Every year, Colorado experiences an influx of visitors. In 2015, the annual rate was up, increased in various areas, including winter tourism. For those who planned a Rocky Mountain National Park vacation – either visiting or staying there, 2014 was a memorable year. The numbers totaled 3,443,501.
A Rocky Mountain Park Vacation
Why do people visit Rocky Mountain Park? Why do they make it a part of their vacation, sometimes returning every year? The answer can be summed up in a single word – Nature. The great outdoors calls to something in all of us. It reaches down deep and pulls.
Rocky Mountain National Park is a wonder of nature, a “Crown Jewel” of Colorado. It is where visitors come to see the awesome beauty and power of nature on display. Some are willing to spend their vacation camping in the outback areas. Others compromise – They spend their nights in hotels, bed and breakfasts or lodges in nearby Grand Lake, their days exploring the wonders of the Park.
What is special about a Rocky Mountain National Park vacation? Nature performs on a grand scale for all the visitors to view. You can involve yourself at various levels. Spend the day hiking along any of the paths and trails that make their way through the Park. Consider climbing up to the apex of Longs Peak. You can also wander along various trails to the many of the 150 lakes and any of the various creeks and streams that dot the park’s landscape. Bring a picnic and relax before you make the hike back.
Alternatively, drive along the various scenic routes that surround the Park. For many visitors, the Bear Lake Road or the Old Fall River Road provide the best views of such sights as the glaciers surrounding Bear Lake or Chasm Falls. If you want to travel along the world’s highest continuous paved highway, take the Trail Ridge Road from the Park to Grand Lake.
In winter, while many of the scenic driving trails are no longer accessible, you can make your way around the park. The hiking trails become snow trails and you can use snowshoes or cross-country skis to travel to many of the sights. However, if you want to be motorized for your winter travel, you are going to have to leave the park. Only in nearby towns such as Grand Lake can you enjoy the pleasures of snowmobiling.
Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation: Staying and Playing in Grand Lake
For those who want to snowmobile or simply want to explore the region around the Park, consider what Grand Lake has to offer. Its proximity to the Park allows you easy access anytime it is open. If the weather is inclement or you want to expand your horizons, you can enjoy the many pleasures of the town. At the Grand lake Chamber, we know that the town has much to offer. From accommodations to the pleasures of year round recreation – including accommodation, dining and shopping, our town offers you the chance to make your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation memorable.