Annual Meadow Closures Begin on September 1 for Elk Rut Season in Rocky Mountain National Park

Beginning on Saturday, September 1, annual meadow closures will go into effect in Rocky Mountain National Park to prevent the disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating season. Meadow closures are also in place for safety and enjoyment of park visitors who are enjoying wildlife viewing during the elk rut season.

Meadow closures will be in place between the hours of 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Areas that are closed include meadow areas in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow. During the specified hours, these meadow areas will be closed to all travel on foot or via horseback off established roads and trails. Meadow closures will remain in effect through October 31, 2024.

Fishing locations along the Fall River, Thompson River, and Colorado River that are accessed by walking through closed meadow areas are closed to fishing between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Wildlife viewing is one of the most popular activities that visitors enjoy each fall. Keep your distance and view wildlife with respect. When viewing elk keep back at least 75 feet (23 m). This is the length of two school buses. It is our responsibility to keep our distance. Don’t keep approaching wildlife until they react to you. As always, elk calling and the use of spotlights or vehicle headlights for spotting wildlife is prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park.



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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:

Missing Hiker near Lake Isabelle located, found deceased

On Monday, August 26, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Boulder County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a call regarding an overdue camper. The 36-year-old male was reportedly hiking and camping in the area of Lake Isabelle, in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, accessed from the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The camper was due to return the morning of August 26th. When he did not check-in or show up, family members reported him missing.

The missing male’s vehicle was located in the parking lot at Brainard Lake, prompting Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services to initiate a search. Based on reports from the family as well as using information from the missing party’s Garmin GPS device, a search was conducted in the area with ground searchers, dog teams, and a helicopter. Search teams located a deceased male, believed to be the missing party near Shoshoni Peak at approximately 5:30 p.m. on August 26th.

Due to the remote location and technical terrain, it was unsafe to conduct the recovery operation that night. Rescue teams returned on August 27, 2024, to conduct the recovery. Rescuers from Rocky Mountain Rescue Group assisted by a helicopter from the Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control were able to recover the deceased male and transport him to investigators from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.

The Boulder County Coroner’s Office will determine the identification of the climber, as well as the cause and manner of death. At this time, the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

Agencies assisting with this rescue effort included: Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Boulder Emergency Squad, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Medevac, and Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.



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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

National Parks Contributed Record High $55.6 Billion to U.S. economy, Supported 415,000 Jobs in 2023

This week, the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service released a new report that finds visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2023 resulted in a record high $55.6 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 415,400 jobs.

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.”

The National Park Service report, 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects, finds that 325.5 million visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks. This spending supported 415,400 jobs, provided $19.4 billion in labor income, and $55.6 billion in economic output to the U.S. economy. The lodging sector had the highest direct contributions with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs. Restaurants received the next greatest direct contributions with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs.

The latest report is informed by improved socioeconomic survey data enhancing the accuracy of spending estimates and helps the National Park Service learn more about park visitors.

Results from the visitor spending effects report series are available online via an interactive tool. Users can view year-by-year trend data and explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value-added, and economic output effects by sector for national, state and local economies.

The annual peer-reviewed economics report was prepared by economists from the National Park Service.



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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:

Vehicle Rollover on Rim Rock Drive in Colorado National Monument

On August 25, at about 8 p.m., Colorado National Monument staff received a report that a passenger vehicle had departed from Rim Rock Drive. National Park Service (NPS) rangers and other first responders immediately dispatched to the scene, where it was discovered that the vehicle failed to navigate a curve and rolled down an approximately 30-foot drop. Four individuals were in the vehicle, and three were transferred to the hospital to receive treatment. No fatalities occurred.

The NPS extends gratitude to our partners at the Mesa County Sherriff’s Office, Glade Park Fire Department, Grand Junction Fire Department, and Colorado State Patrol, who joined rangers on the incident and provided exceptional response.

Rim Rock Drive is a historic 23-mile scenic drive through Colorado National Monument. Built in the 1930s during the CCC Era, the road includes steep hills, sharp curves, and significant heights. Drivers are reminded to follow all federal traffic laws and encouraged to slow down, use caution, and be aware of wildlife, severe weather, and changing conditions whenever visiting the monument.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and no other details are available at this time.



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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:

NPS completes environmental review for continued management of e-bikes in parks

The National Park Service (NPS) today released a programmatic environmental assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) reaffirming park superintendents’ authority to allow visitors to use electric bicycles (e-bikes) in national parks on a case-by-case basis, consistent with public safety and consideration of natural and cultural resources.

Last year, the NPS held an open comment period for members of the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to provide feedback on a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA). The review examined the potential national level impacts of e-bike use in national parks. With today’s FONSI, NPS reaffirms the existing 2020 rule that authorizes superintendents to allow e-bikes, where appropriate, on park roads, parking areas, and administrative roads and trails where traditional bicycles are also allowed. Public lands designated by Congress as “wilderness areas” remain off-limits to both traditional bicycles and e-bikes.

When determining if and where e-bikes might be allowed in the park, superintendents must take into consideration public health and safety, natural and cultural resource protection, and other management activities and objectives.

To determine whether e-bikes are allowed in a specific park, visit the park website or contact the park directly. You can find a specific park website and contact information at: Find a Park (nps.gov)

When managed appropriately, the use of e-bikes can enhance fun and healthy recreational opportunities for visitors to national parks and support active transportation options. E-bikes can have many benefits for parks and visitors including expanding access for those with physical limitations, supporting clean transportation and reducing vehicle congestion within parks, and providing healthy recreation opportunities. The 2020 rules ensures that NPS must manage this form of access and recreation, like others that occur in park areas, in a manner that protects park resources, values, and visitors.



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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: