of Rocky Mountain National Park . Altogether, 67 mammal species are known to be native to the area, but grizzly bears, gray wolves and bison were locally extirpated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The lynx and wolverine are either extirpated or extremely rare.
Major peaks visible from Denver The section of the Rocky Mountains that is nearest to Denver is called the Front Range. The most prominent mountains close to Denver are Pikes Peak to the northwest, Mount Evans directly to the west and Longs Peak southwest of the city.
Towns & Cities Near Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park, CO . 7.9 mi / 21 mins. Lyons, CO . 28.7 mi / 51 mins. Boulder, CO . 44.7 mi / 1 hour 15 mins. Denver, CO . 78.5 mi / 1 hour 46 mins. Winter Park, CO . 111 mi / 2 hours 44 mins. Granby, CO . 131 mi / 3 hours 8 mins. Grand Lake , CO . 147 mi / 3 hours 28 mins.
The best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is from June to September when the snow is (mostly) melted and the hiking trails and attractions are accessible.
A timed entry permit or camping reservation is required to enter ALL areas of Rocky Mountain National Park —including Trail Ridge Road (US Hwy 34)—in a private vehicle between the hours of 6 am and 5 pm. Learn more.
Cell Phone Service Do not rely on cell phones inside the park ; many locations have no service . Pay phones have been removed from most locations. Free WiFi is available at two of the five visitor centers – Beaver Meadows and Fall River.
The Rocky Mountains contain the highest peaks in central North America. The range’s highest peak is Mount Elbert located in Colorado at 4,401 metres (14,440 ft) above sea level. Mount Robson in British Columbia, at 3,954 metres (12,972 ft), is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
With towering landscapes that take visitors to new heights, it’s no surprise that Rocky Mountain is world-renowned for its gorgeous scenery. At an elevation of 14,259 feet, Longs Peak is the highest peak in the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park Basics The 415-square-mile protected high-country playground, located between Estes Park and Grand Lake, occupies a hefty chunk of northern Colorado and draws family vacationers, hikers, wildlife watchers, rock climbers and photographers year-round.
Moose . Black Widow Spider . Elk . Black Bears . Ticks. Brown Recluse Spider. Mountain Goats. Colorado Bighorn. Treat the Colorado bighorn in the same way you treat a mountain goatjust make sure they’ve got their space.
No, there are no grizzly bears in Rocky Mountain National Park or the entire state of Colorado , but at one time, there were. The Rocky Mountains of Colorado used to be home to an abundance of grizzly bears until they were declared extinct in Colorado in 1953.
Bear sightings may have seemed a lot more common this summer, but actually there are only about 20 to 30 of the furry critters in Rocky Mountain National Park ( RMNP ) — and they may be the same band of black bears that wanders through town.