Sect. of the Interior, Ken Salazar (Colorado native), has deemed 2 Free weekends, July 18-19 and August 15-16, for outdoor enthusiasts to visit their National Parks. Rocky Mountain National Park is only a beautiful 45 minute drive from Winter Park. After a long hike, you will want a great place to stay. Give us a call for the perfect condo in Winter Park.
As of May 22, the one and only road through Rocky Mountain National Park is officially open. This is a spectacular drive from Grand Lake, over the divide, to Estes Park. On the way, you will most likely see tons of wildlife and definitely amazing views. Be sure to stop at the Alpine Visitor’s Center at the top of the divide and take the short hike for the best views. Always have extra warm clothing with you, as the temperature is always colder at the top.
The park is offering “Free-Admission Weekends” during the summer to help promote affordable vacations. Take the family for a ride to the top of the world. Check out more on Rocky Mountain Nat. Park.
With a signature from Woodrow Wilson in 1915 Rocky Mountain National Park was established. The tenth U.S. National Park is 358 square miles of lush green valleys and streams to the wind swept top of Longs Peak. Rocky Mountain National Park is a grand living display of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. From the wet grassy valleys to Longs Peak summit at 14,259 ft. the park is a visual masterpiece. If you have not visited the park I recommend you do so. The Rocky is just a short drive of about 40 minutes (25 miles) from Winter Park and Fraser. See map.
The activities are endless in the summer: hiking, fishing, biking, scenic drives, camping, and climbing and mountaineering. There is something at the park for everyone especially the kids. Activities in the winter are a bit more limited but just as fun if not more. And in the fall the buggling elk are something to behold. The park is open everyday of the year!
Park entrance fees are $20 per car and $10 per person on motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds and scooters. There are also camping fees for overnight stays.
A wonderful day trip can be had driving to Grand Lake for breakfast then a nice drive thru the park with a late lunch in Estes Park and a return trip back to Winter Park for dinner.
We packed up the twins last week and drove to Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the male elk call to the other male elk – something I guess that happens just at this time of year around dusk. What a sight! My photo does no justice to the scene – not even worth posting (thanks camera)! We got out of the car and there was a female elk right in front of us (a bit scary when holding an 11 month old). Then we saw a field of them and could hear the male elk calling the others for a “fight” I guess? An amazing thing to see even if you have to feed babies in the back of a car for 45 minutes on the way home.