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Introduction |
In planning your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park be sure to
include at least one walk or hike per day. Getting off the regular roads and
into the backcountry will increase your Rocky Mountain experience.
Allow 1/2 hour per mile and 1/2 hour per 500 feet of elevation gain. Allow more
time if you tend, as I do, to stop and enjoy the views, listen to the birds and
watch animals. As you make your way, you should encounter the golden-mantled
ground squirrels (face with no stripes) and smaller chipmunks (sharply striped
face and back) scampering along the trails. Red squirrels will scold you from a
distance. In additions to the raucous and rollicking of the usual triad of
birds, Steller's jay, Gray jays and Clark's nutcracker, mountain chickadees and
other songbirds will entertain you on your walk. |
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Planning your Walks and
Hikes |
When you plan your day walks and hikes you should keep in mind that
many of the trails are not in the best of shape, thus a good pair of hiking
shoes is a necessity. Also, carry water and high-energy food if you plan any
hike over a half-mile.
Where a walk or hike leads to a good
photographic opportunity, I have included a link to the page that shows the
view. Use your back button on your browser to return to this page. Those hikes
without a link should not be excluded from your consideration as many have
excellent views of the valleys and the Rocky Mountains. I just do not find it
easy to capture these vistas on film. May be next year. |
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Variable Length
Hikes |
| The hikes listed below are classified as variable length so that
you can determine how far you want to walk or be challenged.
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