Top Of The World: Trail Ridge Road

Alluvial Falls In Rocky Mountain National Park

    As a long time resident of Colorado, I have seen some truly remarkable sites, but for me, nothing can rival the sheer majesty of Trail Ridge Road.  It takes you from the lush forests and peaceful meadows to roughed peaks and formidable tundra.  Here you can truly see the Rocky Mountains at there best.

     Trail Ridge Road begins in the touristy, but fun town of Estes Park.  This is a great place to stock up on supplies, to shop at one of the many souvenir shops along the main drag, or you can enjoy a succulent elk burger in one of the cute little restaurants that permeate this well visited town.  Once you get your tourist bug worked through, then head into Rocky Mountain National Park.  This massive park (415 square miles) is home to over 72 named peaks 12,000 ft. above sea level, including the legendary Longs Peak (14,259 ft.).  As you wander through this majestic park you will quickly realize that over one third of it is above 11,400 ft. in elevation.  So be prepared for cold climates, high altitudes and unpredictable weather.  In fact, the last time I traveled to the top of this amazing trail, was in June and it snowed on me.  So always be aware of the constant changing climate.

     As you begin your ascent to the top of the pass you will stumble across spectacular waterfalls and pristine lakes.  This is a wonderful opportunity to spot white tailed deer, big horn sheep and the ever impressive North American elk.  In fact, if you come here in September and October you can hear the male elk's bugling to attract female.  It is truly a sight or more appropriately, a sound to behold.  Besides these massive land mammals, Rocky Mountain National Park has a large population of black bears, mountain lions, wolves, foxes, coyotes, eagles, hawks, and so much more.  In the last couple of decades, The Department of Wildlife has began to introduce lynx, wolverines and moose back into this incredible woodland.  So after you have spotted several of these amazing wild creatures, head higher up.

 

     As you increase in elevation, you will notice that the trees begin to get more and more sparse as the views become even more spectacular.  In the sub alpine area of the park, the drop offs are vast and you can view the valley below.  These picturesque views points can provide you with some real perspective on how high you are up and how far you have traveled.  As you proceed up the road, you will emerge in the alpine tundra.  This is a land that is covered in small plants and brightly colored flowers as well as cool breezes and patches of snow that last the year round.  Here you can see adorable yellow-bellied marmots scrounging for food and see massive glaciers slowly eroding the mountains before your very eyes.  For those who do not know, this is the highest paved road in North America and once you finally reach the summit, 12,183 feet above sea level, you will feel like you have reached the absolute top of the world!

     Once you have taken that last picture at the summit, begin your decent to the bottom.  As you head west, you will drop dramatically in elevation.  Within a five mile stretch you will literally decrease your elevation by 2,000 feet.  Besides the intense drop of in elevation, it will also place you on the other side of The Continental Divide.  This means that every drip of water that you will now encounter is heading to The Pacific Ocean, instead of east towards the Mississippi River.  You will now find yourself back in a thick woodland.  This is the place to look for moose.  These incredible animals were once hunted to extinction in Colorado, but due to The Department of Wildlife, they have made a remarkable comeback.  Nowadays, there are several hundred moose found in these thick woods.  So as you continue your journey down this legendary road, keep a lookout for these massive and majestic animals. 

     Finally, you will arrive in the cute resort town of Grand Lake.  This is a wonderful place to grab a bite to eat, and reminisce over the sites and experiences that you just have witnessed.  Most visitors to Trail Ridge Road will tell you that this is more than just a scenic ride into the mountains, but is a chance to see some amazing things and provide you with the opportunity to experience what the Colorado Rockies are all about.

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