From Glacier Gorge Junction on the Bear Lake Road, the north trail winds its way up the north slope of the peak through the great burn of 1900 and joins the east trail at Granite Pass, a mile and a half below the Boulder Field cabin. The distance to the Boulder Field by this trail is 9 miles.
From the Boulder Field cabin the ascent to the summit may be made by either of two routes. The north face route, which is the shorter, climbs the precipitous north side of the summit, skirting along the rim of the east precipice, with magnificent views down the sheer drop of 1,200 feet into Chasm Lake in the gorge below. The Longs Peak climb includes the hazards usual to any major mountain ascent. Visitors are cautioned that use of the assisting cables on the North Face route is at their risk and the Government is in no way responsible. The other route leads across the Boulder Field to the Keyhole, half a mile distant and some 500 feet higher, where there is a small storm shelter.
On passing through the Keyhole, one sees the imposing Front Range, and 2,000 feet below the Glacier Gorge. To the left there is a narrow, steeply inclined ice-filled gulch, called the Trough. Finally, after what is to the amateur often an exhausting climb, one passes along the Narrows, up a steep incline known as the Homestretch.
The trip to the Keyhole is well worth while for those who do not care to climb Longs Peak, but who do wish to see at close range the rugged grandeur of the mountains. Another splendid foot trip from the Boulder Field cabin is to Chasm View, half a mile distant, where one sees the precipitous east face of Longs Peak, from the summit down to Chasm Lake, 2,500 feet below.
One may ride on horseback almost to Chasm Lake. The view from here is magnificent, and the upper gorge is one of the most impressive in the park. Both Chasm Lake and the Keyhole may be visited in a day. This is an exceptionally fine trip, and if horses are used it is not difficult.
The splendid Wild Basin area south of Longs Peak and east of the Continental Divide is dotted with lakes of superb beauty in a sublime mountain setting. It is entered from Copeland Lake by an unimproved road up the North Fork of St. Vrain Creek, which soon lapses into a trail. From mountain tops on the south may be had unsurpassed views of the snowy mountains. The largest lakes of Wild Basin—Thunder Lake and Bluebird Lake—are both above timberline but are easily accessible by trails.
The North and East Inlets are the two principal rivers entering beautiful Grand Lake. Each flows from cirques under the Continental Divide. Lake Nokoni and Lake Nanita, among the most romantic of the park, are reached from a trail connecting with both sides of the park by the Flattop Trail. Lake Verna and her unnamed sisters are the beautiful sources of the East Inlet and are reached by trail.
Grand Lake On The Western Edge Of The Park
While not yet as celebrated as the showier and more populated east side, the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park has rugged charm. The Continental Divide, bent from the north and called the "Never Summer Mountains", rises from the western shore of the Colorado River. On every side the mountains lift bald peaks, magnificent canyons penetrate the precipices of the Divide, and beautiful streams rush down the mountain slopes to the river.
There are few places which offer as many diversions as Rocky Mountain National Park. The Estes Park Golf and Country Club has an excellent 18-hole golf course and a tennis court. Several hotels have croquet and tennis courts. There is much motoring, horseback riding, fishing, and hiking. The motorist may skirt the loftiest of snow-splashed mountains for miles, or he may motor up the Trail Ridge Road and leave his car to start afoot on mountain-top tramps and picnics, or across the Continental Divide to Grand Lake. The horseback rider may find an infinite variety of valley roads, trails, and cross-country courses, and the hiker strike up the mountain trails into the rocky fastnesses.
A Typical Park Scene
Fishing is permitted in all streams and lakes of the park except as closed by order of the superintendent. Information regarding closed areas may be obtained at any ranger station. All of the lower streams and lakes, and many of the lakes in the higher altitudes, are well stocked with trout. The State of Colorado stocks the park waters, and, therefore, a Colorado State license is required for males over 16 years of age. These may be purchased in the villages of Grand Lake and Estes Park. Fishing tackle can be purchased or rented from several stores in the village of Estes Park.
