3 Ideas For Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

3 Ideas For Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is greatest identified for its incredible scenic hiking trails, breathtaking alpine surroundings, and abundance of wildlife. With so many things to see and do, there’s slightly little bit of something, for everybody, in the Rockies.


Listed here are our prime three ideas for getting probably the most out of your next trip to the Rocky Mountains:

1 Get Acclimated
Rocky Mountain National Park starts on the already-lofty elevation of 7,840 ft and california posters extends all the way in which as much as 14,259 toes at the summit of Longs Peak. Unfortunately, if you happen to’re not properly acclimated, the high altitude can put a severe damper in your adventure plans.


Decrease oxygen levels may end up in labored breathing, elevated coronary heart rate, headaches, fatigue, and even nausea. Because your body is working on overdrive to take in oxygen, it’s more liable to Altitude Sickness and other altitude-associated symptoms.


Fortuitously, getting acclimated is pretty simple and straightforward. So, before you go full-on-adventure mode, it's possible you'll need to consider the next ideas:


Stay hydrated
There’s no such thing as too much H20 in a temperate climate like the Rockies. Attempt to keep away from caffeinated, sugary drinks as much as attainable and drink a ton of water to maintain yourself hydrated.

Layer up

Not only must you regulate the climate, however you need to assume that temperatures will change all through the day – they typically do within the Rockies. Layer your clothing or pack appropriately to ensure you can keep your core body temperature, regardless of the place you might be in the park. Packing lightweight, well-insulated sweatshirts, like the Ororo Heated Hoodie, or a fleece-lined, waterproof jacket, just like the Ororo Heated Jacket, will give you versatility and comfort in Rocky Mountain’s varying climates.


Take it simple
It’s perceiveable that you’re eager to hit the paths, but chances are you'll need to consider grabbing a superb book, throwing on a comfortable jacket, and spending the afternoon hanging round in a hammock. Low-impact actions, significantly in your first day, are the most effective things you are able to do to get acclimated.


Eat high-calorie meals
When you’re on the lookout for a guilt-free reason to indulge in your favourite high-calorie camp meal, you’ll be stoked to search out out that consuming more energy is a good way to help your body acclimate to high altitudes. At high altitudes, your body is working harder and desires more fuel, so, pack an extra Snickers in your daypack before you hit the trail! Snickers.

2 Take a Hike
What better option to expertise the beauty of the Rockies, than by taking a walk into the woods? With over 300 miles of hiking trails to choose from, there’s a path for every type of hiker in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hikes range from highly accessible wilderness walks to arduous treks up 14,000-foot peaks, so you’ll want to do some pre-planning before you arrive.


That can assist you narrow down your must-hike list, we’ve included the highest three hikes in the park beneath:


Bear Lake Loop: A short .6-mile stroll that gives views of Hallet, Longs Peak, and early morning reflections in a subalpine lake. This trailhead also gives access to 3 different notable trails: Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake.

Mt. Ida: A crowned-jewel of the park, this 9.6-mile out and back path offers sweeping views of the alpine tundra, as well as Mummy Range, Mt. Julian, Longs Peak, and other notable Rocky Mountain landmarks.

Fern Lake: A 7.8-mile trek that ends in incredible views of Notchtop and Little Matterhorn. Hike this path to expertise cascading waterfalls, subalpine lakes, and a chance to view some wildlife!

As a common rule of thumb, hikers should be aware of lightning and storm risks when hiking at higher elevations. Attempt to keep away from notorious afternoon thunderstorms by hiking in the morning and packing proper gear.

3 Take a Drive
Probably the most unique experiences present in Rocky Mountain National Park Is the forty eight-mile Trail Ridge Road, which stretches between Estes Park and Grand Lake. Identified by locals as the ‘highway to the sky,’ Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road within the United States and crosses the Continental Divide at an astonishing 12,183 feet.


In addition to providing awe-inspiring views of the Rockies and quite a lot of wildlife sightings, Trail Ridge Road additionally supplies a uncommon opportunity to drive beyond the thick subalpine forest into the alpine tundra. In fact, eleven miles of the highway extends above the tree line!


Roughly midway by means of your adventure, you possibly can drop by the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest customer’s heart in the National Park System, and seize a chew to eat or a cup of coffee.


Climate conditions along Trail Ridge Road, particularly within the alpine tundra, are identified to be unpredictable and resemble weather you’d find within the Canadian Arctic. It’s common for visitors to experience extremely high winds and temperatures which are 20 to 30 degrees cooler than neighboring Estes Park. Don’t neglect to pack your Ororo Heated Jacket, so that you get warmer, faster, and are protected from the wind on your alpine journey!