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9 Colorado National Parks: 9: Accessibility at Rocky Mountain National Park
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See the introduction to this series in the first article on Bent's Old Fort.
Saving the best for last, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP or RoMo) boasts more than 60 peaks over 12,000 feet, the highest-elevation paved road in the country, five visitors centers, 200 backcountry campsites, 360 miles of trail, and 400 square miles of terrain to explore. It is a fabulously accessible park overall, and rates, in my book, on the scale with Yellowstone, Yosemite and Denali National Parks due to its size, grandeur and views. RMNP is Colorado's gem, and we're so proud of their advancements in access.
As always, visit the website first to learn about the parks accessibility features. Once in the park, all five visitors centers are accessible, three of which are open year round but the park is definitely best viewed in the summer months between May and September when the Trail Ridge Road is open.
Camping in the park is a synch, there are five campgrounds total to choose from in the park, and Glacier Basin, Moraine Park, and Timber Creek are the accessible options, with accessible restrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, and four ADA-coded sites at each. Sprague Lake is the only backcountry campground that is accessible, with a paved trail starting at the parking area, leading to an accessible 12-person group site. Reservations for all of these are highly recommended as this park is a hub for activity in the summer.
There are many overlooks and trails that are doable or accessible: Beaver Boardwalk, Bear Lake Trail, Hidden Valley Snowplay Picnic Area, Many Parks Curve Overlook, Rainbow Curve Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook, Rock Cut and Tundra Nature Trail, Colorado River Trailhead (with help), and Coyote Valley Trailhead. This is a wonderful park for outdoor activity for PWD, and we were excited to have so many options for hiking, a rarity of course.
Our favorite times to come are in the late spring for wildflowers and in the fall for the colors and the Scottish Festival in Estes Park, which is only a short drive from Denver and perhaps the most convenient park in the state for visitors.
Colorado National Monument, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Dinosaur National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds, and Mesa Verde
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