Greatest Adventures Series: Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains offer some of the best views and experience for bold adventurers. A true outdoor playground, here you can camp, hike, rock climb, and ski. There are very places in the country that can get us excited as much as talking about the Rocky Mountains. If you are looking for a new destination for your next trip, look no further than the Rocky Mountains.
The Greatest Adventures is where we talk about some of our favorite outdoor destinations. Destinations that take tourism to the next level. While we believe that adventure can be found even when walking in your own city, this series is particularly focused on adventures found in the great outdoors.
What you need to know about the rocky mountains
The Rocky Mountain is the largest mountain system in North America. It stretches for over 3,000 miles or over 4,800 kilometers. It straddles British Columbia – Canada all the way to New Mexico in the Southeast United States. It is difficult to wrap your head around just how large and expansive this mountain system is. It, in fact, passes through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. This is why you can access, visit, and take a peak of the Rocky Mountains from numerous parts of the country.
The Rocky Mountains system is about 80 to 55 million years old. It formed when the tectonic plates in the area started moving, sliding into and underneath one another. These plate movements, along with so much time, shaped and carved the dramatic peaks and valleys the Rockies are known for.
Visiting the Rockies
The Rocky Mountains naturally draw millions of tourists every year. This, of course, should not scare you into thinking it can get too crowded. The beauty of the Rocky Mountains lies in the sheer expanse of it. Precisely because it is such a huge mountain system, there are so many entry points and spots to visit surrounding it. The Rocky Mountain National Park is not the only way to get there.
In the United States alone, there are the Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. There are also the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and Flathead Lake.
On the other hand, if you are coming from Canada, you can check out Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Kootenay National Park. You can also visit it through Waterton Lakes National Park and Yoho National Park.
Things to do in the Rockies
Of course, the different parks surrounding the Rockies all offer experiences unique to that region. It is amazing how the same mountain system is surrounded by different cultures and features. Some of the universal things you can do is to hike, trail run, camp for days, and see wildlife. If you are looking specifically into skiing, check out the Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter.
The Rockies is absolutely magnificent anytime of the year, but we especially adore it in the winter. There is just something about snow capped mountains and skiing that makes anything extra beautiful. Even magical.
Ready to visit the Rockies? Check out our Beginner’s Adventure Guide to the Rocky Mountains here.
