Two major towns serve as "gateways" to Rocky Mountain National Park, and numerous small towns lie nearby, each with a charm of its own.
Estes Park: The largest town near the Park, and the town where most visitors to the Park stay. This town serves as the eastern entry point to Rocky Mountain National Park. Several WWW sites serve the Estes Park area:
Grand Lake: This town serves as the western entry point to Rocky Mountain National Park:
Glen Haven: Located in near the North Fork of the Big Thompson River, this small town north of Estes Park retains most of its mountain charm.
Other small, nearby towns include: Meeker Park, Allenspark.
By no means is Rocky Mountain National Park the only outdoor attraction in the area. The Park is ringed with opportunities for outdoor recreation, including:
Cache La Poudre Wilderness Area: Located along Highway 14 in the Poudre Canyon, this wilderness area is one of the wildest around, with only one trail penetrating its depths.
Colorado State Forest: This state park, located north of Rocky Mountain National Park and accessible via Highway 14, includes the northern end of the Never Summer Range, and many hiking/backpacking destinations.
Comanche Peak Wilderness Area: Located just north of Rocky Mountain National Park, this popular wilderness area can be reached via Highway 14, west of Fort Collins.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Area: This popular wilderness area, located south of Rocky Mountain National Park, contains impressive peaks, beautiful alpine lakes, and peaceful meadows.
Never Summer Mountains Wilderness Area: Located just west of Rocky Mountain National Park, this wilderness area contains the best scenery of the spectacular Never Summer Range.
Roosevelt/Arapaho National Forest: These are two of the most popular national forests in the United States for recreational use.
Routt National Forest: This popular forest lies west of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park