Zephyr Lodge Condo -- Area Information

The most popular things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park
  Drive Trail Ridge Road -- Recommend an early morning start.
  Watch Wildlife -- Dawn and Dusk are best.
  Go on one of the Ranger Lead Programs
  Go Hiking on one of dozens of trails
  Enjoy the Wildflowers
In the winter, the Park is popular with cross country skiers.

A strong recommendation is made for an early morning start.   Arrive at RMNP entrance gate by 9AM.   By starting early, you will be ahead of most of the crowds.  But more important, you will see the Majestic Rocky Mountain Peaks before the daily clouds start to build.

Begin at Kawuneeche Visitor Center near Grand Lake to start  your outing.  For 8 miles, the road runs straight through forests of aspen and ponderosa pine, fir and spruce.   There are regular views of the Kawuneeche Valley to the west [left].  This lovely valley is the start of the mighty Colorado River.  Kawuneeche Valley was settled in the latter half of the 1800's by pioneers.  You can still see some remains of their homesteading.  At dusk [or dawn] this area is one of the top two areas for viewing elk, deer, and other wildlife [the other area is Horseshoe Park on the east side].  Be especially careful and on the lookout as you drive this stretch; striking an elk will do major damage to a car.  Also be careful along this stretch to obey the speed limit.  Rangers run regular radar patrols.

On your right you will pass the starts of several trail heads:  Green Mountain Trail, Onahu Creek Trail, and finally Timber Lake Trail.  These trails climb sharply into the high country to the east.  On your left, you will pass Coyote Valley Trailhead and Bowen Baker Trailhead.  These trails go across the Kawuneeche Valley meadows.  At the 8 mile point, you pass the only automobile accessible campground on all TrailRidge road.  After another mile and again on your left, you pass a parking lot for a trail that leads to the headwaters of the Colorado River. 

At mile 10, Trail Ridge Road starts a serious climb to over 12000 feet.  There are many tight switchbacks to be navigated.  Do not be fooled at how easy it seems to drive up this stretch.  Heading back downhill will be much more difficult.  After another 8 miles, you come to Milner Pass.  This is the point where Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide.  The Continental Divide crosses the road at an almost 90 degree angle and continues to the right and left for about a mile in either direction.  This location is  a relatively 10,120 feet.  You are not yet at treeline.  The rest of the drive eastward drops water that ultimately makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean.  Just past the Continental Divide crossing is Poudre Lake and the start of the Poudre River.

As you continue eastward [and upward] the forest becomes thinner.  You will leave the trees behind at about mile 18.  At tree line, the stunted, wind-battered trees give way to alpine tundra.      At almost mile 20 you will make a big turn to the right -- Medicine Bow Curve.  Park here and enjoy the scenery to the North.   You can see all the way to Wyoming.   Once back in your car, it's just a short [uphill] drive to Fall River Pass and the Alpine Visitor Center.    At first you might not see how Fall River pass gets its name... after all, Trail Ridge road continues to climb uphill... there is a steep drop to your right ... where is the other side of the pass? 

Take a moment to park your car and walk into the visitor center.    Oxygen is scarce at this elevation.  Monitor your exertion.  Look out the windows to the far end and you will see Fall River and the old Fall River Road.  Built in 1921, this road came through Fall River Pass on its way to the Western Slope.  Fall River Road is now open just a few months of the year.  It is one way [uphill].  You may choose to linger a bit at the visitor center, talk to a ranger, or have a bite to eat at the snack shop. 

Back in your car, you will be above timberline for the next 9 miles.   The area above treeline is know as the tundra region.   There is an ever present wind and the temperatures are always 10 to 30 degrees colder than Winter Park.  You are now over 11,500 feet -- well over 2 miles -- above sea level.  Never walk on the tundra.  Damage from mankind can take 30-50 years to heal in this challenging environment where plants have a short 40 day growing season.   In your care, you first climb for another mile and a half -- to 12183 feet above sea level.  Then, you will start a slow downward journey.  There is pull-off at Lava Cliffs where you can see Iceberg pass below.  While at Lava Cliffs, you may see Marmots scurrying around.  Do not feed these cute creatures -- no matter how friendly they appear.   They will try.

