Located northwest of Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park is a large area that includes magnificent peaks, valleys and nature trails. One of the park's most popular and fascinating features is the tundra that exists above the tree line (11,500 ft/3,505 m).
You can get a good look at the tundra by taking Trail Ridge Road, the park's main thoroughfare. This is a must-drive—the 48-mi/77-km road climbs above the tree line and crosses the Continental Divide, reaching a maximum elevation of 12,183 ft/3,713 m. It's the highest continuously paved highway in the U.S. and is open only from Memorial Day through late October, depending on weather conditions. (Don't be surprised if you feel a little light-headed and your car sounds a little different chugging through the thin air.)
With more than 350 mi/565 km of trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker's paradise. Outings can range from day hikes to very strenuous multiday excursions. Among the wildlife in the park are elk, mule deer, mountain sheep and even some elusive moose on the park's west side along the Colorado River.
Be prepared for major crowds if you visit in the summer. In fact, you'd be smart to avoid the park on weekends, when traffic through Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park inches along. Fall is a wonderful season to go, with fewer crowds, golden aspen leaves and huge herds of bugling elks.
Snowshoeing in the winter is also wonderful. The park has five campgrounds that are accessible by automobile. Two of them—Moraine Park and Glacier Basin—require reservations in the summer but are first-come, first-served in the off-season. Campfire programs, many geared to the family, are held each evening. For hikers, there are additional backcountry campsites, though you'll need a permit for an overnight excursion.
The town of Estes Park is 8 mi/13 km east of the park and serves as its main commercial center. In addition to hotels and restaurants, it has the Estes Park Area Historical Museum and an aerial tramway that runs to the top of Prospect Mountain. The town hosts the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival in early September. It includes all things Celtic, including bagpipes and whiskeys from both Ireland and Scotland, as well as such traditional Scottish athletic events as the caber toss and the hammer throw. Rocky Mountain National Park is 60 mi/95 km northwest of Denver.
