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78-673: The canyon begins in northern Rocky Mountain National Park , at an elevation of approximately 9,000 ft (2,700 m), where the Poudre descends from near the continental divide . It winds gently to the northeast, then east, descending the slope of the Colorado Tertiary Pediment, emerging through the southern end of the Laramie Foothills north of Bellvue at an elevation of approximately 5,000 ft (1,500 m). Except for

156-533: A 360 degree view of eastern part of the park. The summit plateau of Deer Mountain offers expansive views of the Continental Divide. During the winter, the lower trail generally has little snow, though packed and drifted snow are to be expected on the switchbacks. Snow cover on the summit may be three to five feet deep, requiring the use of snowshoes or skis. The trail to Lake Estes in Estes Park meanders through

234-629: A 44% increase since 2012. The park has five visitor centers, with park headquarters located at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center —a National Historic Landmark designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture at Taliesin West . National Forest lands surround the park on all sides, including Roosevelt National Forest to the north and east, Routt National Forest to the north and west, and Arapaho National Forest to

312-549: A bird sanctuary, beside a golf course, along the Big Thompson River and Fish Creek, through the lakeside picnic area and along the lakeshore. The trail is used by birdwatchers, bikers and hikers. Lawn Lake Trail climbs to Lawn Lake and Crystal Lake, one of the parks deepest lakes, in the alpine ecosystem and along the course of the Roaring River. The river shows the massive damage caused by a dam failure in 1982 that claimed

390-908: A justice of the peace and continued to write articles for the newspaper. A Forest Service campground in the Poudre Canyon in the Roosevelt National Forest northwest of Fort Collins is named for him. Ansel, named for his paternal grandfather, was born November 1, 1835, in Conklin , Broome County, New York , was the son of Jane E. (née Smith) and Orrin J. Watrous. His siblings were Henry O., Jerome Anthony , Dennis L., Eliza J., and Catharine M. Watrous. Ansel's uncle William Watrous settled in Fort Collins in 1871. The Watrous family moved to Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin in 1844 and four years later moved to Brothertown, Wisconsin , where Orrin ran

468-631: A stage stop and hotel. After a year, he established a mill on the Manitowoc River in Charlestown, Wisconsin . Orrin died of cholera on September 10, 1850 and the family moved back to Broome County, New York . He was apprenticed to a carpenter in Brooklyn, Pennsylvania . In 1855, Watrous returned to Wisconsin and worked as a carpenter. From 1861 to 1863, he was the elected Sheriff of Calumet County, Wisconsin . On July 1, 1863, Watrous registered for

546-487: Is 5a with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -15.2 °F (-26.2 °C), and 5a with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -16.1 °F (-26.7 °C) at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (7825 ft / 2385 m). The complex interactions of elevation, slope, exposure and regional-scale air masses determine the climate within the park, which is noted for its extreme weather patterns. A "collision of air masses" from several directions produces some of

624-456: Is available. Other lakes are Jewel Lake, Mills Lake, Black Lake, Blue Lake, Lake of Glass, Sky Pond, and Spruce Lake. The Pool is a large turbulent water pocket formed below where Spruce and Fern Creeks join the Big Thompson River. The winter route is along a gravel road, which leads to a trail at the Fern Lake trailhead. Along the route are beaver-cut aspen, frozen waterfalls on the cliffs, and

702-402: Is named for the yellow lily, Nymphaea polysepala , on its surface. Lake Helene is at the head of Odessa Gorge, east of Notchtop Mountain. Two Rivers Lake is found along the hike to Odessa Lake from Bear Lake, and has one backcountry campsite. The Cub Lake trail passes Big Thompson River, flowery meadows, and stands of pine and aspen trees. Ice and deep snow are present during the winter, requiring

780-400: Is one of the highest national parks in the nation, with elevations from 7,860 to 14,259 feet (2,396 to 4,346 m), the highest point of which is Longs Peak . Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through-road in the country, with a peak elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m). Sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet (3,658 m) high provide scenic vistas. On the north side of the park,

858-403: Is one of the most-photographed lakes and is also noted for its winter snowshoeing. Emerald Lake is located directly below the saddle between Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, only a short hike beyond Dream Lake. The shore of Lake Haiyaha (a Native American word for "big rocks") is surrounded by boulders along with ancient, twisted and picturesque pine trees growing out of rock crevices. Nymph Lake

