Rocky Mountain National Park
August 18th, 2006
A vast park, Rocky Mountain National Park features elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the valleys to 14,259 feet at Longs Peak. Trail Ridge Road at 12,183 feet is the highest, continuous, paved road in the United States. 150 lakes and 450 miles of streams provide a variety of lush plant life.
There are several ecosystems within the park including the montane, the subalpine and the tundra. Forests of pine and grassy hillsides dominate the montane ecosystem. The subalpine ecosystem features spruce and fir trees. Finally the alpine tundra has a small but dense carpet of plants. Igneous and metamorphic rocks create the mountains and valleys. The continental divide runs north to south through the park.
355 miles of hiking trails include flat lakeside strolls and steep mountain climbs.
