Rocky Mountains USA

To visit Rocky Mountain National Park you will need to rent a car from the Denver International Airport. While there are shuttles that come occasionally to Estes Park, the public transportation into the park is currently quite limited and only operates during the busy summer months. It unfortunately does not start early enough to get you into the park for sunrise or late enough for sunset. It also only covers a small area of the park. The drive from the Denver airport to Estes Park is about 1.5 hours. The mountains can be very harsh and violent places and every year we have several deaths as well as many people who get hurt or lost and need to be rescued. It is vital that you always let someone know where you are going each day, when you plan to return and that you stick to your plan. I also suggest using a satellite tracking system/emergency locator beacon if you plan on hiking in the wilderness, particularly if you are hiking alone. During the summer months we typically get violent storms every afternoon. As a general rule of thumb you should not be above tree line after noon as lightning is a major killer. Be aware that while the temperature in Denver could be over 90F, in the mountains it could be icy cold and windy. Always prepare for winter weather even in the summer. Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest average elevation of any national park in the United States with its lowest point being around 7,800 ft (2377 m) and its highest point being 14,259 ft (4346 m). Because of its high elevation most people who visit from lower elevations find that breathing and exertion is much more difficult for the first few days while their body adjusts. Some people actually get altitude illness with headaches, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. This can generally be mitigated by drinking a lot of water prior to and after arrival. If you find that these symptoms become more severe during a hike, do not ignore them as they will only get worse and could become life-threatening. Instead descend to a lower elevation until the symptoms go away.