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936-589: Is south of Estes Park and contains Longs Peak—the park's iconic fourteener —and the Wild Basin area. Other peaks and passes include Lily Mountain, Estes Cone, Twin Sisters, Boulder-Grand Pass, and Granite Pass. Eugenia Mine operated about the late-19th to early-20th century, with some old equipment and a log cabin remaining. Sites and trails include Boulder Field, Wild Basin Trail, and Homer Rouse Memorial Trail. Enos Mills ,

1014-683: Is the site of an abandoned silver mining town of the early 1880s located along the Colorado River Trail. According to a 1985 report prepared for the NRHP , there were only three cabin ruins remaining along with remnants of six other buildings. Baker Pass crosses the Continental Divide through the Never Summer Mountains and into the Michigan River drainage to the west of Mount Nimbus —a drainage that feeds streams and rivers that drain into

1092-570: The Big Thompson Canyon Road—a section of U.S. Route 34 from Loveland to Estes Park —was completed in 1904. The 1920s saw a boom in building lodges, including the Bear Lake Trail School , and roads in the park, culminating with the construction of Trail Ridge Road to Fall River Pass between 1929 and 1932, then to Grand Lake by 1938. Prominent individuals in the effort to create a national park included Enos Mills from

1170-473: The Mummy Range contains a number of thirteener peaks, including Hagues Peak , Mummy Mountain , Fairchild Mountain , Ypsilon Mountain , and Mount Chiquita . Several small glaciers and permanent snowfields are found in the high mountain cirques . There are five regions, or geographical zones, within the park. Region 1 is known for moose and big meadows and is located on the west, or Grand Lake, side of

1248-407: The Roosevelt National Forest , which is headquartered in nearby Fort Collins. The flanks of the canyon wall are gently sloping and forested along most of its length, with the exception of several "narrows", at which the river has carved through recent formations leaving behind large glacial debris. The canyon is inhabited along most of its length downstream from Kinikinik . All of the communities in

1326-481: The Sunday Express-Courier . In 1881, Watrous was appointed to the town board of trustees. He tried politics in 1882 and 1884 as a candidate for state auditor but was defeated both times. In the early 1880s, Fort Collins was a vice-ridden town of gambling halls. Watrous is credited with making the town safer when he "waged a vigorous campaign against the underworld, and the better element backed him". He

1404-565: The fishing and whitewater rafting season, when the canyon receives a modest number of regional and national visitors. Colorado State University operates a small campus in the mountains at Pingree Park , which is named for George Pingree, an early settler in the canyon in the 19th century. Near Pingree Park is Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, a summer camp affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . The national forest in

1482-574: The 19th century and was the site of trapping expeditions by early settlers. The relative lack of mineral resources in the surrounding area spared the canyon from intense population increases during the Colorado mining boom (see Colorado Gold Rush ). In the early 1880s, the canyon was surveyed for a railroad by archrivals, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad , with

1560-647: The Arch Rocks. The trail to Alberta Falls runs by Glacier Creek and Glacier Gorge. Wind River Trail leaves the East Portal and follows the Wind River to join with the Storm Pass trail. There are three backcountry campsites. Other sites in the area are The Loch, Loch Vale, Mill Creek Basin, Andrews Glacier, Sky Point, Timberline Falls, Upper Beaver Meadows , and Storm Pass. Region 5, known for waterfalls and backcountry,

1638-477: The Black Canyon trail. Region 4 is the heart of the park with easy road and trail access, great views, and lake hikes including the most popular trails. Flattop Mountain is a tundra hike and the easiest hike to the Continental Divide in the park. Crossing over Flattop Mountain, the hike to Hallett Peak passes through three climate zones, traversing the ridge that supports Tyndall Glacier and finally ascending to

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1716-516: The Clouds, Haynach Lakes, Timber Lake, Lone Pine Lake, Lake Nanita, and Lake Nokoni. Region 2 is the alpine region of the park with accessible tundra trails at high elevations—an area known for its spectacular vistas. Within this region is Mount Ida, with tundra slopes and a wide-open view of the Continental Divide. Forest Canyon Pass is near the top of the Old Ute Trail that once linked villages across