A fish hatchery, operated by the State of Colorado, is located on the Fall River Road, 4 miles west of Estes Park. This hatchery supplies about 1,000,000 trout fry every year to the streams and lakes of this vicinity. The process of hatching and caring for the trout is explained to visitors, and the hatchery has proved to be of interest to many thousands each year.
At Estes Park and the smaller settlements nearby, and at Grand Lake, horses and complete camping outfits may be had at reasonable rates. General groceries and suitable equipment, including clothing and shoes, can be purchased from the general stores in Estes Park Village. Saddle horses may be rented at many of the hotels. There is much horseback riding throughout the entire district.
There are many competent guides in the vicinity who will arrange special trips, either on foot or by saddle horse, and either stopping at hotels or camping out, according to the preference of the party. A list of authorized guides can be secured at the park information office.
Rocky Mountain National Park has unusual advantages for winter sports, interest in which is steadily increasing. The town of Estes Park is readily accessible by automobile, and hotel accommodations are available there every month in the year. The Rocky Mountain National Park Ski Club has constructed ski courses near Estes Park where tournaments are held periodically. Cross-country trips may be taken in the high mountainous country where the snowfall is heavy and where good skiing conditions prevail during the winter and early spring. Allens Park and Grand Lake also have ski clubs and ski courses. Skijoring, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and skating may also be enjoyed.
Rocky Mountain National Park is under the control and supervision of the Director of the National Park Service, who is represented in the administration of the park by a superintendent, assisted by a number of park rangers who patrol the reservation. Thomas J. Allen, Jr., is superintendent of the park, and his post office address is Estes Park, Colo.
Exclusive jurisdiction over the park was ceded to the United States by act of the Colorado Legislature of February 19, 1929, and accepted by Congress by act approved March 2, 1929. The United States commissioner for the park may be reached through the superintendent's office.
An information bureau is maintained at the national park museum building in Estes Park to supply visitors with desired information regarding accommodations, transportation schedules, foot trips, guides, and other information relative to the park.
The post office for the park and many hotels and resorts on the east side is Estes Park, Colo. There are post offices at Longs Peak and Allens Park, but letters addressed to Estes Park will be forwarded. The west-side post office is at Grand Lake, Colo.
Illustrated lectures are given at various points throughout the park and vicinity each evening. Nature hikes, from a few hours to a day in length, are conducted regularly.
A museum of natural history containing interesting exhibits is located near the office. An information office is maintained in the same building, which dispenses road and general information. A small branch museum is located at Fall River Pass. A museum of Indian and historical material is located on the main highway in Moraine Park.
A complete schedule of the week's activities is posted at all hotels, lodges, and campgrounds. For detailed information inquire at the museum. There is no charge for any of the above-mentioned activities.
The National Park Service maintains six free public campgrounds, as follows:
Squeaky Bob Campground, located on the Trail Ridge Road, 38 miles west of Estes Park, and 12 miles north of Grand Lake.
Glacier Basin Campground, located on the Bear Lake Road, 7 miles from Estes Park.
Aspenglen Campground, located on the Fall River Road, 5 miles from Estes Park.
Wild Basin Campground, 15 miles south of Estes Park on the North St. Vrain Creek at the park boundary.
Endovalley Campground, located on the Fall River Road, 9 miles from Estes Park.
Longs Peak Campground, located at the beginning of the east Longs Peak Trail near Longs Peak post office.
Motorists and others who bring camping equipment with them will find that these campgrounds are attractive places in which to enjoy life in the open. Both wood and water are readily available.
From June 15 to September 20 the hotels are open, daily transportation service through the park is available, and the park may be explored most conveniently and thoroughly. The roads to Estes Park, by way of Lyons and the Thompson Canyon, remain open throughout the year and the village has daily transportation and mail service. Some of the hotels in Estes Park are open all the year. The national park is never closed to visitors and every season offers its particular attractions. The autumn coloring is remarkably beautiful. The aspens start to turn early in September, and from that time until the middle of October the hillsides are streaming in golden color. In the winter those who enjoy snowshoeing, skiing, and other sports will find the park excellently adapted to these invigorating pleasures. Those portions of the park having an elevation of 9,000 feet or more are covered with a thick blanket of snow during most of the winter months. In the spring one may watch the snow line climb steadily up the slope of the mountains. Birds and early flowers appear in the valleys while winter still reigns on the higher mountains.
