Three Ideas For Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Three 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 just a little little bit of something, for everyone, in the Rockies.


Listed here are our top three tips for getting essentially the most out of your subsequent journey to the Rocky Mountains:

1 Get Acclimated
Rocky Mountain National Park starts at the already-lofty elevation of seven,840 feet and extends all the way as much as 14,259 toes on the summit of Longs Peak. Unfortunately, when you’re not correctly acclimated, the high altitude can put a serious damper in your adventure plans.


Decrease oxygen levels can result in labored breathing, elevated coronary heart rate, headaches, fatigue, and even nausea. Because your body is working on overdrive to soak up oxygen, it’s more liable to Altitude Illness and 14er posters different altitude-associated symptoms.


Thankfully, getting acclimated is fairly easy and straightforward. So, earlier than you go full-on-adventure mode, it's possible you'll want to consider the following tips:


Keep 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 doable and drink a ton of water to keep your self hydrated.

Layer up

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


Take it straightforward
It’s perceiveable that you’re desperate to hit the trails, however it's possible you'll need to consider grabbing an excellent book, throwing on a comfy jacket, and spending the afternoon hanging around in a hammock. Low-impact activities, notably in your first day, are top-of-the-line things you can do to get acclimated.


Eat high-calorie foods
If you’re on the lookout for a guilt-free reason to bask in your favorite high-calorie camp meal, you’ll be stoked to search out out that consuming more energy is a good way to assist 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 path! Snickers.

2 Take a Hike
What higher technique to expertise the great thing about the Rockies, than by taking a walk into the woods? With over 300 miles of hiking trails to select from, there’s a trail for each 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 need to do some pre-planning earlier than you arrive.


That can assist you slim down your should-hike list, we’ve included the highest three hikes in the park under:


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

Mt. Ida: A topped-jewel of the park, this 9.6-mile out and back trail 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 general rule of thumb, hikers must be aware of lightning and storm risks when hiking at higher elevations. Try to keep away from notorious afternoon thunderstorms by hiking in the morning and packing correct gear.

3 Take a Drive
One of the vital distinctive experiences present in Rocky Mountain National Park Is the 48-mile Trail Ridge Road, which stretches between Estes Park and Grand Lake. Known by locals as the ‘highway to the sky,’ Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in 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 also gives a uncommon alternative to drive past the thick subalpine forest into the alpine tundra. In fact, eleven miles of the highway extends above the tree line!


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


Weather conditions along Trail Ridge Road, significantly in the alpine tundra, are recognized to be unpredictable and resemble climate you’d discover in the Canadian Arctic. It’s common for guests to experience extremely high winds and temperatures that are 20 to 30 degrees cooler than neighboring Estes Park. Don’t overlook to pack your Ororo Heated Jacket, so that you get warmer, quicker, and are protected against the wind on your alpine journey!