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.

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.

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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. View Larger Image (And use your browser's zoom if necessary.)