Highlights:
– Elk rutting season
– Pikas
– Alpine hiking
– Yellow Aspen trees
– Proximity to Denver
This park, not far from Denver, Colorado, is a great way to get an introduction to US National Parks. We stopped here for one day only after spending the night with friends in Boulder, Colorado. The park has timed-entry to limit the number of visitors entering at one time. In the summer, you might have to book this a few days (or even longer!) in advance, but as we were in the shoulder season, we were able to book our entry ticket (which is free) right as we arrived.
The rangers at the visitor center were happy to answer our questions about where to see certain wildlife and we were on our way! One ranger even spoke German!
If you find yourself in Rocky National Park in the autumn, especially October, you will get to witness rutting season for the elk. We actually saw many elk ruts on this road trip, but the elk at this park seemed much more active during the day than in other parks we visited. We pulled over to the side of the road a few times to watch large herds of elk and the males fighting just off the side of the road.
Our destination in this park was the Alpine Visitor Center, which is located at 3,595 m above sea level. Unfortunately, the visitor center was already closed when we visited, but the road to get there is amazing. One of the highlight features of the park that is especially interesting is how the landscapes change as you drive higher in elevation, starting around 2,500 m at the park entrance surrounded by beautiful yellow aspen trees, passing through snowy evergreen forests, and ending in a barren tundra. At the top, a short (paved) walk will bring you to a grassy bald with sweeping views of the rocky mountains, the valleys below, and a taste of the alpine tundra. We spent some time wandering around on the hunt for Pikas, which are perhaps the most adorable creature you will see on your trip.
Since we didn’t camp here, I can’t offer any tips about campgrounds, but judging by the map, it looks like there are a handful of options, and I am sure all of them are great! Make sure to check the NPS App or recreation.gov to find availability.