Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is close to Estes Park, Colorado and may be the prettiest of all the parks in Colorado.

There are things to do at this park all year long. Hike and bike, fish and swim, camp, ride horses. This is a family-friendly park with lots of activities for the kids to enjoy.

In winter, you can play in the snow, cross-country ski, go for a snowshoe walk, go sledding, or ride a snowmobile.

Your kids will love the wildlife. They will see bighorn sheep, Abert's squirrels, beavers, cougars, black bears, mule deer, moose, elk, marmots, bats, pikas, and a variety of birds, insects, toads, and butterflies.

This park has 355 miles of hiking trails. Due to the elevations, which range from 7,500 to over 12,000 feet, you should be in good physical condition. Eat healthy meals, get plenty of sleep, and make sure you drink plenty of water, especially while you are out on the trails.

The weather can change quickly from a sunny summer morning to a heavy afternoon thunderstorm.

The scenery throughout this park is spectacular from the mountains to the 150 lakes, not to mention the 450 miles of streams. If you like photography, you will have a blast taking photos of all of the beauty.

Reservations for camping should definitely be made as the camp sites fill up all summer long. Cabins and even hotels in Estes Park stay full during the summer so make reservations many months in advance. From Denver, take Route 34 or 36 through Estes Park.