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Rocky Mountain National Park

Trails I've Hiked: Mills Lake And Beyond At Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park, with its sky-scraping peaks, deep valleys gouged out of the landscape by creeks and rivers fueled by snowmelt, and forests thick with conifers and dappled with aspens, is a hiker's dreamscape. Though there are only 355 miles of marked trails, far fewer than Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Glacier, and many other national parks, Rocky Mountain "hikes" much bigger than it seems.

Defiance At Rocky Mountain National Park

Glacial erratic along the trail to Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park/Kurt Repanshek

This glacial erratic rests in aptly named Glacier Gorge in Rocky Mountain National Park. How long has it been there? How long might it be before it's gone? The most recent glaciation across North America was the Wisconsin (also known as the Pinedale glaciation in the Rockies), which lasted from 70,000 to 10,000 years ago.

Kurt Repanshek
Rocky Mountain National Park

Staff At Rocky Mountain National Park Proposing To Permanently Close Crater Trail

Though just a mile in length, short by most national park trails, the Crater Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park has turned into a problem due to erosion, its crossing of an archaeological site, and its passage through an area for bighorn lambing. As a result, park officials are proposing to permanently close the trail and restore that landscape.

Fall Spectacular: What's That Sound? Where To Listen To -- And Look For -- Wildlife in the National Parks

In the fall, animals and birds prepare for winter. Bears eat constantly to fatten up before they slow down. Many birds are already on their migration path. Elk and other ungulates are preparing for the mating ritual, the rut. Take a look -- or stop and listen -- in many national parks this fall and you'll catch a glimpse of this autumnal spectacular.

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Spring can be one of those iffy seasons in the National Park System. You might run into warm, sunny days with an easy breeze at your back. Or, you could find yourself being pelted by sleet, battered by a stiff wind, with grey clouds scooting by overhead. This 56-page guide will help you get the most out of the parks in spring.

Rocky Mountain National Park Officials Looking At Improvements To Fall River Entrance

Rocky Mountain National Park officials are looking at options for improving the Fall River Entrance Station, one of two major entrance stations on the east side of the park. The entrance station is located on US 34, just inside the park boundary. The current station was constructed in the 1960s as part of National Park Service Mission 66 enhancements and contributes to the Fall River Entrance Station Historic District.

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