The Ghost Ranch

The Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, New Mexico is truly an enchanting landscape. It was once the summer home of Georgia O'Keeffe, an artist best known for her paintings of Northern New Mexico and the Ghost Ranch. One of the best ways to explore this magnificent 21,000-acre ranch, now run by the Presbyterian Church, is to take the three-mile round-trip hike to Chimney Rock.

Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Rocky Mountain National Park Centennial Planning Underway

Come learn about Rocky Mountain National Park's exciting Centennial plans and how you can get involved on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:00 p.m. Anniversary Coordinator Barbara Scott will provide an update at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The year-long Centennial Celebration will kick-off on September 4, 2014, the 99th anniversary of Rocky's dedication as a national park. A Re-Dedication Ceremony will bring the celebration to an end on September 4, 2015.

Rocky Mountain National Park staff, park partners, individuals, businesses, and organizations from surrounding communities are brainstorming and planning educational programs, products, and special events to celebrate 100 years of Rocky Mountain National Park history, relationships, and connections.

Rocky Mountain National Park's 100th Anniversary Celebration will encourage people to rediscover and reconnect with the wilderness, wildlife, and wonder that have inspired and continue to inspire visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park. How would you celebrate Rocky Mountain National Park's Centennial? What kinds of events or programs would you like to see put on by your local organizations? Rocky Mountain National Park encourages you to think about ways you can connect with the natural and cultural history of the park through activities that engage and appeal to a variety of audiences. Will you host a poetry contest or a centennial concert? A children's play? Maybe a hiking challenge or a bird watching seminar?

Please join the park on Wednesday, March 12th, to provide your input and ideas. For more information you can call the park at 970-586-1206.

If planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park during the centennial celebration, or anytime this year, please note that our website offers a wide variety of accommodation listings in both Estes Park and Grand Lake. Also, don't forget to check out our other Things To Do page to help with all your trip planning.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Rocky Mountain National Park Recruits Volunteer Groups For This Summer

Rocky Mountain National Park staff is looking for organized groups and families to assist with a variety of projects at the park this summer. The work ranges from assisting park firefighters on a fuels reduction project to protect the park and surrounding neighbors, working on native plant restoration or assisting the park's trail crew on trail rehabilitation and some flood recovery efforts.

There are a range of projects for a variety of ages and abilities. Groups of volunteers can come from around Colorado or from across the country to make a difference in their national park. Depending on availability, a free campsite may be available for groups of volunteers.

For more information on how your group can get involved and make a difference this summer at Rocky, check out the park's website: www.nps.gov/romo/supportyourpark/group-volunteer.htm or call the park's Volunteer Office at 970-586-1330.

For general information please call the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

"As We Ran" by "The National Parks"

A band by the name of "The National Parks" has just released a new single and video (below) called "As We Ran." The single is an original song written for the first installment of the National Park Experience: A Film Series, a series of "10 short films about the amazing and diverse people forging incredible relationships with the national parks."

You may want to note that all proceeds received from downloads of "As We Ran", between January 28th and February 28th, 2014, will be donated by the band to the National Parks Conservation Association. You can download the song from iTunes by clicking here.





Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Rocky Mountain National Park

58NationalParks produced this excellent overview of Rocky Mountain National Park. If this video inspires you to visit Rocky Mountain this year, the best way to explore this wonderful park is to hike along one of the many trails that meander throughout the park.



If you do plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this year, please note that our website offers a variety of accommodation listings in both Estes Park and Grand Lake.



Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com