The Trail Ridge Road remains open to travel until the first heavy snowfall. This usually occurs in October, and the road is not passable again before June 15. Other lower roads have a longer season, and even in mid-winter one may usually go by automobile for 5 or 6 miles beyond Estes Park Village before finding the roads closed by snow.
Denver, the gateway to the western national parks, is reached by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Rock Island & Pacific; Colorado & Southern; Denver & Rio Grande Western; Denver & Salt Lake; Union Pacific; and Missouri Pacific railroads. For information regarding fares, service, etc., apply to railroad ticket agents.
The Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. operates regular daily automobile service to the park from the following places: Denver, leaving at 8:45Â a.m. and 2:30Â p.m.; Greeley, 9:15Â a.m.; Fort Collins, 7:45Â a.m.; Loveland, 9:50Â a.m.; Longmont, 9:45Â a.m.; Lyons, 11:30Â a.m.; Boulder, 9:35Â a.m. Corresponding return service from Estes Park is available, return trips for Denver starting from Estes Park at 8:15Â a.m. and 1:45Â p.m.
From June 15 to September 20 automobile connection is made at Granby, Colo., for a tour of the park by way of Grand Lake and Estes Park to Denver, leaving Granby at 12 noon daily. Auto service is available also, leaving Grand Lake at 5:35Â p.m. and arriving at Granby at 6:05Â p.m.
The United Airlines, operating 18-hour transcontinental service through Cheyenne, connects with Wyoming Air Service for Denver, which in turn connects at that point with the Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. service to the Rocky Mountain National Park. From the south, T.W.A., Inc., and American Airlines, in their transcontinental services through Albuquerque and El Paso, respectively, connect with Denver by the Varney Speed Lines.
Five special all-expense tours from Denver to the park and return to Denver are offered by the Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. from June 15 to September 20. Denver is about 85 miles from the park, and for $16 (transportation cost only) you can make a 2-day trip, entering the park through picturesque Big Thompson Canyon, crossing the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains twice, and stopping at Grand Lake, Estes Park, Clear Creek Canyon, Idaho Springs, and Lookout Mountain. This tour affords fine panoramas of the Rocky Mountains from elevations above 12,000 feet. Another 2-day tour follows the same route but includes lunch at Estes Park, dinner, night's lodging, and breakfast at Grand Lake Lodge, and lunch the second day at Idaho Springs. The cost is $22.
The 3-day tour is leisurely enough to permit the traveler to spend a night at Estes Park Chalets and 1 at Grand Lake Lodge. The cost is $27, including meals and lodging. The 4-day trip includes 2 nights at Estes Park Chalets and 2 at Grand Lake Lodge; the cost is $32. On the 6-day trip which costs $44, 3 days are spent at Estes Park Chalets and 3 at Grand Lake Lodge. These tours are leisurely and permit ample time for fishing, horseback riding, or hiking.
Tours similar to the above, but connecting with the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad at Granby, are available at the same rates. Special all-expense tours from Granby, through the park, to Estes Park and Denver are available also at similar rates.
The traveler who has no car available or does not wish to drive his own machine in the mountains may take advantage of the special trips offered from June 15 to September 20 by the Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. at Estes Park. The Trail Ridge, Fall River, and Highdrive loop trip of about 50 miles costs $5 and requires about 4 hours. One can go in the morning, leaving at 8:30 o'clock, or in the afternoon at 2. The Estes Park-Grand Lake trip of about 47 miles costs $5 one way and $8 for a round trip. One can leave Estes Park at 8:45Â a.m. or 2:30Â p.m. Two other daily loop trips are made from Estes Park for $4 a person. Stops are made at the Fish Hatchery, Horseshoe Park, Fall River Lodge, Fern Lake Trail, Brinwood Hotel, Stead's Hotel, Glacier Basin, Bear Lake, Sprague's Lodge, and the Y.M.C.A. Cars leave Estes Park at 8Â a.m. and 2Â p.m. Proportionate charges are made for anyone not desiring to make the entire trip. Between September 20 and June 15 these rates apply only when four or more passengers make the trip.
