Positioned high atop the Front Range Rockies of central Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park protects a vast area of mountains, tundra, and forest. The continental divide separating the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds jogs directly through the park following a string of peaks in excess of 13,000 feet.
Category: Colorado
National Park Cliff Notes: Great Sand Dunes NP – Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park is geologic curiosity of the American West. At over 700 feet (213 m), these dunes are the tallest in North America, but it’s their location, not their size, that makes them so interesting. Without a desert environment to belong to, the dunes occupy a six mile wide pocket Read More …
Mesa Verde National Park (NP #40), Colorado
Mesa Verde National Park’s (map / wiki) main claim to fame are the pueblo indian villages precariously tucked under its sandstone cliffs. Archeological evidence suggests that Pueblo Indians lived in the area between 550 – 1300 CE. The famous cliff dwellings were only constructed during the last 100 years their time in Mesa Verde. My guess Read More …
Colorado – Miscelaneous
Colorado National Monument (site / wiki): I wound up driving by Colorado National Monument unintentionally. I was in a hurry to get down to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and I almost didn’t stop, but curiosity got the best of me. It turns out Colorado NM is super drivable – you could Read More …
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (NP #39), Colorado
This canyon is unreal.
New Mexico and Colorado – Miscellaneous
I cut through north eastern New Mexico before driving to Colorado. I stopped at Capulin Volcano National Monument (site / wiki). Nothing like a great view, I always say. After I left Great Sand Dunes National Park I drove north, keeping the mountains on my left. There are many cattle ranches and people wave to Read More …
Great Sand Dunes National Park (NP #18), Colorado
Strange Happenings The dunes look out of place. The Sangre de Christo Mountains are postcard Colorado. They stand in formation with a clearly defined alpine tree line and a higher snow line. They corner the dunes from the north and east. Flat grassland and bushes stretch south and west.
Rocky Mountain National Park (NP #19), Colorado (State #35)
Forgive me for skipping ahead a little, but Rocky Mountain National Park scooped a hearty double fudge sundae out of my chest and plopped it on the paper in front of me.