Indulge in Colorado’s Summertime Beauty at Rocky Mountain National Park

Story and Photos by Missy Ruzicka

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) had just more than 4.3 million visitors last year making it Colorado’s number one tourist destination. Located just 65 miles northwest of the Denver metro area, RMNP offers 260,000 acres of beautiful scenery that spans both sides of the continental divide from Estes Park to Grand Lake.

I remember going with my grandparents up to RMNP every summer for a picnic when I was a kid, and I still carry on that tradition multiple times a year with my family. Between the scenic highways and the abundance of wildlife and wildflowers in bloom, every trip up to the park offers something new. Outdoor enthusiasts can find adventures year round, from snowshoeing in the winter, to fly fishing in the spring to amazing waterfall hikes in the summer. Wildlife sightings in RMNP could include mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, coyote, moose, and even the occasional black bear.

The iconic Longs Peak sitting at a towering 14,256 feet above sea level, is surrounded by 58 other peaks that reach above 12,000 feet. When you reach the Alpine visitors center on Trail Ridge Road you will have a panoramic view of mountain peaks that reach all the way to Montana. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America cresting at 12,183 feet above sea level, and is usually open from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. Our family loves to take Fall River Road, which opened in 1913. This original road up to the top is a one-way dirt road with extraordinary views you can’t get from the paved path.

Hiking is one of the best ways to see everything RMNP has to offer. With more than 300 miles of hiking trails there are hikes at every level of difficulty. Sprague Lake is a beautiful hike that is a little under a mile long and wheelchair accessible, but still with some of the most breathtaking views. One of our family’s favorite hikes is from Bear Lake to Alberta Falls, which is one of the park’s most photographed waterfalls. On our to-do list for this summer is the hike from Fall River Pass to Milner Pass along the old road route which was open from 1918-1932.

One of the most popular activities in RMNP is sports fishing. Today the park has growing populations of brook, brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout. Fishing is fun for all ages but those over 16 need to have a Colorado Fishing license which you can get down in town. There are some special regulations for fishing in a national park, so make sure you read up before you cast your line.

With more than 4.6 million visitors in 2019, the National Park Service has begun a reservation system effective May 26 –October 22. If you know when your family would like to head up for a long weekend or maybe just a day trip, make sure to get your timed reservation either a month in advance, or if you are like us and don’t plan that far ahead, you can still be spontaneous as 40 percent of allotted reservations will be released at 5:00 p.m. the night before.

Go to https://www.nps. gov/romo/planyourvisit/ timed-entry-permit-system.htm for more information.

View from Fall River Road

Beat Lake