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Rocky Mountain

National Parks Hall of Fame: Park Finder

Zero in on your perfect hike, from thrilling slots to soak-awhile hot springs.

National Parks Hall of Fame: Best Cross-Country Adventure

Traverse alongside delicate ecosystem, open tundra and hit nine summits on this "grand slam" of cross-country treks.

BACKPACKER 3D Trail Flyover Videos

Fly these classic hikes in 3D with our guided tours.

Watch It, Hike It: An Episode-by-Episode Guide to The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Ken Burns

Catch these highlights from The National Parks: America's Best Idea, then download maps to hike to them yourself.

National Parks Confidential: Q & A with Filmmaker Ken Burns

On the eve of his much-anticipated documentary, Ken Burns discusses the heroes and history of America's most precious wildlands–and the new challenges they face now.

Phantom Menace: Air Pollution Threatens Western National Parks

Invisible but dangerous, airborne pollutants are a danger to the West's most iconic national parks

Insider's Guide Rocky Mountain National Park

From the top day hike to the key skills you'll need, we'll have you ready for the Rockies in no time.

Full Circle: The Rocky Mountain Grand Loop

Follow a long-forgotten loop in Rocky Mountain National Park across the Continental Divide, through moose-infested meados, and up Longs Peak via a rarely climbed route.

August 2009 Table of Contents



Swimming Hole Hikes

Time to cool down. Hike to these refreshing swimming holes and settle right into summer.

Rocky Mountain National Park's Grand Loop: 3D Flyover and Tracklog

Fly the Rockies with our 3D video, then download the GPS track to do the route yourself.

The Ultralight Challenge: 2.0

Pick the gear I can carry on a trip to determine how low one man can go.

America's Best Day Hikes: Rockies

With alpine views, hot springs, wildflowers and wildlife, these hikes in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana offer the best of the Rockies.

See More: Winter Birds

Forget flying south. Learn the secrets of cold-weather survival from three well-adapted birds.

Ten Epic Hikes

Paddling, hiking, testing self arrest skills–we cover it all in these 10 epic trips throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Caught in a Colorado Snowstorm

An autumn climb turns life-threatening when a hiker endures a night in a whiteout at 12,000 feet in the Rockies.

When Disaster Strikes! 5 True Survival Stories

Read these real-life tales from five survivors who made it out alive, and learn what they did wrong–and right.

Trip Doctor: Best Western Foliage

Where's the best western foliage?

Where Can I Find The Highest Designated Campsite?

Head to the RMNP for the highest designated camp–find out where below.

Phenomenon: Glacial Relics

The Ice Age left its mark from Acadia to Yosemite. Here's scenic evidence.

Time 2 Go: National Parks In Winter

With the cold driving away crowds, National Parks are a delight to visit in winter. Here's our top picks.

May Close-to-Home Hikes

Our map team has been hard at work plotting the coolest hikes. Check out May's selections here.

How to Stay Safe in the Wilderness

Retracing the route to people's accidents can help us prevent our own. These 10 trips lead you to the exact locations of disasters from Denali to the Grand Canyon.

Backpack Rocky Mountain National Park

Try this 30-mile lollipop loop that is almost entirely above 9,000 feet.

The Continental Divide Trail's Rocky Mountain National Park

The best overall weekend hike you'll find on the CDT.

Essential National Park Skills: The Ultimate Park Pass

Write your own ticket to new adventures with these 10 territory-expanding skills.

Epicenter: The Scene In Grand Lake, Colorado

Slide through Rocky Mountain National Park's mellower back door.

Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park

Giant cliffs and numerous waterfalls are among the stunning sites that can be viewed along this Colorado hike.

Hike The Hidden Trails of Rocky Mountain National Park

Here's a detailed hiking planner that will take you to the hidden corners of Colorado's most scenic park.

Best Dayhikes In America

With strong legs and an ambitious plan, you can see more wild country in 12 hours than some backpackers see in a week, and still make it home in time for dinner.

Best Backpacking In Colorado

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Colorado.

National Parks: Best Scenery

The greatest backpacking parks in the United States, chosen for their scenery.

Life's Great (Continental) Divide

The Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park is a place of reckoning and, given its trackless nature, a place of choices. To a young man who came of age here, it offers perspective on paths not taken.

Rocky Mountains, Defined

Exploring the wilder, uncrowded reaches of our highest national park.