Touring-car service is also available at 30 cents a mile for two passengers, 40 cents for three, 50 cents for four, and 10 cents a mile for each additional passenger. Waiting time costs $3 an hour.
Passenger and freight service within the park is operated by the Rocky Mountain Parks Transportation Co. under a franchise from the Secretary of the Interior, with rates approved by him.
The seven hotel and lodge operations in Rocky Mountain National Park are conducted with private capital under franchise from the Secretary of the Interior at rates subject to his approval.
This booklet is issued once a year and the rates mentioned herein may have changed slightly since issuance, but the latest rates approved by the Secretary are on file with the superintendent.
Bear Lake Lodge, located on Bear Lake, offers cabin accommodations, ranging in price from $2.50 to $3.50 a day and $15 to $20 a week. Meals: Breakfast, a la carte; luncheon, 65 cents to $1; dinner, $1 to $1.50. Rates, American plan, range from $4.25 to $6 a day and $26.50 to $34 a week.
Fern Lodge, on Fern Lake, offers cabin accommodations, without bath, American plan only, at the same rates charged at Bear Lake Lodge.
Forest Inn, located at "The Pool" on Fern Lake Trail, offers board and lodging (tents) at prices from $3 to $4 a day and $15 to $20 a week. For cabin accommodations the charge is from $4 to $5 a day, and $20 to $25 a week. Single meals are 75 cents each.
Grand Lake Lodge, near Grand Lake, open from June 15 to September 20, operates on the American plan and rates are from $5 to $7 a day; weekly rates 10-percent reduction of daily rates. Single meals: Breakfast, 75 cents; luncheon, $1; dinner, $1.25.
Brinwood Hotel, at the head of Moraine Park, offers American-plan service at from $3.50 to $6.50 a day and $21 to $40 a week. Saddle horses may be rented at $2.50 a half day, $4 a day, $21 a week, and $75 a month.
Camp Woods, at the junction of Bear Lake and Moraine Park roads offers housekeeping cottages at from $2.50 a day for two persons to $6 a day for six persons. By the week: From $14 for two persons to $35 for six. By the month: From $45 for two persons to $60 for five persons.
Sprague's Lodge, in the Glacier Basin, provides American-plan accommodations at the following rates: By the day, $4 to $6; by the week, from $24.50 to $40; 4 weeks, $84 to $133.
There are many hotels, lodges, and camps located on private lands in or adjacent to the park. The National Park Service exercises no control over the rates and operations of these hotels. Furnished cottages may be rented in Estes Park, Grand Lake, and elsewhere on private lands in or adjacent to the national park. Information concerning hotels and cottages not under the control of the National Park Service may be obtained by writing the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Estes Park, Colo., or the president of the Grand Lake Commercial Club, Grand Lake, Colo.
2 miles by auto, by horse or on foot.
Good trip with distant view of Longs Peak from top.
2 miles on foot.
Excellent panorama of range and Estes Park Valley.
¾ by auto; ¾ on foot
Good snappy climb, with view of village and park.
4 miles by horse or on foot
Auto can be taken to Mountain top of Deer Ridge and mountain climbed from there.
2 miles by auto; 3½ on foot.
Interesting examples of erosion.
11 miles by auto; 4½ by horse or on foot.
Excellent horseback or foot-trail trip to Continental Divide.
11 miles by auto.
Glacial Lake. Fishing.
6 miles by auto; 1 by horse or on foot.
Former ranger station.
6 miles by auto; 3½ by horse or on foot.
Wooded mountain trail.
6 miles by auto; 5½ by horse or on foot.
Beautiful wooded trail; heavy forest; lake with wonderful setting.
6 miles by auto; 6½ by horse or on foot.
