Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado is on land acquired by the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. The Rocky Mountain National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915. The act established the park boundaries and protected the area for future generations. In the 1930's Trail Ridge Road, the main automobile route through the park was build by the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. This road stretches between Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. Its highest point, at 12,183 feet above sea level, is near Iceberg Pass. Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved road in North America.
Within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park are mountains, alpine lakes and a wide variety of wildlife. The park is made up of diverse ecosystems, from wooded forests to alpine tundra to high rugged mountains. In 1976, the United Nations designated the park as one of the first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. More than 100 peaks rise above 11,000 feet in altitude, including Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. Longs Peak, which can be seen from a wide area of Colorado, was named in honor of explorer Stephen Harriman Long and is featured on the Colorado state quarter. The peaks of the national park surround the Estes Valley, providing residents and visitors with incredible beauty and inspiration. Many of the taller peaks make up the Continental Divide, where snowmelt runs either west to the Pacific Ocean or east to the Gulf of Mexico. The headwaters of the famous Colorado River are located in the park's northwestern region near La Poudre Pass. The Colorado River system supplies water for much of the Southwest United States.
Within the boundaries of Rocky Mountain National Park are mountains, alpine lakes and a wide variety of wildlife. The park is made up of diverse ecosystems, from wooded forests to alpine tundra to high rugged mountains. In 1976, the United Nations designated the park as one of the first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. More than 100 peaks rise above 11,000 feet in altitude, including Longs Peak at 14,259 feet. Longs Peak, which can be seen from a wide area of Colorado, was named in honor of explorer Stephen Harriman Long and is featured on the Colorado state quarter. The peaks of the national park surround the Estes Valley, providing residents and visitors with incredible beauty and inspiration. Many of the taller peaks make up the Continental Divide, where snowmelt runs either west to the Pacific Ocean or east to the Gulf of Mexico. The headwaters of the famous Colorado River are located in the park's northwestern region near La Poudre Pass. The Colorado River system supplies water for much of the Southwest United States.
This gallery contains some of my favorite Rocky Mountain National Park images that are available as downloads and fine art prints. To view the gallery, click here or on the photo collage above. When you are in the gallery, click on a thumbnail to enlarge an image. To navigate the images click on the arrows. To see the captions click on the (i) symbol.
