• Hikers on Granite Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS photo by John Marino

    Rocky Mountain

    National Park Colorado

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  • Bear Lake Road Reconstruction Project

    Major construction work on Bear Lake Road in 2012 & 2013 includes mandatory use of park shuttles May 29-Oct 9 between 9 am–4 pm, significant delays, and some night closures. More »

  • Fire Burning In the Park

    Several closures are in effect due to a fire burning approximately two miles west of the Fern Lake Trailhead. Call 970-586-1381 for fire updates. More »

Park Fun

Hey, Kids,

The following links are to web pages with fun information for your enjoyment. You may also find great ideas for projects and research papers. Remember to include a notation for the source of this information.

These "Fun Facts" were created and published on the Rocky Mountain National Park website a few years ago. They were updated in 2007.

The original idea was that each topic would provide a bit of information and some attractive pictures about a natural history topic, an answer to the "burning question of the week," or an event in the park. We have specifically tried to size some of the more attractive large photos to be made into wallpaper for your computer screen (by right clicking on the picture and selecting "Set as background"). As a result, we hope you find these Fun Facts informative and useful.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOSYSTEMS

Albinos
Aquatic Plants and Animals
Attacking CWD
The Blessing of Snow
Clouds and Fog
"Co-endangerment"
The Dakota Hogback
Deers with Collars
Effects of the Snowstorm on RMNP
Effects of the Drought on RMNP
Jumping Genes
Keeping All the Parts
Mired in Peatlands
Plant Succession
Preparing for Winter
Rushing Streams and Roaring Waterfalls
Tuesdays without Fail (Nitrogen Deposition)
Ultraviolet Colors?
Visit from a Greek God (Boreal Forests)
Wind
Winds

FAUNA

Abert's Squirrels
Amphibians in Decline
Animal Camouflage
Antelope Seen in the Park (Pronghorn Antelope)
Beavers
A Beer Drinking Bird?
A Bird in Hand: A New Species for the Park (Hummingbirds)
The Bluebirds Return
The Buzz about Summer (Bees)
Caddisflies
Christmas Bird Count
Common Names (Plants and Animals)
Congratulations, It's A Toad!
Eagle Chicks
Elk Jockeys (Magpies Riding Elk)
Garbage Kills Bears
Great Horned Owls
How Did the Deer Get in the Tree?
The Hummingbird Family
Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane?
Magpies Begin Courtship Early
Moths
Migrants (Birds)
New Arrivals (Elk, Moose, Antelope)
Pikas
The Pine Seed War (Seed Dispersal)
Red-tailed Hawks
Rodents
Tiger Salamanders and Climate Change
Warning Coloration
What's Humming in the Park?
When Deer and Elk Compete
Where Do Boreal Toads Spend the Winter?
Where Have the Amphibians Gone?
White-tailed Deer Seen in RMNP
Why Do the Elk Look So Scruffy?

FLORA

Algae
Aspen in Bloom
Blister Rust
Bunny-in-the-Grass
Cacti Are in Bloom
Common Names (Plants and Animals)
Common Wildflower Families
Composites
Controlling Weeds
Darn Yellow Composites
Invasive Exotic Weeds
The Iris Family in the Park
Jumping Genes
Late Summer Wildflowers
Lichens of RMNP
Looking for Lichens
The Lily Family
Little Pink Elephants
Louseworts
Mushrooms
New Vegetation Map
Pine Pollen Season is on the Way
Ponderosa Pine
Revegetation Efforts
A Riot of Wildflowers
Sedges have Edges
So Many Different Flowers
Some Plants Aren't Green
Stamens and Pistils 101
Stamens and Pistils 102
Wildflower Dreams
Yuccas and Silverswords

GEOLOGY

Earthquake: Could it Happen Here?
Glaciers

HISTORY

A. Pendarves Vivian
Changing Modes of Transportation
Craftsmen
The Earl of Dunraven
Happy Birthday RMNP
Harbison Ranch
Isabella Bird's 1873 Visit
A Little Bit of Architecture: The Phone Booth at McGraw Ranch
Living Walls: Frank Lloyd Wright's Influence on Rocky's Headquarters Building
Researching the Past
Rocky's Historic Trails
RMNP Museum Storage Facility
Roughing it with Ease (McGraw Ranch)
The State Historical Fund: Preserving Colorado's Past
Stephen Harriman Long
William Allen White
A Woman of Firsts: Judge Florence Allen

OPERATIONS

911 Emergency!
Acute Mountain Sickness
Artist-in-Residence Program
Entrance Stations and Visitor Centers
Escape Hybrid Vehicles
Ever Wonder Who Cleans the Toilets?
A Few Committed People: Celebrating Natural Sounds
Happy 90th Anniversary, Rocky Mountain National Park
Hardworking Horses and Mules
Historic Buildings
The Horses and Mules are Back!
The Information Office
Lightning Safety in the High Country
Making Decisions
Opening Trail Ridge Road
Park Staff Prepares for Winter
Search and Rescue
Trail Ridge Road Opens Early
War on Weeds
Why is Pettingell Lake Closed to Fishing this Week?
Wilderness Act Turns 40

RESEARCH

Bear Research
Beep...Beep...Tracking Frogs
Citizen Science
Elk Bugles
Hummingbird Survey
Intensity of Fall Colors
McGraw Research Center Opens
Mountain Lion Research
The Nerd Herd
The Pine Seed Wars (Seed Dispersal)
Researching the Past
Subtle but Important (Nitrogen Deposition)

SEASONS

Autumn Begins Early
Colors in the Sky (Sunrises and Sunsets)
The Color of Winter
Fall Colors
Fall is in the Air
Green Fades to Gold
Hints of Spring
June
Looking for Spring
Observing the Winter Weather
The Reds of Autumn
The Summer of Monsoon Rains
Winter Solstice

VOLUNTEERS AND YOUTH GROUPS

American Conservation Corps
Bighorn Brigade
Chow Busters
Citizen Science
The Elk Bugle Corps
Greenback Backers
The Information Office
The Nerd Herd
Road Hogs

Did You Know?

A deer wears a radio collar so scientists can track its movements.

You can access research information throughout the entire National Park Service system. Find out which parks are studying Chronic Wasting Disease. More...