Lake of spectacular alpine beauty. Flowers and snow.
8 miles by auto; 1½ by horse or on foot
On huge moraine in heavy timber. View of range.
10 miles by auto; 2½ by horse or on foot.
Remarkable glacial evidences; fire-killed forest; lake of unusual alpine beauty.
9 miles by auto; 2 by horse or on foot to pass; 6¼ miles to Bear Lake road.
Moraine; timberline growth.
6 miles by auto; 2 by horse or on foot.
Beautiful aspen and blue-spruce trail.
8 miles by auto; 4 by horse or on foot.
Wild trail to glacial lake under precipices of Mount Ypsilon
8 miles by auto; 6¼ by horse or on foot.
Good mountain trip of varying interest. Fall fishing.
8 miles by auto; 7½ by horse or on foot; ½ on foot.
Timberline; glacial lake in glacial cirque.
8 miles by auto; 7½ by horse or on foot; 2 on foot.
Largest glacier in park. Great mountain view.
22 miles by auto; 2 by horse or on foot.
Interesting volcanic formations. Mountain sheep.
8½ miles by auto; 3½ by horse or on foot.
National Park Service fire lookout. View of entire country.
10 miles by auto; 4 by horse or on foot; ¼ on foot.
Timberline; terrific glacial work; high perpendicular precipices.
11 miles by auto; 4½ by horse or on foot; ½ on foot.
Short stiff climb. Expansive view of hundreds of square miles of country.
10 miles by auto; 7 by horse or on foot; ½ on foot.
Spectacular views of Glacier Gorge and Longs Peak.
The above trips may be combined as follows: 1, 2, and 3; 1 and 18; 2, 5, and 6; 3 and 4; 4, 5, and 6; 9 and 10; 11 and 12; 12, 13, and 14; 17 and 19.
Mount Meeker And Long Peak
4 miles by horse or on foot.
10 miles by horse or on foot.
10 miles by horse or on foot.
Lake Nokoni.
10 miles by horse or on foot.
10 miles by horse; 2 on foot.
12 miles by horse or on foot.
2 miles by horse or on foot.
3 miles by horse or on foot.
8 miles by horse or on foot.
8 miles by horse; 5 on foot.
5 miles by horse or on foot.
13 miles by horse, on foot, or by auto.
13 miles by horse, on foot, or by auto.
18 miles by horse, on foot, or by auto.
5 miles by horse or on foot.
3 miles by horse, on foot, or by auto.
22 miles by horse, on foot, or by auto.
47 miles by horse or auto.
Longs Peak post office.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Glacier Basin.
Bear Lake.
Fern Lake.
Fern Lake.
The Pool.
Copeland Lake.
Estes Park.
Estes Park.
Estes Park.
Horseshoe Park.
Estes Park.
Estes Park.
Phantom Valley Ranch.
Phantom Valley Ranch.
Phantom Valley Ranch.
Phantom Valley Ranch.
Estes Park.
Flattop shelter cabin.
Estes Park.
Estes Park.
Note: ¹ Not within park boundaries.
Specimen Mountain
Shipler Mountain
Trail Ridge
Mount Ida
Terra Tomah Mountain
Mount Julian
Stones Peak
Flattop Mountain
Hallett Peak
Otis Peak
Taylor Peak
Thatchtop
McHenrys Peak
Storm Peak
Chiefs Head
Pagoda
Longs Peak
Mount Lady Washington
Mount Meeker
Mount Alice
Andrews Peak
Tanina Peak
Mount Craig
Mahana Peak
Ouzel Peak
Mount Adams
Deer Mountain
Twin Sisters
Estes Cone
Battle Mountain
Lookout
Mount Orton
Meadow Mountain
Mount Copeland
The tables on the preceding pages show that there are 65 named mountains within the area of the park that reach altitudes of over 10,000 feet grouped as follows:
Over 14,000 feet
1
Between 13,000 and 14,000 feet
14
Between 12,000 and 13,000 feet
27
Between 11,000 and 12,000 feet
13
Between 10,000 and 11,000 feet
10
Romantic Loch Vale
Albright, Horace M., andTaylor, Frank J. Oh, Ranger! A book about the national parks. Illustrated.
