-
VISITATION:
-
3.1 million in 1994; highest in July and August; lowest in December.
-
LOCATION:
-
Estes Park, CO
-
ADDRESS:
-
Headquarters: Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO 80517
-
TELEPHONE:
-
(970) 586-1206, for general information.
(970) 586-1333, phone recorded message.
(970) 586-1319, TDD.
(970) 586-1242, backcountry information.
(970) 627-3471, West Side information.
-
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
-
Open 24 hours a day, year round.
-
CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
-
Summer; sunny mornings, possible afternoon thunderstorms and cool nights.
Winter; cool conditions to blizzard conditions with extreme temperature
variations. Weather conditions change quickly in mountainous areas and
snow is possible year round. Wear appropriate dress for each season; comfortable
clothing, dress in layers, rain gear, and sunscreen.
-
DIRECTIONS:
-
Visitors traveling from North-South on I-25: exit highway 34 or highway
36, westbound to Estes Park. Continue on highway 34 to the north entrance,
or highway 36 to the south entrance, where park headquarters is located.
Visitors traveling from the East-West on I-70: exit highway 40
north to Granby, north on highway 34 to Grand Lake and continue on highway
34 to the west entrance.
-
TRANSPORTATION:
-
To Park: access by state highways 34, 36, and 7.
In Park: personal vehicle, bicycle, summer season limited shuttle bus
service on Bear Lake Road and public transportation: tour buses.
-
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
-
$10.00 per private vehicle; $5.00 per bicyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian;
$10.00 for Golden Age passport; $50.00 for Golden Eagle passport; and
free for Golden Access passport.
An annual pass for Rocky Mountain National Park is also available for
$20.
Backcountry permit fee is $15.00.
-
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
-
Headquarters Visitor Center and Kawuneeche Visitor Center offer park orientation
exhibits and movies; open daily, closed December 25. Moraine Park Museum,
"The Making of a Landscape", geology exhibits; open daily, May through
mid-October. Alpine Visitor Center, "The Land of No Trees", alpine tundra
ecosystem exhibits; open daily, Memorial Day through mid-October. Combination
forest service and park service exhibits explore the Longs Peak area at
the Lily Lake Visitor Center; open daily, June through August. The Never
Summer Ranch examines historical dude ranching; open mid-June through Labor
day. Corral Creek information station open daily; mid-June through Labor
Day. Sheep Lakes information station; open daily, mid-May through mid-
August.
-
Trails, Roads:
-
There are 355 miles of trails ranging from easy to strenuous. There are
82 miles of paved roads, and 28 miles of unpaved roads. Trail Ridge Road
(highway 34), crosses the park and rises to 12,183 feet, with ten miles
of road above tree line. Trail Ridge Road is open Memorial Day through
mid-October. Fall River Road, one-way uphill only, is nine miles of gravel
road and meets Trail Ridge Road at Fall River Pass. Fall River Road is
open July 4 through mid-October. Bear Lake Road, highway 36, and lower
sections of highway 34, are open year round. Roads close temporarily, due
to weather conditions.
-
Programs/Activities:
-
Ranger led activities daily, during the summer, and weekends, during the
winter. Special programs held year round.
-
Lodging and camping facilities:
-
Lodging available in Estes Park and Grand Lake.
Five Campgrounds (577 sites); Longs Peak, Aspenglen and Timber
Creek are first come, first served. Moraine Park and Glacier Basin are
reservation campgrounds.
Please call Bioshperics at (800) 365-2267 for
camping reservations at Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds. Longs
Peak, Moraine Park and Timber Creek campgrounds are open year round. Group
sites available at Glacier Basin.
Backcountry camping by permit only. Designated backcountry sites
(269) and zoned areas. There is a $15.00 permit fee during summer, with
reservations suggested. Permits are required for bivouacs.
-
Food/supplies:
-
Available in towns of Grand Lake or Estes Park and snack bar located at
gift shop at Fall River Pass.
-
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
-
In summer, horse stables and gift shop available. The Rocky Mountain Nature
Association operates book centers in each visitor center.
-
Accessibility:
-
Park Headquarters, Lily Lake, Moraine Park Museum, Alpine Visitor Center
and Kawuneeche Visitor Centers are accessible with some ranger led activities.
Trail to Bear Lake, Beaver Boardwalk, Sprague Lake and Coyote Valley trails
are accessible, as well as the backcountry site located at Sprague Lake.
Most campgrounds, amphitheaters, overlooks and bathrooms are moderately
accessible.
-
Special Needs:
-
Parking areas at the Alpine Visitor Center and Colorado River Trailhead
are available for buses. Many other overlooks can accommodate buses depending
on traffic volume. Shuttle bus operates on Bear Lake road during summer.
-
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
-
Scenic driving tours, hiking and bicycling, camping, backcountry camping,
skiing and snowshoeing, limited snowmobiling, picnicking, ranger led activities,
wildlife and wildflower viewing and birdwatching.
-
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
-
Camping reservations for Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds. Please
call Biospherics at (800) 365-2267 for camping reservations at Moraine
Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds. Backcountry camping and bivouac permits,
call (970) 586-1242.
Reservations for outreach school programs must be made in advance.
Environmental Education fee waivers for school groups should be made two
weeks in advance, (970) 586-3777.
Commercial filming permits are required, (970) 586-1278.
-
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
-
Day trips for scenic driving tours. Several days to a week for hiking,
camping, and wildlife viewing.
-
SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
-
Ranger led programs are offered daily through the summer and frequently
during the remainder of the year. Evening campfire programs are offered
at campgrounds. Special lecture series and programs occur year round. The
Rocky Mountain Nature Association offers summer seminar programs, 1-800-816-7662
or 970-586-0108. Both the towns of Grand Lake and Estes Park hold special
activities.
-
VISITOR IMPACTS:
-
Information regarding road closures, trail conditions and closures is provided.
-
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
-
Shops, stores, lodging, food and restaurants are available in the towns
of Estes Park and Grand Lake.
-
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
-
Write: Superintendent, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park CO 80517,
or call (970) 586-1206. Estes Park Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-443-7837.
Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce, 1-800- 531-1019.