Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain Regulations
You can help preserve and protect the park by honoring the following NPS regulations. Contact a visitor center if you have any questions.
• Camp only within designated campsite areas.
• All weapons, including air pistols and rifles, bows and arrows, crossbows and slingshots are prohibited. The use of fireworks and firecrackers is also prohibited.
• Gathering firewood within the park is prohibited. Pur-chase bundles of firewood at campgrounds and in neighboring towns. Fires may be built in established fire pits only. Put out fires properly.
• Stay on established trails—"shortcutting" them damages the environment.
• Remember to pack out everything that you pack in.
• Pets are permitted in campgrounds, picnic areas and along roads, provided they are on leashes not exceeding six feet. They must be under control at all times and never left unattended, even in a car or at a campsite. Pets are not permitted on trails, in areas away from roads or away from any developed area. Kennels are available in Estes Park.
• Please take home only pictures and memories. Vandalism or removal of rocks, plants, fossils or any item is strictly prohibited. Some of the park's wildflowers are protected species. Please don't pick or trample them.
• It is illegal to feed, pet, hunt, capture or disturb wildlife in any way. While some animals seem accustomed to people, they are wild and may cause injury. Take wildlife pictures from the road or trailside.
Safety Tips
• Be prepared for rapid changes in weather year-round. Carry extra clothing and rain gear (ask a ranger about essential items to bring).
• Swimming isn't recommen--ded in lakes, rivers or tributar-ies. The water is very cold and the current is strong. Don't risk it.
• Giardia lamblia flourishes everywhere in the streams and lakes of the Rockies. This tiny protozoan causes Giardiasis, whose symptoms include diarrhea, cramps and bloating. Always carry adequate water supplies and don't drink any water from streams or lakes unless you are able to purify it using a filter, iodine or by boiling for 10 minutes.
• Visitors from lower elevations may experience high-altitude sickness: shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, headache, rapid heartbeat and occa-sion--ally nausea. It takes several days to adjust to the elevation change, but symptoms can be minimized by resting, eating lightly, drinking more water, avoiding cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine and limiting strenuous activity.
• Hypothermia occurs when you are so chilled that your body can no longer warm itself. This can happen at any time, even on a cool summer day if you are tired and wet. Warning signals include shivering and disorientation. Seek shelter and warm yourself by drinking warm liquids. Medical assistance may be necessary.
• Lightning poses a hazard at all altitudes. If you are hiking and see a storm coming in, retreat to a building, car or forested location.
• To prevent blisters, wear comfortable, broken-in shoes or boots that suit your needs and the terrain. Likewise, choose quality outdoor socks to wear for cushioning and protection.
• Snow often lingers well into the summer on steep mountain slopes. It's easy to lose your footing on these slippery snowfields.
• Contact a ranger or visitor center for assistance with any medical emergency or call (970) 586-1203 or 911.
Rocky Mountain In Depth
News from the Parks
Kautz Creek: Nature's Power Is Evident
August 28, 2008 - 5:06pm
I used to know exactly how many switchbacks it took to get to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground from Kautz Creek. I have forgotten the number, but there are many. I did remember most of the trail was in the forest, an advantage on a hot day.
August 28, 2008 - 5:06pm
I used to know exactly how many switchbacks it took to get to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground from Kautz Creek. I have forgotten the number, but there are many. I did remember most of the trail was in the forest, an advantage on a hot day.
Popular N.C. Beach Reopened for Vehicles
August 28, 2008 - 4:58pm
A popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks that has been closed to off-road vehicles has been reopened by the National Park Service in time for Labor Day weekend visitors.' The Cape Hatteras National Seashore said Thursday the area known as Bodie Island Spit is open to give fishermen access to Oregon Inlet.
August 28, 2008 - 4:58pm
A popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks that has been closed to off-road vehicles has been reopened by the National Park Service in time for Labor Day weekend visitors.' The Cape Hatteras National Seashore said Thursday the area known as Bodie Island Spit is open to give fishermen access to Oregon Inlet.
Redwood Park's Hofstra Gets National Award
August 28, 2008 - 4:56pm
Longtime Redwood National Park senior biologist Terry Hofstra was awarded the U.S Department of the Interior's second-highest honor Wednesday in Orick. Hofstra though he was going to a party celebrating the park's 40th anniversary -- which is indeed this year -- but instead found himself the focus of the gathering of about 200 park employees and friends.
August 28, 2008 - 4:56pm
Longtime Redwood National Park senior biologist Terry Hofstra was awarded the U.S Department of the Interior's second-highest honor Wednesday in Orick. Hofstra though he was going to a party celebrating the park's 40th anniversary -- which is indeed this year -- but instead found himself the focus of the gathering of about 200 park employees and friends.
When Traveling, Boingo is the Road Trip's Best Bet
August 28, 2008 - 4:54pm
Boingo Wireless, the global market leader in Wi-Fi, announces the addition of NomadISP to the Boingo Roaming Network, giving Boingo members access to close to 300 new hotspots located at RV parks, campgrounds and parks throughout the United States and Canada. With the addition of the NomadISP network, Boingo members will be able to enjoy broadband connections as they take their vacations this summer, and whenever they are traveling across North America and staying at a campground or RV park -- either with their laptop computers or their Wi-Fi enabled cell phones.
August 28, 2008 - 4:54pm
Boingo Wireless, the global market leader in Wi-Fi, announces the addition of NomadISP to the Boingo Roaming Network, giving Boingo members access to close to 300 new hotspots located at RV parks, campgrounds and parks throughout the United States and Canada. With the addition of the NomadISP network, Boingo members will be able to enjoy broadband connections as they take their vacations this summer, and whenever they are traveling across North America and staying at a campground or RV park -- either with their laptop computers or their Wi-Fi enabled cell phones.
Donor Partnership Crosses Borders To Nurture National Park Volunteer Program
August 28, 2008 - 4:52pm
The Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park announced a philanthropic partnership that will establish a proactive and sustainable volunteer program for the 9,100-acre park, which spans two states, three counties, and several cities, towns and neighborhoods.
August 28, 2008 - 4:52pm
The Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park announced a philanthropic partnership that will establish a proactive and sustainable volunteer program for the 9,100-acre park, which spans two states, three counties, and several cities, towns and neighborhoods.
