2. Colorado Collections

Trail Ridge Road

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is bisected into northern and southern halves by Trail Ridge Road (TRR). TRR is a narrow strip of asphalt that runs to over 12,000 feet above sea level above Trail Canyon and the Big Thompson River. Elk herds migrate with the seasons following the availability of forage. Remote headwaters on both sides of the continental divide harbor isolated populations of native trout species.
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Elk herds are a common sight along Trail Ridge Road in the Kawuneeche Valley.
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Elk herds are a common sight along Trail Ridge Road in the Kawuneeche Valley.

  • The North Fork of the Colorado River runs south through the Kawuneeche Valley over the gravels of an ancient glacial outwash plain. Historically, beaver dammed the river course making most of the valley a marsh. The beaver population has dropped and the drier valley supports more elk on the grasses that grow now.
  • The Never Summer Mountains form the westernmost border of Rocky Mountain National Park. The continental divide on it's way south from the Canadian border to the Mexican border actually runs north along the crest of the range. The Grand Ditch runs across the base of the peaks to divert snowmelt north over the divide into the Cache la Poudre drainage to irrigate the eastern slope of Colorado. Historically, this water fed the Colorado River. The ridge view includes, from left to right, Green Knoll, Mount Stratus, Mount Nimbus, Mount Cumulus, Howard Mountain, Mount Cirrus, Lead Mountain, Tepee Mountain and Mount Richthofen. Red Mountain lies below the crest below Mount Nimbus. Mount Baker hides behind Green Knoll in this view from Farview Curve. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203075654-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
  • Green Knoll, Mount Stratus Mount Nimbus and Red Mountain encircle a high basin in the Never Summer Range that holds snow well into summer. This is a view from Farview Curve on Trail Ridge Road on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203075730-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
  • Ancient beaver ponds along the upper Colorado River keep the pine forest at bay in the upper Kewuneeche Valley. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203075784-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
  • The Cache la Poudre River flows north from headwaters near Milner Pass on the continental divide. The Never Summer Range forms the far left skyline. Specimen Mountain dominates the rest of the left skyline. The Medicine Bow Range sits on the distant horizon just right of center. The Mummy Range forms the far right skyline. Elk herds spend the summer grazing the high country morning and evening. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203075829-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
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  • The Never Summer Range after an August snow storm. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203076025-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
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  • Elk herds are a common sight along Trail Ridge Road in the Kawuneeche Valley.
  • Baker Gulch leads into the southern end of the Never Summer Range. <A HREF="http://dbdimages.smugmug.com/photos/203075555-O.jpg"TARGET="blank">View Larger Image</A> (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)
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  • Farview Curve reveals the Gore Range over the Kawuneeche Valley.
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