Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

The Best of the Rockies Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), in Colorado, shows off the best of the Rocky Mountains. Its air is fresh and clean. Its mountain lakes mirror high peaks above them. The park is home to mountain lions, moose, and many other wild animals. Nature lovers can enjoy the park by car or on foot.

Young Mountains Rocky Mountain National Park is a small part of the Rockies. They stretch 3, 000 miles (4, 828 km) from Canada to New Mexico. Compared to other mountain ranges, the Rockies are young. They were pushed up between one hundred and sixty-five million years ago.

The Rockies form the Continental Divide. The mountains divide which way water flows. Water on the western side flows west into the Pacific Ocean. Water on the eastern side flows east into the Atlantic Ocean.

From Moose to Marmots Rocky Mountain National Park has wet areas and forests of pine and aspen trees. Mountain wildflowers dot open areas with bright colors in summer. The trees stop growing at about 11, 000 feet (3, 353 m). This is called the tree line. Above this line, it's too cold and rocky for trees to grow.

Different areas in RMNP are home to different animals. Elk and deer feed in the fields and forests. Moose wade in wet places and chomp plants there. A few bobcats, mountain lions, and black bears live in the park, too.