I arrived in Rocky Mountain National Park late yesterday afternoon. It was raining when I arrived and it rained all afternoon and night. I got up early this morning to find elk in the campground. I saw them enter the camp just before dusk to feed on the grass and apparently they stayed there all night. After I broke camp down, I headed up Trail Ridge Road. It is the highest continuous motorway in the United States, with more than eight miles lying above 11,000′ and a maximum elevation of 12,183′. The name “Trail Ridge Road” derives from its proximity to historic pathways used by native peoples to cross the Rocky Mountains.
I had a wonderful time viewing the landscape and wildlife along the road. Some of the highlights were three moose, dozens of ground squirrels, pika, and yellow-bellied marmots, and a coyote killing a ground squirrel. The morning was clear but the rainy pattern began again early in the afternoon so I decided to head back toward Arkansas.
Below are a few of my favorite photos from Rocky Mountain National Park.
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