A little over 3 miles from the visitor center is the Rock Cut where the road narrows and goes through a slot.   The actual rock cut slot is at the far end of the parking area.  So park first, and take a short half mile hike on a designated trail across the tundra.  Walk uphill slowly since the air is thin.  You can always enjoy the tiny fragile flowers of the tundra.  One year we were very lucky and saw a dozen big horn sheep.   

In another two miles, you come to Forest Canyon Overlook.  This is another popular viewing area.  You look down 3000 feet into the Big Thompson drainage.   Three miles farther down the road is Rainbow Curve.   Along these 3 miles, you will start to see a few trees.  Those which are green are windswept.  Those which are dead were victim to a fire over a half century ago.    Caution is advised along this 3 mile stretch.  It is a steady down hill and easy to get going too fast.  Use low gears to hold you back and save your brakes for the corners where you will have to slow further.

Right after Rainbow Curve, you re-enter the forest.  Trail Ridge road continues its steep downhill.  In less than a half mile, you pass across one of the trails of Hidden Valley Ski Hill which has not operated since the 1980's.   About 4 miles from Rainbow Curve, you come to Many Parks Curve [uphill cars park on your left, around the curve is another parking lot for downhill cars].   Stop at Many Parks Curve and see the "parks" in the forest below.  A "park" is a natural clearing and there are some beautiful ones along the Big Thompson River and other waterways.  Most parks were caused by beavers and their purposeful dams.  Chipmunks abound at Many Parks Curve.  Do not feed them.

Continue downhill another 2 miles and look for pulloffs to your left that head downhill [do not take the pulloff to your left that goes uphill to the old Hidden Valley Ski Area base lodge].  The pulloffs you want are a half mile past Hidden Valley and are home to beaver dams.   A decision is recommended at this point:
 1. Turn around and head back...right back up over Trailridge to GrandLake.
 2. Continue downhill to the town of Estes Park
 3. Return via Fall River Pass Road.
This narrative will continue to describe the Fall River Road return route. 

Just under 2 miles from the Beaver Pond pulloff, make a left turn [stay on US34 / follow the signs to Estes Park], and head to Horeshoe Park.  1 1/2 miles later make another left turn toward Endovalley and Fall River Road.  Drive 2 miles to where the road surface turns to dirt -- navigable by cars.  There are several lovely places to stop along Endovalley or in Horseshoe Park, so it is enjoy the scenery.   Once the road turns to dirt, it is 9 miles of dust and bumps to Fall River Pass and the visitor center/gift shop/snack bar.  Plan on it taking 1-2 hours depending on how frequently you wish to stop.   The prettiest parts are the last 3 miles above treeline. 

Once you have arrived at the
Alpine Visitor Center, you simply retrace your route 20 miles to the national park gate by Grand Lake.   If you've had an enjoyable day, and you are in the Kawuneeche Valley in late afternoon, I strongly advise finding a comfortable spot and waiting for the evening elk and deer.

Deer like brushy meadows and the edges of lower forests in most any season

Elk like open meadows and forest edges.  They are best spotted at dawn and dusk.  During the summer, Elk move up to alpine meadows.

Bighorn sheep like open rocky areas.  Look for them on south facing slopes or in the tundra in the summer.

Pika are small [chipmunk/squirrel size] that live in the rocky talus above treeline.

Marmots are rabbit sized rodents that live in the alpine meadows in spring summer and fall.

Coyote can be seen in open areas of alpine, forest, and wetlands.

Beaver are found in wetlands.  They are generally spotted at dawn and dusk.  Bring mosquitoe repellent.

Red fox may be seen in forest and wetlands.

Squirrels and Chipmunks are frequently seen along trails while hiking.

Bear, Bobcats, and Mountain Lion do live in the Park.  But it's extremely rare to see them.

It is not practical to describe best viewing areas as the animals frequent different areas depending on season, temperature, and other factors.  Stop by the visitor center and ask a ranger.  All total there are 262 species of birds and 67 species of mammals in the Rocky Mountain Park.  Have fun watching....

OTHER URLS TO CONSIDER
Nice pictures and good suggestions for viewing areas.
Some excellent wildlife watching tips.
Rocky Mountain National Park Wildlife Page.
More information from the American Park Network

There are 700 to 900 different species of flowers in Rocky Mountain Park.    Just in the alpine tundra along trail ridge road there are 200 kinds of flowering plants.  Due the number and ubiquity of flower types, you are recommended to a website below.

OTHER URLS TO CONSIDER
Description and pictures of flowers and trees of RMNP.