1794-646: The Continental Divide. Chapin Pass trail traverses a dense forest to beautiful views of the Chapin Creek valley, proceeding onward above timberline to the western flank of Mount Chapin . Tundra Communities Trail, accessible from Trail Ridge Road, is a hike offering tundra views and alpine wildflowers. Other trails are Tombstone Ridge and Ute Trail, which starts at the tundra and is mostly downhill from Ute Crossing to Upper Beaver Meadows , with one backcountry camping site. Cache La Poudre River trail begins north of Poudre Lake on

1872-857: The Continental Divide. Thirty miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail loop through the park and pass through alpine tundra and scenery. The Big Meadows area with its grasses and wildflowers can be reached via the Onahu, Tonahutu, or Green Mountain trail. Other scenic areas include Long Meadows and the Kawuneeche Valley (Coyote Valley) of the upper Colorado River which is a good place for birdwatching, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. The valley trail loops through Kawuneeche Valley which contained as many as 39 mines, though less than 20 of those have archived records and archeological remains. LuLu City

1950-402: The Estes Park area, James Grafton Rogers from Denver , and J. Horace McFarland of Pennsylvania . The national park was established on January 26, 1915. Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 265,461 acres (414.78 sq mi; 1,074.28 km ) of federal land, with an additional 253,059 acres (395.40 sq mi; 1,024.09 km ) of U.S. Forest Service wilderness adjoining

2028-560: The Gulf of Mexico. Other mountain passes are La Poudre Pass and Thunder Pass, which was once used by stage coaches and is a route to Michigan Lakes. Little Yellowstone has geological features similar to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone . The Green Mountain trail once was a wagon road used to haul hay from Big Meadows. Flattop Mountain, which can be accessed from the eastern and western sides of

2106-743: The McGraw Ranch valley. Cow Creek Trail follows Cow Creek, with its many beaver ponds, extending past the Bridal Falls turnoff as the Dark Mountain trail, then joining the Black Canyon trail to intersect the Lawn Lake trail shortly below the lake. North Boundary Trail connects to the Lost Lake trail system. North Fork Trail begins outside of the park in the Comanche Peak Wilderness before reaching

2184-707: The Rockies via the Platte River . Settlers began arriving in the mid-1800s, displacing the Native Americans who mostly left the area voluntarily by 1860, while others were removed to reservations by 1878. Lulu City , Dutchtown , and Gaskill in the Never Summer Mountains were established in the 1870s when prospectors came in search of gold and silver. The boom ended by 1883 with miners deserting their claims. The railroad reached Lyons, Colorado in 1881 and

2262-704: The United States located approximately 55 mi (89 km) northwest of Denver in north-central Colorado , within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains . The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. The eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide run directly through the center of the park with the headwaters of the Colorado River located in

2340-573: The academic scientific community in cooperation with the National Park Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The stated objective: "develop and apply decision support tools that use NASA and other data and models to assess vulnerability of ecosystems and species to climate and land use change and evaluate management options." As of 2010 , the preceding one hundred years of records indicated an increase in

2418-492: The average annual temperature of approximately 3 °F (1.7 °C). The average low temperature has increased more than the average high temperature during the same time period. As a result of the temperature increase, snow is melting from the mountains earlier in the year, leading to drier summers and probably to an earlier, longer fire season. Since the 1990s, mountain pine beetles have reproduced more rapidly and have not died off at their previous mortality rate during

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2496-458: The canyon are unincorporated. Most of the habitation is the form of small cabins, some of which are inhabited only during season. Resort cabin communities for fishing and hunting are found sporadically along the canyon downstream from Rustic , which at one time in the late 19th century was a bustling summer resort, but burned down in 2008, down to Riverside Colorado in Poudre Park, which opened to

2574-692: The draft in the Union Army in Charlestown , Calumet County, Wisconsin . From 1863 to 1866, he was the county clerk. He returned to contracting and building. Watrous was a dry goods merchant in Charlestown in 1870. Living with them were two children: Florilla (8) and Sarah (16) Oldenbufrg. Watrous continued to work in contracting and building in Wisconsin until December 26, 1877 when he left for Colorado. His wife stayed in Wisconsion temporarily because her father

2652-509: The early 1900s. Glacial Basin was the site of a resort run by Abner and Alberta Sprague , after whom Sprague Lake is named. The lake is a shallow body of water that was created when the Spragues dammed Boulder Brook to create a fish pond . Sprague Lake is a popular place for birdwatching, hiking and viewing the mountain peaks, along with camping at the Glacier Basin campground. Dream Lake