Bird, Isabella L.A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains. 1890. 296 pp., illustrated. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
Bishop, Mrs. Isabella L.(See Bird, Isabella L.)
Boyer, Warren E.Vanishing Trails of Romance. 1923. 94 pp., illustrated.
Chapin, Frederick H.Mountaineering in Colorado. 1890. 168 pp., illustrated. W.B. Clark, Boston, Mass.
Faris, John T.:
Roaming the Rockies. 1930. Farrar & Rinehart. 333 pp., illustrated.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 228-246.
Roaming American Playgrounds. 1934. 331 pp., illustrated. Farrar & Rinehart.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 129-131.
Frothingham, Robert.Trails Through the Golden West. Robert M. McBride, New York.
Hart, John L. Jerome.Fourteen Thousand Feet. 2d ed., 1931. Colorado Mountain Club, Denver. 71 pp.
Hewes, Charles Edwin.Songs of the Rockies. 1914. 129 pp., illustrated. Edgerton.
Jackson, William H., andDriggs, H. R. The Pioneer Photographer. 1929.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 143-152.
Jeffers, Le Roy. The Call of the Mountains. 282 pp., illustrated. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 87-95; 262.
Kane, F.J.Picturesque America, Its Parks and Playgrounds. Published by Frederick Gumbrecht, Brooklyn, N.Y., 1925. 521 pp., illustrated.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 157-176.
Longyear, Burton O.:
Trees and Shrubs of the Rocky Mountain Region. 1927. 244 pp., illustrated. G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York.
Evergreens of Colorado. 1925. 82 pp., illustrated. Multigraph Service Bureau, Fort Collins, Colo.
Mills, Enos A.:
Wild Life on the Rockies. 1909. 263 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
The Spell of the Rockies. 1911. 348 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
In Beaver World. 1913. 223 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
The Story of a Thousand Year Pine. 1914. 38 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Rocky Mountain Wonderland. 1915. 362 pp., illustrated, map. Houghton, Boston.
The Story of Scotch. 1916. 63 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Your National Parks. 1917. 532 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
The Grizzly, Our Greatest Wild Animal. 1919. 284 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Adventures of a Nature Guide. 1920. 271 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Waiting in the Wilderness. 1921. 241 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Watched by Wild Animals. 1922. 243 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Wild Animal Homesteads. 1923. 259 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
The Rocky Mountain National Park. 1924. 239 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Romance of Geology. 1926. 245 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Bird Memories of the Rockies. 1931. 263 pp., illustrated. Houghton, Boston.
Mills, Joe.A Mountain Boyhood. 286 pp. 1926. Sears.
Quinne, Vernon. Beautiful America. 333 pp., illustrated. Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York City. 1923.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 260-262.
Rensch, H. E.Historical Background for the Rocky Mountain National Park. 1935. 42 pp. Rocky Mountain Nature Association.
Rolfe, Mary A. Our National Parks. Book One. 1927. 320 pp., illustrated. Benj. H. Sanborn Co., Chicago.
Yard, Robert Sterling:
The Top of the Continent. 1917. 244 pp., illustrated. Scribners.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 16-43.
The Book of the National Parks. 1926. 444 pp., 74 illustrations, 14 maps and diagrams. Scribners.
Rocky Mountain National Park on pp. 93-117.
Wilbur, Ray Lyman, andDu Puy, William Atherton. Conservation in the Department of the Interior.
Chapter on national parks, pp. 96-112. Illustrated. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1931.
Yeager, Dorr G.:
Bob Flame, Rocky Mountain Ranger. 1935. Illustrated. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York.
Scarface, the Story of a Grizzly. 1935. Illustrated. Penn, Phila.
Yelm, Betty, andBeals, Ralph L. Indians of the Park Region. 1934. 52 pp. Rocky Mountain Nature Association.
Sheer Peaks Rise Above Picturesque Dream Lake