The Father of Rocky Mountain National Park

Mills Lake is among the most popular hiking destinations in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. It's named for Enos Mills, the man commonly referred to as the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park." Mills became the area's first naturalist, and made great contributions to the field that would eventually lead to the profession of interpretive park rangers. He also established a guide service that led tourists to the summit of Longs Peak. At the age of 15 he made his first ascent of the park's highest peak, and over the course of his life, would make the trip 40 times by himself, and nearly 300 times as a guide. The photo below shows a very young Mills (on the right) making his first ascent in 1885.

Mills most significant contribution, however, was spending numerous years lecturing across the nation, lobbying Congress, and writing thousands of letters and articles that would eventually lead to the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. By the early 1900s, Mills was beginning to worry about the increasing number of visitors in the Rocky Mountains, many of whom were not respecting the natural environment. His advocacy for protection of nature and wilderness eventually caught the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who appointed him to the position of Government Lecturer on Forestry. During his tenure in this position, between 1907 to 1909, he gave 2118 addresses!

Although he advocated for a national park that would extend from Wyoming to Pikes Peak, covering roughly 1000 square miles, the original park that was authorized on January 26, 1915, protected only 358 square miles. Today, the park protects roughly 415 square miles.

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.