In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
In association with Hikercentral.com
and Goingoutside.com
My name is Will Wilson, I've made this mountain website for your information and enjoyment.
If you are about to go on a backcountry hiking trip you need these items.
| MOSQUITO PROTECTION | Mosquitoes used to be annoying but now you have to worry about all kinds of germs they might carry as well, make sure you protect yourself from these filthy creatures in some way. | |
| DUCT TAPE | If you don't bring duct tape you might regret it. It's great for securing broken legs and arms. | |
| FOLDING TOOL | Multi purpose tools are great things, you can do so many things with a good one. | |
| LAMP | Light is a very important thing to have wherever you are since you can't see without it. | |
| SLEEPING BAG | You can get a cheap sleeping bag for about 25 bucks and it'll be just as warm as an expensive one, but it won't be as light and as compact when rolled up, that's the difference. | |
| STOVE | Simple wood stoves are making a comeback bigtime. After all it makes perfect sense, why should you bring fuel with you when you can burn wood instead. The Trailstove by the small company Stratus has come up with the best design so far. It has no batteries or fans that can break down (some wood stoves on the market do). The Trailstove is so simple it could have been made in the stone age (if they would have had stainless steel). |
CATCH ANIMALS WITH A ROLLING SNARE
Pick a spot where animals have an easy time passing by surrounded by natural obstacles where they would have a hard time passing through and where there is a small tree.
Find a piece of wood about an inch in diameter and a few inches long, cut a notch in it.
Find another piece of wood also about an inch in diameter but about a foot long. Cut a notch in this piece of wood too close to one end. Sharpen the other end of this stick, the notches on the two pieces should be such that they fit in each other and can take a good amount of pull along their axis but let go easily if the smaller stick is pushed sideways.
Make a lasso type knot on the string you will use and tie the
string to the shorter stick in such a way that the lasso reaches the stick when
open.
Bang the sharp end of the longer stick
into the ground with a rock.
Tie the rope to the tree at an appropriate height and with an
appropriate length of string. You may need to adjust this later to get it
right.
Hook the notch of the short stick to the notch
of the long stick.
Suspend the loop in the air with a couple of small twigs. That's it, all done.
Check your snares often since an animal may be able to escape, if
you want you can attach some type of noise maker that goes off when an animal
gets pulled up in the air. It's very important that you beat the animal to death
before you take it out of the snare since they will bite you if they get a
chance.
Estes Park, CO
Established by Congress on January 26, 1915, the park exhibits the massive grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide and looks out over dozens of peaks that tower more than 13,000 feet high. Longs Peak, the highest peak in the park, is 14,255' in elevation. The high point on Trail Ridge Road is 12,183'. The road is closed from late fall, to the Memorial Day weekend. Because of the high elevation of the park (8,000' to over 14,000') visitors need to take time to acclimatize. People with various medical problems should check with their physician before coming to the park. Elk, mule deer, big horn sheep, moose, coyotes and a great variety of smaller animals call the 416 square miles (265,769 acres)of the National Park home. During the winter months snowshoeing and cross country skiing are very popular. Hiking is available on 346 miles of trails. Many trails can be hiked any time of the year. June and July are the best months for seeing the wild flowers. Weather conditions determine when and where flowers bloom; call 970-586-1206 for up to date information. In the fall, viewing the elk rut (mating season) is a wonderful opportunity to see and learn about these magnificent large animals. Almost 90% of the park is managed as wilderness, making it a great place to enjoy solitude and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
CONTACTS
Email - ROMO_Information@nps.gov
Fax- 970-586-1256
Write to
Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 Highway
36
Estes Park, CO 80517-8397
Phone
Visitor Information - 970-586-1206
Visitor
Information Recorded Message - 970-586-1333
Visitor Information(TDD) -
970-586-1319
Backcountry - 970-586-1242
Campground Reservations -
800-365-2267
TRAVEL BASICS
Operating Hours,
Seasons
Open 24 hours a day, 12 months of the year. Pets are
allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas and along road sides, but not on ANY
park trails. Pets cannot be left in cars unattended.
Getting There
PLANE - Denver International Airport
CAR - Via U.S. routes 34, 36 from the east through Estes Park, Colorado and from from I-70 and U.S. Rt. 40. to U.S. Rt.34 through Granby and Grand Lake,
BUS - None
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Amtrak at Granby, then via a private shuttle service to the park.
Weather & Climate
Four distinct seasons. November through
March cold and windy H - 20 - 30 L -10 +20. April and May variable with
possible snow storms. June through August typical mountain summer
conditions. September through October quite variable with possible snow
storms.
Accessibility
Most facilities are marginally accessible or
better. Contact the park at 970-586-1206 for a detailed accessibility
brochure.
Getting Around
Private transportation is needed, except for a
shuttle bus in the Moraine Park and Bear Lake areas during the peak summer
season - June through Labor Day.
FEES/PERMITS
Entrance Fee
BICYCLE OR
MOTOR CYCLE PER PERSON
$5 for 7 Days
$30 for Annual
DAILY ENTRANCE FEE - PASSENGER CARS
$15.00 for 7 Days
$30 for Annual
CAMPING
Aspenglen
Open From
05/10/2002 To 09/23/2002
The campground has 54 sites situated along
Fall River just inside the Fall River Entrance on US Rt. 34, 5 miles west
of the town of Estes Park. THE CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER. It is
scheduled to reopen mid-May, 2002. Fee is $18 per site per
night.