2730-466: The editor of what became a daily eight-column newspaper in 1880. In 1889, new owners became major shareholders of the Courier Printing and Publishing Company. Formerly a Democraticadd paper, it became Republican with the new owners. He stayed on as president and editor. The paper, a weekly for a period of time, grew from eight to twelve pages as the town of Fort Collins grew substantially with

2808-596: The elimination of surface hail, along with the higher likelihood of intense precipitation events are predicted by 2050. Droughts may be more likely due to increased temperatures, increased evaporation rates, and potential changes in precipitation. Precambrian metamorphic rock formed the core of the North American continent during the Precambrian eon 4.5–1 billion years ago. During the Paleozoic era, western North America

2886-679: The iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre , whether you're visiting the venue for a concert or a wedding or just a nice lunch on the river. The relative isolation of the canyon compared to ones further south along the Colorado Front Range gives a tranquil atmosphere with only small-scale tourist enterprises. The canyon is distinctly less developed than the Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland . The commercial establishments, notably in Poudre Park , cater mostly to local clientele except during

2964-487: The intention of completing a transcontinental line through the Rockies. The canyon was never the site of a railroad, however, during the 1920s a road was constructed through the narrows. 40°41′53″N 105°37′24″W  /  40.69804°N 105.62333°W  / 40.69804; -105.62333 Rocky Mountain National Park Rocky Mountain National Park is a national park of

3042-476: The key weather events in the region. When cold arctic air from the north meets warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico at the Front Range , "intense, very wet snowfalls with total snow depth measured in the feet" accumulate in the park. Higher elevation areas within the park receive twice as much precipitation as lower elevation areas, generally in the form of deep winter snowfall. Arctic conditions are prevalent during

3120-602: The lakes have backcountry campsites. Waterfalls include Ouzel Falls, Trio Falls, Copeland Falls, and Calypso Cascades. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Rocky Mountain National Park has a Subarctic climate with cool summers and year around precipitation ( Dfc ). According to the United States Department of Agriculture , the Plant Hardiness zone at Bear Lake Ranger Station (9492 ft / 2893 m)

3198-451: The lives of three campers. The trail is a strenuous snowshoe hike in the winter. Ypsilon Lake Trail leads to its namesake as well as Chipmunk Lake, with views of Longs Peak, while traversing pine forests with grouseberry and bearberry bushes. The trail also offers views of the canyon gouged out by rampaging water that broke loose from Lawn Lake Dam in 1982. Visible is the south face of Ypsilon Mountain, with its Y-shaped gash rising sharply from

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3276-471: The main automobile route, Trail Ridge Road , in the 1930s. In 1976, UNESCO designated the park as one of the first World Biosphere Reserves . In 2023, 4.1 million recreational visitors entered the park. The park is one of the most visited in the National Park System, ranking as the third most visited national park in 2015. In 2019, the park saw record attendance yet again with 4,678,804 visitors,

3354-464: The main figure behind the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoyed walking to Lily Lake from his nearby cabin. Wildflowers are common in the spring and early summer. In the winter, the trail around the lake is often suitable for walking in boots, or as a short snowshoe or ski. Other lakes in the Wild Basin include Chasm Lake, Snowbank Lake, Lion Lakes 1 and 2, Thunder Lake, Ouzel Lake, Finch Lake, Bluebird Lake, Pear Lake, and Sandbeach Lake. Many of

3432-420: The montane area by early May, when wildflowers begin to bloom. Spring weather is subject to unpredictable changes in temperature and precipitation, with potential for snow along trails through May. In July and August, temperatures are generally in the 70s or 80s ° F during the day, and as low as the 40s °F at night. Lower elevations receive rain as most of their summer precipitation. Sudden dramatic changes in

3510-539: The newspaper. The Fort Collins Courier was printed on an old, unreliable Washington Hand Press without enough type, which was resolved by printing two pages in Chicago and two pages printed with local news in Fort Collins. The pages printed in Chicago were shipped on the railroad. Watrous was a founder of the Courier Publishing Company that had enough type to print the whole paper locally. Watrous continued as

