Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of Colorado’s largest national parks which supports on average over three million visitors a year, making it one of the most visited parks in the country.
More about the Park
Overview
Rocky Mountain National Park is located within the Front Range of Colorado and covers 265,769 acres (358 square miles) of wilderness. The park was established in 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act. The park is known for its diverse wildlife, a multitude of different ecosystems, and scenic views such as those on top of Longs Peak, the only “14er” in the park at an elevation of 14,259 feet. The mountains that make up the park, along the rest of the Rocky Mountains, were uplifted during the Laramide Orogeny starting around 70-80 million years ago and ending roughly 35 million years ago. More recently repeated glaciation events during the last several million years eroded thousands of feet of rock and sediment. This significant erosional period proceeded to carve the region, shaping the peaks and valleys we see today. Wide U-shaped valleys leading broad cirques, steep arêtes, and tall mountain peaks are characteristic features found throughout the park.