For More Information on this campground please call
Information: 970-586-1206
Glacier Basin
Make Reservations
by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP
Open From 05/23/02 To 09/23/02
THE
CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER. IT WILL REOPEN MAY 23, 2002. Located
7 miles west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center off of the Bear Lake Rd.
Most sites are in a lodgepole pine forest. Glacier Creek runs by the
campground. Good hiking trails are easily accessed from the campground.
The camping fee is $18 per night per site. The campground closes for the
winter on September 23rd. Between September 10 and 23 the campground will
be on a first come, first served basis.
For More Information on this
campground please call 970-586-1206
Longs Peak
Open
All Year
Nestled near the trailhead to Longs Peak, the campground's 26
sites are for tents only on a first come/first served basis. During July
and August, most campers rise early to hike the Longs Peak Trail. Water is
turned off for the winter; the fee is $10 per site per night. When the
water is on, the fee is $18 per site per night.
For More Information
on this campground please call Information:
970-586-1206
Moraine Park
Make Reservations by Phone at
1-800-365-CAMP
Open All Year
Moraine Park Campground is open year
'round. It is located off of the Bear Lake Rd., 2 1/2 miles from the
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Sites are mostly in a ponderosa pine forest
and looks out over Moraine Park, a large meadow area with the Big Thompson
River flowing through. The campground is first come, first served from
Labor Day to late-May. The water is currently turned off; the fee is $10.
Group camping is available during the winter months on a first come, first
served basis; fees are based on group size. Reservations accepted for
camping between May 23, 2002 and September 23, 2002. When the water is on
the fee is $18 per site per night.
For More Information on this
campground please call Information: 970-586-1206
Timber
Creek
Open All Year
The 100 sites are set on high ground looking
out over the Kawuneeche Valley and the Colorado River. Fishing and hiking
are readily accessible. Moose regularly visit the valley, along with elk
and mule deer. The water is shut off for the winter; the fee is $10 per
night per site. When the water is on (during the summer months), the fee
is $18 per site per night. Group camping is available during the winter
months.
For More Information on this campground please call
Information:
970-586-1206
FACILITIES
Museums
MORAINE
PARK MUSEUM
Phone - 970-586-1206
Location - Off of the
Bear Lake Road, 1 1/2 miles from the Beaver Meadows
Entrance.
Closures - Closed for the winter.
Exhibits -
Natural history exhibits in the museum. A half-mile nature trail
begins at the museum.
Available Facilities - Restrooms. Book
Corner. Elevator between first and second floors. All facilities
handicapped accessible.
NEVER SUMMER RANCH
Phone -
970-627-3471
Location - Nine miles north of the Grand Lake park
entrance on U.S. Rt. 34.
Closures - Closed for the winter;
scheduled to reopen mid June, 2002.
Exhibits - Ranch maintained
as 1920's dude ranch. Ranch buildings and equipment available for
viewing.
Available Facilities - A one half mile trail from the
parking lot leads to the ranch. Fully accessible vault toilets at the
parking lot, not at the ranch. Trail and ranch facilities marginally
accessible.
Visitor Centers
ALPINE
Closed for the
winter. The opening date is usually on or around the Memorial Day weekend.
Phone - 970-586-1206
Location - AT Fall River Pass at
the junction of Trail Ridge and Old Fall River roads, 4 miles east of the
Continental Divide.
BEAVER MEADOWS
Open All Year
Open daily.
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone - 970-586-1206
Location -
On U.S. Rt. 36, 3 miles from the town of Estes Park at the park
entrance.
Special Programs - Orientation film of the park shown
on request. Saturday night programs presented at 7:00 p.m. in the
auditorium.
Exhibits - Large topographical map of the park.
Available Facilities - Visitor Information. Book Corner.
Restrooms on lower lever. Handicapped accessible restrooms on main level.
Located in the park headquarters building.
FALL RIVER
Open
weekends only until spring. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m.
Phone -
970-586-1206
Location - On U.S. Rt. 34, 5 miles west of the town
of Estes Park, at the Fall River Entrance to the park.
Exhibits -
Wildlife exhibits.
Available Facilities - Visitor
information, restrooms. Fully handi-capped accessible. "Discovery Room"
for children.
KAWUNEECHE
Open All Year
Open daily. 8:00 a.m.
- 4:30 p.m.
Phone - 970-627-3471
Location - 1 mile
north of the town of Grand Lake on U.S. Rt. 34 at the entrance to the
park.
Special Programs - Programs presented on the second
Saturday evening of each month at 7:00 p.m.in the visitor center
auditorium. The December 8th program is The Grand Chorale and will be
presented at the Grand Lake Community Center. Call 970627-3471 for more
information.
Exhibits - 3D Topographical map of the park.
Cultural and natural history exhibits.
Available Facilities -
Book Corner. Fully accessible restrooms. Backcountry
office.
LILY LAKE
Phone - 970-586-1206
Location -
On Colorado Rt. 7, 6 miles south of the town of Estes Park, opposite
Lily Lake.
Closures - Closed for the winter.
Exhibits -
Cultural and natural history exhibits at the center. A handicapped
accessible nature trail around the adjacent lake
Available
Facilities - Accessible flush and vault toilets.
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