3588-482: The next 150 million years, the mountains uplifted, continued to erode, and covered themselves in their own sediment. Wind, gravity, rainwater, snow, and glacial ice eroded the granite mountains over geologic time scales . The Ancestral Rockies were eventually buried under subsequent strata. The Pierre Shale formation was deposited during the Paleogene and Cretaceous periods about 70 million years ago. The region

3666-618: The other associated with the Grand Lake area on the park's west side. The west side of the park experiences more snow, less wind, and clear cold days during the winter months. Rocky Mountain National Park was selected to participate in a climate change study, along with two other National Park Service areas in the Rocky Mountain region and three in the Appalachian Mountain region. The study began in 2011, orchestrated by members of

3744-623: The park boundaries. The Continental Divide runs generally north–south through the center of the park, with rivers and streams on the western side of the divide flowing toward the Pacific Ocean while those on the eastern side flow toward the Atlantic . A geographical anomaly is found along the slopes of the Never Summer Mountains where the Continental Divide forms a horseshoe –shaped bend for about 6 miles (9.7 km), heading from south–to–north but then curving sharply southward and westward out of

3822-579: The park boundary and ending at Lost Lake. Stormy Peaks Trail connects Colorado State University 's Pingree Park campus in the Comanche Peak Wilderness and the North Fork Trail inside the park. Beaver Mountain Loop, also used by horseback riders, passes through forests and meadows, crosses Beaver Brook and several aspen-filled drainages, and has a great view of Longs Peak. Deer Mountain Trail gives

3900-496: The park's northwestern region. The main features of the park include mountains, alpine lakes and a wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments, from wooded forests to mountain tundra . The Rocky Mountain National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson on January 26, 1915, establishing the park boundaries and protecting the area for future generations. The Civilian Conservation Corps built

3978-552: The park, is near Green Mountain. Shadow Mountain Lookout —a wildfire observation tower—is on the National Register of Historic Places . Paradise Park Natural Area is an essentially hidden and protected wild area with no maintained trails penetrating it. Skeleton Gulch, Cascade Falls, North Inlet Falls, Granite Falls, and Adams Falls are found in the west side of the park. The west side lakes include Bowen Lake, Lake Verna, Lake of

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4056-410: The park, though some slopes are rugged and heavily glaciated, particularly around Ypsilon Mountain and Mummy Mountain . Bridal Veil Falls is a scenic point and trail accessible from the Cow Creek trailhead, at the Continental Divide Research Center. West Creek Falls and Chasm Falls, near Old Fall River Road, are also in this region. The Alluvial Fan trail leads to a bridge over the river that had been

4134-567: The park. The sharp bend results in streams on the eastern slopes of the range joining the headwaters of the Colorado River that flow south and west, eventually reaching the Pacific. Meanwhile, streams on the western slopes join rivers that flow north and then east and south, eventually reaching the Atlantic. The headwaters of the Colorado River are located in the park's northwestern region. The park contains approximately 450 miles (724 km) of rivers and streams, 350 miles (563 km) of trails, and 150 lakes. Rocky Mountain National Park

4212-415: The park. Streams and glaciations during the Quaternary period cut through the older sediment, creating mesa tops and alluvial plains, and revealing the present Rocky Mountains. The glaciation removed as much as 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of sedimentary rocks from earlier inland sea deposits. This erosion exposed the basement rock of the Ancestral Rockies. Evidence of the uplifting and erosion can be found on

4290-451: The public in the summer of 2024. Riverside Colorado is a quirky vacation spot where you can cozy up in a cabin, tiny home, or glamp. It boasts many amenities off the beaten path: Kind Bean , an airstream which was converted into a coffee cart with espresso, pastries, and breakfast burritos, as well as the Poudre Park Market , which sells everything from beer and cigarettes, to milk and eggs. Riverside Colorado also offers free rides to and from

4368-413: The region began to sink while lime and mud sediments were deposited in the vacated space. Eroded granite produced sand particles that formed strata —layers of sediment—in the sinking basin. About 300 million years ago, the land was uplifted creating the ancestral Rocky Mountains. Fountain Formation was deposited during the Pennsylvanian period of the Paleozoic era, 290–296 million years ago. Over

4446-422: The river are various species of trout which are stocked in the river annually by Colorado Parks and Wildlife . The United States Forest Service maintains a series of picnic areas and campgrounds along the river, including one campground facility named for local historian Ansel Watrous , whose 1911 history of the area is the standard early reference about the canyon itself. The canyon was inhabited by Utes in

