Rocky Mountain National Park

Overview

Ah, the fresh clean air of the Rockies. Snowcapped peaks, verdant valleys, pine forests, and mountain-fed streams. There is much beauty and grandeur to explore in this mountain range that stretches from Canada through central New Mexico. A trip to Rocky Mountain National Park has much to offer in the way of outdoor adventure, but it is also a great destination for learning about how mountains were formed from rock layers at the end of the global Flood.

Whether you are driving through the park´s many winding roads like the popular Trail Ridge Road (known for being the highest continuous paved road in the nation) or hiking the 359 miles (109 m) of trails, you can use this time to talk to your family about how these mountain ranges were formed. Unlike what most park literature and public school textbooks claim, mountains didn´t form over millions of years of plate movement, but rather as a result of the earth´s crust shifting during the catastrophic Flood of Noah´s day, which forced mountains to rise to amazing heights.

Like other mountain ranges throughout the world, the Rocky Mountains contains rock layers that were deposited during the global Flood, which you find thousands of feet above sea level. You may find evidence of this as you hike through the many trails and discover some fossils embedded in these rock layers. Talk to your family about the many fossils of sea creatures that have been found in rock layers thousands of feet above sea level.

Just as Psalm 104:8 describes the mountains being raised up toward the end of the Flood and the waters draining down the valleys and the new land surfaces, this is exactly what we find: mountains that only recently rose to their present spectacular heights.

Points of Interest

Longs Peak

Near Estes Park in the Rocky Mountain National Park, you will find the highest mountain in the National Park—Longs Peak at 14,259 feet (4346 m). The summit of this magnificent peak is flat, nearly the size of a football field. Thousands of people hike or climb to the summit every summer. However, this high peak and flat summit can be seen from almost anywhere in the park. Point out to your family how the rock layers from the Flood can be found even on top of mountains as high as Longs Peak.

Helpful Tips

• Children of all ages love visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Bring a pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass to help them explore. The park provides several suggestions for helping small children enjoy themselves at http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/kids.htm.
• With 359 miles of trails snaking through Rocky Mountain National Park, it would be a shame to forget your hiking boots. Be sure everyone in your family has a good pair of hiking boots, and break them in before you go. You don´t want a surprise blister when you´re several miles down a trail. The following web page gives an overview of the various trails: www.rmnp.com/RMNP-Things-ShortWalksAndHikes.HTML#Short%20Walks
• Roads conditions can change quickly, especially in the spring and fall. Be sure to check the website for the latest road conditions before heading out. Or, if you don´t feel like driving, free shuttles are available as well. https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
• Main website: http://www.rockymountainnationalpark.com/
• Directions: http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/directions.htm
• Operating hours and seasons: http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/hours.htm
• Fees and reservations: http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm
• Park activity tips: http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
• Vacation planning tips: http://www.rocky.mountain.national-park.com/