Rocky Mountain National Park

Gore Range photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Hidden among the high peaks of north-central Colorado’s Front Range is a breathtaking sanctuary for wildlife. Moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bears, and mountain lions roam this primeval haven in such large numbers that most are almost impossible to miss. Since 1915 the 415 square miles of lush valleys, dense forests, and alpine tundra these impressive creatures call home have been protected as Rocky Mountain National Park.

The author at the west (Grand Lake) entrance to the park. Photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

My wife and I visited this park over a couple of days earlier this month. We entered from the west near the town of Grand Lake, and on our first evening we ventured a short distance into the park. Near the entrance we were greeted by this osprey (Accipitriformes: Pandionidae: Pandion haliaetus) sitting in its huge nest of sticks:

Osprey photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

From there we headed a few miles up the Kawuneeche Valley where scenic rivers cut through meadows, mountains, and conifers:

Kawuneeche Valley photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Less than a mile up the valley we came across our first gang of elk (Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Cervus canadensis). During our time here we would end up seeing over a hundred of these animals in various places throughout the mountains. They were so common that before long we were joking “What’s that?  Oh it’s just another elk.”

Elk in the Kawuneeche Valley. Photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Once in a while we would see a young calf visible among the foliage:

Elk calf photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

In some of the forests we also came across bulls congregating:

Elk bulls photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

A little farther up the valley we found this moose cow (Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Alces alces) heading to a river for a drink:

Moose cow photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

After several minutes her calf cautiously crouched up through the grass to meet her:

Moose cow and calf photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Just before dusk we stumbled across this bull moose foraging in a creek along the road:

Bull moose photographed 08/05/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

The next morning the valley was bathed in mist and the soft glow of sunrise:

Morning mist and color photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

On this second day we drove across the entire length of Trail Ridge Road, the only route through the entire park. The beautiful peaks here are the result of uplift during the Laramide Orogeny from about 70 to 40 million years ago. Tectonic collision gradually forced these rocks ever upward, and they’re now subjected to the forces of erosion.

Morning mist photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

As we gained elevation we rose above the Never Summer Mountains:

Never Summer Mountains photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

At just under 12,000 feet we arrived at the Alpine Visitor Center. At this altitude the wind was brisk and the temperature was only around 40 degrees F in spite of it being mid summer.

The author at the Alpine Visitor Center. Photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Above the tree line we found a group of bighorn sheep rams (Artiodactyla: Bovidae: Ovis canadensis) basking in the sun and chewing their cud:

Bighorn sheep photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

The huge horns on these beasts were impressive:

Bighorn sheep photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

As we crept up past 12,000 feet we entered the seemingly barren alpine tundra:

Alpine tundra photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

In spite of the elevation and cold, sparse landscape, there were a number of organisms to be found here. First up was this yellow-bellied marmot (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Marmota flaviventris) who seemed to be enjoying the mountain view:

Yellow-bellied marmot enjoying the view. Photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Although closely related to common woodchucks, the bright coats of these mountain dwellers made them more attractive:

Yellow-bellied marmot photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

While trees and shrubs were absent this far up, many different wildflowers seemed right at home here:

Tundra flower photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

These plants are adapted to hug the ground in order to avoid the cold, battering winds at this elevation.

Tundra flower photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

While examining the tundra flowers we heard a lot of distinct squeaking coming from a nearby rock outcrop. The sounds were a lot more noticeable than the tiny creatures making them, leading us to a game of “spot the pika.”

American pika photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Although American pikas (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae: Ochotona princeps) look like rodents, they’re more closely related to rabbits and hares.

American pika photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Even though it was early August there was still some snow to be found along the highest stretches of Trail Ridge Road:

Snow on the Lava Cliffs. Photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Before long we were on our way back down the east side of the park:

Eastern mountains photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

We had one more stop at the Alluvial Fan where a creek rushed down a slope of boulders:

Alluvial Fan photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Here countless chipmunks were scurrying around the rocks and logs:

Chipmunk photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Different wildflowers decorated this subalpine forest:

Meadow flower photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

Back below the tree line were numerous quaking aspen:

Quaking aspen photographed 08/06/2013 at Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado.

After leaving the east side of the park we came across many more bighorn sheep. Adults and lambs alike were scaling the rocky cliffs of Big Thompson Canyon just outside Estes Park:

Bighorn sheep along Big Thompson Canyon. Photographed 08/06/2013 near Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park, Colorado.

Although I’ve thus far visited only 28 of our 59 national parks, I can safely say Rocky Mountain is my new favorite. The diverse, scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife make this a destination that can’t be missed.

Final note:  Rocky Mountain is one of our oldest and most famous national parks and it attracts over four million visitors annually. Most people visit in the summer since many roads are closed by snow from about October through May. If you’re like me and hate crowds, do as we did and visit in the evening or morning on a weekday. We passed very few people on our journey, and wildlife tend to be more active at these times of day. As we left the park around 11am we passed huge crowds of people and cars that were streaming in. It made me glad we got to enjoy the quiet serenity to ourselves before the daytime rush.