Rocky Mountain National Park, located in Colorado, is one of the most visited parks in the country with more than three million people visiting the park each year. The park’s beauty is breathtaking with more than 100 rising above 11,000 feet within the boundaries of the park. Regardless of your sense of adventure, you can definitely find something fun and engaging to do in the park. 

The scenery of the park can be attributed to a complex geological history dating back almost two billion years. Erosion and recent glaciation have left their scars, producing U-shaped valleys, lakes, and moraine deposits. As global warming continues to melt the glaciers, the park continues to erode and change. 

Visitors are almost guaranteed to encounter a variety of wildlife while in the park. There are more than 67 mammals native to the park. These include black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain lions. The park is also a sanctuary for several endangered species including the Canada lynx, Mexican spotted owl, greenback cutthroat trout, and the Northern American wolverine. 

There are things to do in the park for all people. Hiking is the most popular of the activities in the park. There are countless hiking trails ranging from long all-day hikes to short easy hikes. One of my favorite hikes I did when I visited the park was the Bear Lake and Cub Lake hike. This was a hiking trail that passed by the larger, Bear Lake, before ending at Cub Lake. These lakes are popular for swimming during the summer and an ideal picture spot. Another lake I hiked to was Emerald Lake. This is a slightly more difficult hike but offers an amazing picturesque setting. If looking for a longer, all-day hike, one might choose to summit of the hundreds of peaks in the park. One peak that I hiked was Deer Mountain. This offers views of the park for miles on a nice sunny day. However, it is one of the most popular places for lightning to strike so do not try to hike this trail if there is a possibility of thunderstorms. 

If you would like more extreme activities to do in the park, there are also many opportunities for camping and rock climbing. Wilderness camping is very popular in the park. Also, the wide variety of peaks and granite rock formations provide an abundance of rock climbing opportunities. One of the most popular places to rock climb is Longs peak. I remember watching people hanging from the air on the side of this peak almost every day. 

There are several attractions right next to the park as well. For example, the Araphoe and Roosevelt National forests border most of the park and offer even more recreational activities. Estes Park is located right next to Rocky Mountains National Park and is a great place to stay while visiting and explore. 

Overall, I had a great time exploring and enjoying this park. It was a great place for me and my family to visit because of our love of hiking and being outdoors.