Rocky Mountain National Park is often called the crown jewel of the
nation's park system. Set in Colorado in the southern part of the Rocky
Mountain chain, which forms the backbone of North America, the park
contains 72 named peaks above 12,000 feet with the tallest of these,
Longs Peak, rising to 14,259 feet. Established in 1915 as a national
park, it now hosts more than two million visitors every year.
Vacationers enjoy picnicking, hiking, camping, climbing, skiing, and
simply admiring the beauties of the park, which include alpine plants,
wildflowers, aspen, conifers, lakes, streams, waterfalls, and an
abundance of birds and animals.