4524-410: The shoreline. Gem Lake is high among the rounded granite domes of Lumpy Ridge. Untouched by glaciation, this outcrop of 1.8 billion-year-old granite has been sculpted by wind and chemical erosion into a backbone-like ridge. Pillars, potholes, and balanced rocks are found around the midpoint of the trail, along with views of the Estes Valley and Continental Divide. Potts Puddle trail is accessible from

4602-412: The site of the Lawn Lake Flood . Lumpy Ridge Trail leads to Paul Bunyan's Boot at about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the trailhead, then Gem Lake, and a further 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to Balanced Rock. Black Canyon Trail intersects Cow Creek Trail, forming part of the Gem Lake loop which goes through the old McGregor Ranch valley, passing Lumpy Ridge rock formations, with a loop hike that goes into

4680-410: The small upper portion of the canyon north of Rocky Mountain National Park, State Highway 14 runs through the canyon. The route of the highway provides the principal vehicle access to the canyon and furnishes a road link between Fort Collins and North Park on the western side of Cameron Pass , which is accessible from the upper canyon. Most of the canyon is within the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of

4758-572: The summit of Hallett Peak. Bear Lake is a high-elevation lake in a spruce and fir forest at the base of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Bierstadt Lake sits atop a lateral moraine named Bierstadt Moraine, and drains into Mill Creek. There are several trails that lead to Bierstadt Lake through groves of aspens and lodgepole pines. North of Bierstadt Moraine is Hollowell Park, a large and marshy meadow along Mill Creek. The Hollowell Park trail runs along Steep Mountain's south side. Ranches, lumber and sawmill enterprises operated in Hollowell Park into

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4836-448: The turn of the century. On March 24, 1902, the first issue of the renamed newspaper Evening Courier was published. In 1920 the newspaper was purchased by and merged with the Fort Collins Express , becoming the Express Courier . Watrous took a leave in 1910 to write his book about the history of Larimer County. He retired in 1918 or 1920. He continued to write articles in his retirement, including contribution to "Pioneer Corner" of

4914-449: The use of skis or snowshoes. The Fern Lake trail passes Arch Rock formations, The Pool, and the cascading water of Fern Falls. Two backcountry campsites are located near the lake, and two more are closer to the trailhead. Odessa Lake has two approaches: one is along the Flattop trail from Bear Lake while the other is from the Fern Lake trailhead, along which are Fern Creek, The Pool, Fern Falls, and Fern Lake itself. One backcountry campsite

4992-457: The vicinity of the canyon is laced with numerous trails that follow side gulches into the surrounding mountains. The trails serve double seasonal duty, as hiking trails in the summer and as cross-country skiing trails in the winter. One such trailhead at Long Draw Reservoir leads over La Poudre Pass along the Never Summer Mountains to the headwaters of the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park. The most popular species for fishing in

5070-555: The way to Rocky Mountain National Park in the hogbacks of the Front Range foothills. Many sedimentary rocks from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras exist in the basins surrounding the park. Ansel Watrous Ansel Watrous (November 1, 1835 – August 5, 1927) was an American newspaper publisher of the Fort Collins Courier and a historian. Born in New York, nine-year old Watrous moved with his family to Wisconsin and lived there six years until his father died of cholera . The family moved back east and Watrous

5148-428: The weather may occur during the summer, typically due to afternoon thunderstorms that can cause as much as a 20 °F drop in temperature and windy conditions. The park's climate is also affected by the Continental Divide, which runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park atop the high peaks. The Continental Divide creates two distinct climate patterns - one typical of the east side near Estes Park and

5226-419: The west and south, with the Indian Peaks Wilderness area located directly south of the park. The history of Rocky Mountain National Park began when Paleo-Indians traveled along what is now Trail Ridge Road to hunt and forage for food . Ute and Arapaho people subsequently hunted and camped in the area. In 1820, the Long Expedition, led by Stephen H. Long for whom Longs Peak was named, approached

5304-411: The west side of the valley near Milner Pass and heads downward toward the Mummy Pass trail junction. Lake Irene is a recreation and picnic area. Region 3, known for wilderness escape, is in the northern part of the park and is accessed from the Estes Park area. The Mummy Range is a short mountain range in the north of the park. The Mummies tend to be gentler and more forested than the other peaks in

