National Park Journal

editor's note

It often surprises people to discover Colorado is home to North America’s tallest sand dunes, some of the country’s oldest Native American ruins, the park service’s highest paved road at 12,183 feet and a canyon so deep it dives 2,700 feet to the Gunnison River. All of these sights are in Colorado’s four national parks. And up until this issue, we placed them all under the umbrella of our National Park Journal, Rocky Mountain.For 2019, we are thrilled to present National Park Journal, Colorado. This issue grew out of many conversations around our National Park Trips Media staff table. As more travelers have hit the road to explore national parks, we realized our magazine title, National Park Journal, Rocky Mountain, was limiting. It didn’t reflect the breadth of experiences…

paperless trail

OnlineVisit MyColoradoParks.com to find out where to stay and what to do during your vacation. Interested in exploring other national parks? Check us out: MyGrandCanyonPark.com MyOlympicPark.com MySmokyMountainPark.com MyYellowstonePark.com MyYosemitePark.com MyUtahParks.com Trip PlannerStart planning your dream vacation by requesting our tip-filled Colorado Trip Planner online. You also can request vacation planning materials from our partners across the West. NewsletterSign up for our weekly newsletter when you are on MyColoradoParks.com. We cover tips on how to avoid crowds, best sights along the way and more. WorkshopsJoin us for our online and in-person National Park Photography Workshop series. With Tamron’s professional photographers, we offer instruction on how to take night skies, sunset, sunrise…

colorado’s big four

BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK At this impossibly sheer, narrow canyon in southwestern Colorado—at its thinnest points, the gorge spans just 40 feet at the Gunnison River and 1,100 feet at the rim—rock walls plunge as deep as 2,722 feet. Intrepid hikers and rock climbers can venture into the depths on several very steep, unmaintained trails. Other visitors prefer to peer into the chasm from a network of trails lining the north and south rims. Anglers also love the park for its fantastic and revered trout fishing. Learn more on page 27. GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE Is this south-central Colorado or the Sahara? The continent’s tallest sand dunes join the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountains here. Hike the striking High Dune on…

wildlife field guide

ElkThese 800-pound animals are nearly ubiquitous in and around Rocky. The best time to see elk is September and October when herds gather for the mating season, also known as “the rut.” Hear the bulls bugle in Rocky’s Kawuneeche Valley, Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park and Upper Beaver Meadows. MooseAs the largest member of the deer family, moose have long snouts, bulbous noses and dewlaps under their throats, which set them apart. Introduced to northern Colorado in the 1970s, they are frequently sighted on Rocky Mountain's west side along the East Inlet and Onahu trails, in Big Meadows and the Kawuneeche Valley. Look in areas full of willows and aquatic vegetation. Abert’s SquirrelThese curious-looking squirrels have rabbit-like ears, setting them apart from the average squirrel you see in your backyard.…

park pass

A day park pass costs $30 and a 7-day pass costs $35/vehicle (subject to change). Buy either online or at park entrance stations. Purchase the Rocky Mountain National Park Pass for $70 for unlimited visits to the park for 12 months.Planning on visiting more than one park this year? Consider the America the Beautiful annual pass for $80.The Access Pass is a free lifetime admission for U.S. citizens/ permanent residents with lifelong disabilities. The Senior Pass is a one-time $80 fee for U.S. citizens/ permanent residents 62 and older. Fourth-graders and their families get a free one-year pass. Print out a voucher at everykidinapark.gov and bring it to a park entrance to get the pass. ■…

a love story

When you drive up Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the mountains you’ll see is Longs Peak. Piercing the sky at 14,259 feet, it has a curiously flat summit that bears a striking resemblance to an uneven table top. It attracts avid hikers from all over the world to climb it.What many don’t know is the love story entangled with the peak. Without it, Rocky Mountain National Park might not exist. It started in 1884 when 14-year-old Enos Mills arrived in Estes Park, Colo., from Kansas. When he spotted Longs Peak, it was love at first sight. He positioned his small log cabin, so he would have fantastic views of Longs. He climbed the peak 40 times on his own and an additional 300 times…