Standing tall and proud, the 191 craggy peaks of the Rocky Mountain National Park are the crowning aspect of North America's varied landscape to many, reflected in the increasingly large numbers flocking from around the world to this place. Many head over to the grandfather of them all, the towering Longs Peak at 14,255 feet. Fear not however, at a total of 415 square miles it will never feel cramped for space up here in this majestic part of the world.
Perhaps the most suitable place to take in these peaks is on the highest highway in the States, the aptly named Trail Ridge Road. Rising to over 12,000 feet, this is truly one of the finest roads travelled. Built in the 1930s along the path of an old Indian track than spans the Continental Divide, as the route rises and falls over peak and trough you could forgive the temptation to turn off at any of the many sidetracks and explore 350 miles of gentle nature, rolling hillsides, and giant rock monoliths reaching to the sky.
Within the heart of this region lies a cacophony of dense forests to get lost in, rushing streams heaving with leaping salmon throughout the year, glacier-gouged lakes perfect for an afternoon's lazing on a canoe, and endless rolling alpine meadows for recreating scenes from 'the sound of music' with a loved one.
Throughout the area, teeming with woodland wildlife, an expedition at any time of the year could bring sightings ranging from bobcat and mountain lion to elk, mule deer, the famous bighorn sheep (to be found on the park's emblem) and much more.
To stay in the area (as there's nothing in the park itself) you must travel to the nearby Estes Park just 3 miles away. Built at the turn of the 20th century in 1909, the Stanley Hotel, of The Shining fame, is a nearby neoclassical piece of architecture well worth a visit and a stay (in room 217 if the nerves can take it) and offers to the visitor sweeping panoramas of the continental divide and the serene Lake Estes.
The Stanley Hotel can be booked online at www.stanleyhotel.com and is best visited between may and september, perhaps most fun over the 4th July holidays when a huge traditional celebratory affair is laid on for guests.
Visiting the park is also recommended between may and september. Getting there is straightforward enough, lying 80 miles northwest of Denver to the east and through Grand Lake from the west. To view more information about the park online visit www.nps.go/romo.
Angelica D. Stone writes for the adventure travel magazine TravelBX. For more great adventure holiday ideas visit
www.travelbx.com.