5382-441: The winter months. Consequently, the increased beetle population has led to an increased rate of tree mortality in the park. The climate change study projects further temperature increases, with greater warming in the summer and higher extreme temperatures by 2050. Due to the increased temperature, there is a projected moderate increase in the rate of water evaporation. Reduced snowfall—perhaps 15% to 30% less than current amounts—and

5460-443: The winter, with sudden blizzards, high winds, and deep snowpack. High country overnight trips require gear suitable for -35 °F or below. The subalpine region does not begin to experience spring-like conditions until June. Wildflowers bloom from late June to early August. Below 9,400 feet (2,865 m), temperatures are often moderate, although nighttime temperatures are cool, as is typical of mountain weather. Spring comes to

5538-408: Was active in the pioneer society, women's clubs, and the Baptist church. Watrous and his wife were involved in local charities. Florelle died in Fort Collins on May 26, 1916. Watrous married Florelle's half-sister, Helen L. Brose on August 13, 1917. Watrous was a mason . He lived his last years and died on August 5, 1927 at the Larimer county home or at the Larimer county hospital. He had

5616-511: Was also affected by deformation and erosion during that era. The uplift disrupted the older drainage patterns and created the present drainage patterns. Glacial geology in Rocky Mountain National Park can be seen from the mountain peaks to the valley floors. Ice is a powerful sculptor of this natural environment and large masses of moving ice are the most powerful tools. Telltale marks of giant glaciers can be seen all throughout

5694-426: Was an apprentice carpenter, before returning to Wisconsin where he married and worked in construction, retail, and politics until he settled in Colorado in 1878. A longtime resident of Fort Collins, Colorado , Watrous was a newspaper publisher, editor, and journalist. He is noted for History of Larimer County, Colorado (1911), the first comprehensive published history of the county . In retirement, he worked as

5772-1072: Was appointed Postmaster from 1885 to 1889, during the Grover Cleveland administration. After retiring from the newspaper in 1920, Watrous served as a justice of peace for several years. In 1910, Watrous completed the book History of Larimer County, Colorado , which was published in 1911. He expressed his appreciation of the area with the article "My first close up view of the Rocky Mountains". Watrous married Florilla Thompson on December 25, 1856, in Calumet, Wisconsin . Florilla (as known as Florelle) followed Watrous to Fort Collins by 1880. They did not bear any children. Watrous and his wife had an adopted daughter, Bertha M. Pegg, who spent her childhood with them. Bertha taught school in Boulder and Fort Morgan by 1900. Pegg married Fred C. Robbins at Watrous's house in Fort Collins on February 14, 1900. Florelle

5850-515: Was covered by a deep sea—the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway —which deposited massive amounts of shale on the seabed. Both the thick stratum of shale and embedded marine life fossils—including ammonites and skeletons of fish and such marine reptiles as mosasaurs , plesiosaurs , and extinct species of sea turtles , along with rare dinosaur and bird remains—were created during this time period. The area now known as Colorado

5928-627: Was eventually transformed from being at the bottom of an ocean to dry land again, giving yield to another fossiliferous rock layer known as the Denver Formation . At about 68 million years ago, the Front Range began to rise again due to the Laramide orogeny in the west. During the Cenozoic era, block uplift formed the present Rocky Mountains. The geologic composition of Rocky Mountain National Park

6006-649: Was seriously ill. On December 30, 1877, Watrous arrived in Fort Collins on the Colorado Central Railroad . At that time, Fort Collins was a frontier town with dirt roads and sidewalks. He worked as a clerk, at W.C. Stover's store until June 1878. Watrous and his partner, E.M. Pelton, co-founded the Fort Collins Courier . Watrous was the editor of the paper, that issued its first edition on June 29, 1878. His partner had newspaper experience. Some people made death threats and threatened to dynamite

6084-462: Was submerged beneath a shallow sea, with a seabed composed of limestone and dolomite deposits many kilometers thick. Pikes Peak granite formed during the late Precambrian eon, continuing well into the Paleozoic era, when mass quantities of molten rock flowed, amalgamated, and formed the continents about 1 billion–300 million years ago. Concurrently, in the period from 500 to 300 million years ago,

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