Rocky Mountain National Park to Implement Another Phase of the Poudre Headwaters Project; Some Areas in the Kawuneeche Valley Will Be Closed August 24-30

Rocky Mountain National Park will be implementing another phase of the Poudre Headwaters Project during the week of August 24-30, 2026. Young greenbacks require food, space, and protection from non-native predators and competitors, like brook trout, which outcompete greenbacks. Removal of brook trout is a key factor for recovery success.

This project takes place on the west side of RMNP and involves the removal of all non-native fish from the Grand Ditch and upstream and downstream tributaries inside the park. Once removed, native Greenback cutthroat trout will be reintroduced into its native range in the headwaters of the Cache la Poudre River.

The first phase of this project inside RMNP took place during August 2025. This year’s project will be very similar to last year’s project. Because of the level of activity associated with the implementation of the Poudre Headwaters Project, all areas and trails within the project zone will be closed to all uses beginning on Monday, August 24 through Sunday, August 30. The Colorado River Trail and the Grand Ditch will be closed.

To remove non-native fish, aquatic biologists will apply a piscicide called rotenone to the 14.3-mile Grand Ditch system and its upstream and downstream tributaries. Rotenone is commonly used by state and federal land management agencies. This project will be led by biologists with the U.S. Forest Service. Other partners include Colorado Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This project is possible thanks to support provided by Trout Unlimited and Rocky Mountain Conservancy.

While this project is underway, the following trails will remain open: East Inlet Trail, North Inlet/Tonohutu Trail, Green Mountain Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Onahu Trail, and Timber Lake Trail. The Holzwarth Historic Site and Harbison Meadows Picnic Area will also remain open. Fishing access will remain open in all areas along the Colorado River located south of the Colorado River Trailhead, including near the Holzwarth Historic Site and Coyote Valley.

For detailed hiking information on all the trails on the west side of Rocky, please click here.

For a map of the closure, please click here.



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

On this date in hiking history: Earl Shaffer becomes the first person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail

The following is an excerpt from Ramble On: A History of Hiking. [Note: Amazon is currently offering the book at a 29% discount]

After World War II, many soldiers came home after serving overseas and began heading to the mountains for reasons that were vastly different from previous generations. Many veterans sought the wilderness as a way of escaping or coping with the horrors of war they had experienced. One such individual was Earl Shaffer, the man who would become the first person to thru-hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. In 1941, Shaffer volunteered

with the U.S. Army and served as a forward-area radar technician in the South Pacific. In addition to the horrors he witnessed himself, the Pennsylvania native also suffered the loss of a close childhood friend, who was killed during the invasion of Iwo Jima. A couple of years after the war had ended, Shaffer read an article about a handful of adventurers who had hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in a series of “section hikes,” and decided that he would try to do it himself in one continuous “thru-hike.” The following year, in 1948, he accomplished this goal by hiking the entire route in 124 days. In his trail journal, which eventually became a book, Shaffer wrote that the war had left him “confused and depressed.” He thought that a long-distance hiking trip might provide a remedy, stating that he wanted to “walk the army out of my system, both mentally and physically.” In 1965, Shaffer reprised this historic feat by walking the “long brown path” in just 99 days. On the 50th anniversary of his first thru-hike, Shaffer hit the trail once again. This time, at the age of 79, he completed the 2158-mile trek in 173 days.



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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.

National Park Foundation Awards More Than $10 Million to Spark Innovation Across the National Park System

The National Park Foundation is excited to launch dedicated funding for parks and park partners to collaborate on innovative projects that will strengthen parks, expand what is possible, and ensure these extraordinary places endure for generations. The inaugural cohort, announced today, includes 18 grants totaling more than $10 million awarded to support 21 national parks.

National parks are rooted in natural, historic, and cultural wonders, but they originated as a novel idea, and their future depends on continued innovation. Often called "America's best idea," the national park concept set the blueprint for protecting extraordinary places and sharing them with the world.

