Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park in north-central Colorado protects 415 square miles of alpine terrain that rises from 7,860 feet at the eastern trailheads to 14,259 feet at the summit of Longs Peak, the park's highest point and one of Colorado's 58 fourteeners. The park straddles the Continental Divide and contains over 350 miles of trails traversing three distinct life zones: montane forest, subalpine meadow, and treeless alpine tundra. Trail Ridge Road, typically open from late May to mid-October, is the primary scenic corridor: a 48-mile paved highway that climbs above treeline to 12,183 feet at its highest point, crossing the tundra for 11 miles — the longest continuous stretch of road above treeline in the United States. Multiple pullouts along the road provide tundra viewpoints and access to short walks, with pika and yellow-bellied marmots commonly spotted on the rocky slopes. Bear Lake, reached by a shuttle bus from the Glacier Basin parking area, is the park's most popular single destination: an easy 0.5-mile loop encircles the lake at 9,475 feet with direct views of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. The Emerald Lake Trail from Bear Lake, 3.6 miles round trip, passes Nymph Lake and Dream Lake before reaching Emerald Lake beneath the cirque walls — among the most satisfying short hikes in the American Rockies. The Horseshoe Park and Moraine Park areas near Estes Park are the park's prime elk-watching zones, particularly during the September rut when bulls bugle and spar. Timed entry reservations are required for most park entry points from late May through mid-October; reserve on recreation.gov.