The national park is located completely in the state of Colorado. It is in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Front Range is the southern part of the mountain range. It is well known for mountain biking, hiking, lakes, the different wildlife, and the varied climates. Some of the southern parts of the area are very warm and temperate. The mountain peaks can actually edge into the tundra.
Overview
Rocky Mountain National Park hotels and campsites can be reached by three different roads. Highways 34 and 36, as well as State Highway 7, go into the park. Highway 7, however, does not go very far into the park. Due to the temperatures and high elevation, some of the roads are closed by snow during the winters.
The park is 265,761 acres or 415.25 square miles. It is bisected by the Continental Divide, which means that the east and west parts of the park are fairly different. The western portions of the park are lush and wet, characterized by forests. The eastern park portions are dry, which snow-capped mountains.
There are over 300 miles of trails and 400 miles of streams. The park has 72 mountain peaks above 12,000 feet. The highest peak is Longs Peak, which is 14,259 feet above sea level.
Animals
Rocky Mountain National Park hotels offer you the opportunity to stay very close to a wide array of wildlife. Some of the larger animals in the park are mule deer, moose, black bears, bighorn sheep, elk, and mountain lions. In fact, the elk rut is a major tourist attraction for many people. The rut or rutting period is the mating season for deer, elk, antelope, and other ruminant animals. The elk will rub their antlers on trees and bushes. One of the most interesting parts of the rut is the fights. Male elk will fight with each other over the attention of a female. They will also wallow in dirt and mud.
Climate
The warmest months in the area are July and August. The temperatures can reach into the 80s fairly regularly. Also, thunderstorms are very common during this time of year. They occur in the afternoons, and visitors should be below the tree line. During the summer months, the snow tends to melt. However, the snow does not melt above 9,000 feet or so. In the winter, the snow is very deep. The snow buries most of the trails at this time. The spring is not as snowy, but there is light snow at higher elevations. The snow and rain are heavier in the western part of the park. The drier side of the park does feature a decent amount of snow.
