Rocky Mountain Park – Wildlife Art Inspiration
One of the advantages of living here in Colorado, is being very close to the wildlife and Nature which I enjoy. We live just a short distance from Rocky Mountain National Park, and hike there on an almost weekly basis in the Summer and Fall. This winter I plan to get a little more adventurous and try snowshoeing, weather permitting.
Rocky Mountain National Park is now 100 years old, a wonderful tribute to our forefathers who had the foresight to preserve this beautiful mountain land for all future generations to enjoy. Just being there and witnessing the vast panoramas is both relaxing and inspiring. We often see visitors from all around the globe (sometimes too many) traveling here just to see what we have so close by.
Abundant wildlife exists in the park, but most of it is pretty shy and therefore difficult to see. We do see lots of elk, especially in the fall, around mating season. Chipmunks and ground squirrels are always begging for food. Bears are in the park, and usually keep to themselves, so we see them only once or twice a year. We do see Big Horned Sheep,(as in the Photo) but usually on our way up to the park, not in the park. My personal favorites are the Gray Jays who always invite themselves to our lunch spot; but I really enjoy feeding them.
The road that winds thru the park closes after the first snowfall , usually in mid-October and remains closed until the end of May, and sometimes longer. The access from the East remains open all winter, allowing us to get to the trails for snowshoeing. If you drive thru the park in June you can see why the road closes in the winter…the snow on the sides of the road often exceeds 10 feet in depth!
So that’s my story of how I enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park…
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