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NATURAL WONDERS
Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park are best explored with the following mantra in mind: Just do it.
Waterfalls, mountain ranges, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and meadows, are all just a few of the natural wonders inside Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding regions.
To help you with the processes of seeking out and enjoying these beautiful places, we’ve broken down the list into waterfalls, mountain ranges, lakes, rivers and canyons.
Just about every single spot on the map in Colorado has some geological grander, so dive deeper into MyRockyMountainPark.com to find what to see and how to see it.
Forget packed parking lots and hordes of crowds when enjoying waterfalls inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Unlike Yosemite, where falls line roadways, only one waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park is visible by car. Instead take one of several hikes to a backcountry waterfall, where few will be enjoying the experience with you. A few highlights include Ouzel Falls, Fan Falls, Alberta Falls and Fern Falls, with Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Allenspark Trailhead being a popular starting point.
But the good views and picturesque waterfalls don’t end there. If you’ve got the legs, 4-wheel drive vehicle, or ability to just drive to a turnout, then Colorado and the surrounding states have plenty of waterfall options for you. Head to North Clear Creek Falls (believed to be the most photographed waterfall in Colorado), and also make sure to check out Steven Falls by Colorado Springs, and Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride. Surrounding states also feature several stunning falls, including Yellowstone Falls in Wyoming. > See MoreNo matter how much we write there is no way to name all the peaks, mountain ranges, valleys, cliffs, and glaciers in Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park. (It would simply take too long and prolong what you really should be doing: Getting outside and climbing a mountain.) If you’re planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, then make sure to check out the Mummy Range in the north end of the park. Also don’t miss snagging a few views of the Never Summer Mountains on the Park’s western border. Both ranges offer impressive peaks, stunning views, and enough trails to make your head spin.
Outside the Park, Colorado is one lucky state. Major mountain ranges include the San Juan Mountains, Gore Range, Sawatch Range and Sangre de Cristo Range. For the best places to explore outside of Colorado, check out the world’s largest underground cavern in Carlsbad Cavern National Park under the Guadalupe Mountains. Or grab your mountain bike and rip up miles of singletrack through the red rock desert in Moab, Utah, and the La Sal Mountain Range. Of course if skiing is your thing, then seek out the Wasatch Mountains a few hundred miles to the north. And finally, if you’re looking to take advantage of Wyoming’s best mountaineering, a trip to the Teton Range is a must.
> See MoreHidden deep inside Rocky Mountain National Park, carved out by glaciers millions of years ago, are some of the most spectacular remote canyons Colorado has to offer. The two that come to mind first are Forest Canyon and Spruce Canyon. Unlike other Parks, where the canyons have trails to enjoy them, there are no official trails to explore these beauties. Instead make sure to have a map and compass and let someone know where you’re going, since it can be easy to get lost.
Outside the Park, the West is known for spectacular mountain ranges, towering peaks, raging rivers, and breathtaking canyons. The Grand Canyon in Arizona, Hells Canyon in Idaho, Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in Wyoming, are just a few you have to check out. > See MoreColorado is home to over 2,000 natural lakes, reservoirs, and enough rivers to keep any water loving individual happy. With so many lakes, it’s impossible for us to list even the best 100. So instead, grab a map and search one out yourself. To help get things started, a few of our favorites include, Chasm Lake and Emerald Lake inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Outside the Park, Chicago Lakes by Mt. Evans is always worth the hike. The largest concentration of natural lakes occurs in the Colorado River Basin, with over 800 natural lakes, so it might be wise to just start there, and in ten years begin to work outward. Outside Colorado make sure to check out Lake Powell and Yellowstone Lake located in Utah and Wyoming.
> See MoreNEED TO GET RIVERS PARAGRAPH FROM TIM SHISLER > See More
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