With the support of generous donors and partners, NPF is helping parks carry that spirit forward by creating more room to innovate, collaborate, and experiment. These grants provide funding directly to those who know parks best, empowering them to test new approaches, implement scalable technologies, and share what they learn so parks are stronger, and visitors can have better experiences.

NPF has received more than 200 proposals for innovation funding so far. Among those submissions, 18 projects were identified for immediate funding, with an initial focus on real-time information and traffic management, connectivity, data-informed decision-making, and more. These first projects include the following:

* Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute will work with Acadia National Park to deploy sensors, predictive analytics, and communication tools that give visitors and park managers real-time information about congestion and wait times along key corridors.

* Grand Canyon Conservancy will expand the ways that visitors can engage with Grand Canyon National Park by increasing connectivity and introducing digitally integrated interpretation of the park, enabling visitors to learn more and go deeper into the story of the iconic landscape.

* Glacier National Park Conservancy will help Glacier National Park deploy bypass lane transponders and badge readers at park entrances, automate passenger counts on shuttle buses, and install real-time parking displays at visitor centers

* Friends of Virgin Islands National Park will install Starlink satellite internet at seven land sites and five marine sites in the remote Virgin Islands National Park to offer connectivity for visitors and to improve emergency communications.

Funding for the inaugural cohort came from NPF's generous donors and partners, including Lilly Endowment Inc. View the full list of projects here.

NPF first invested $2 million in pilot projects led by the National Park Service and Preservation Maryland to advance technologies and experiment with novel equipment across multiple park sites in support of emergency response, asset management, and more efficient park operations. Interest in the pilot proved the need and potential impact of continued, dedicated investment in innovative technologies and creative solutions.

With growing support from NPF's donors and partners, including Robert and Kitty Brunswick, Mr. Cody J Smith, The Ball Foundation, and Arconic Foundation, NPF will award additional grants to parks and park partners in the coming months to support innovation in other focus areas, including natural resource management and interpretation.

NPF will also facilitate learning groups that bring together grant recipients to share information, ideas, and lessons learned to inform and inspire other parks.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary by visiting state parks for free on August 3, joining 14er Climb: Summit 2026, a statewide 14er challenge

To celebrate Colorado Day and the state's 150th birthday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is offering free entry to all Colorado state parks on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. CPW is one of many sponsors of 14er Climb: Summit 2026, a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry (OREC) event celebrating Colorado’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary.

The state legislature created Colorado Day to mark the anniversary of statehood, granted in 1876 by President Ulysses S. Grant. The state recognizes this annual holiday on the first of the month, and state parks celebrate the occasion with free entrance on the first Monday of August.

14er Climb: Summit 2026 on August 1
Celebrate Colorado’s 150th and America’s 250th anniversaries by joining this statewide 14er hiking challenge. Whether you hike a peak or choose the Flat 14ers option, we welcome Coloradans of all abilities to get outside, honor our shared history, and celebrate the future we’re building together.

Learn more and see which summit you want to tackle first: https://cpw.info/4vZHpXu

Free State Park Entry on August 3
This free entry day is an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of Colorado state parks and their diverse landscapes. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. CPW also has apparel, stickers and postcards honoring this historic event available at cpwshop.com.

CPW urges all state park visitors to act as stewards of our state’s land, wildlife, and water. By balancing outdoor recreation with mindful conservation, we can all protect Colorado's natural beauty. Here are some outdoor tips to help you recreate responsibly.

***  To thank U.S. military members for their dedicated service and sacrifices, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is continuing to offer free admission to all Colorado state parks for active-duty military, veterans, and National Guard members during the entire month of August.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Amazon is offering "Ramble On" at a 29% discount right now

FYI: Amazon is currently selling Ramble On: A History of Hiking for just $11.99. That's 29% off the regular price!

It's not clear how long they will offer this discount, but it's usually only for a limited time.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the rich history of the world's greatest outdoor activity! You can also impress your friends with your knowledge of hiking the next time you're on the trail with them!