USA: Colorado Rocky Mountain Highway. Colorado Colorado Mountains on the map

The state of Colorado is one of two (together with the state) "rectangular" states of the United States, bounded by two parallels (from 37° to 41° north latitude) and two meridians (from 102°03" to 109°03" west longitude).

Colorado's topography is extremely diverse. Here you can see vast plains and high mountains, canyons and plateaus.

Colorado is the only US state whose entire territory has an altitude above sea level of more than one kilometer (the lowest point in Colorado is 1,011 meters above sea level). The highest point in the state of Colorado is Mount Elbert (4401 meters, the highest peak and the second highest in the continental United States, after Mount Whitney).

Numerous Rocky Mountain ranges stretch across the state of Colorado from north to south. Colorado has fifty-four mountain peaks that exceed fourteen thousand feet (4,270 meters) in height; US climbers call them "fourteeners" ( fourteeners).

Up to an altitude of 3,200 - 3,600 meters above sea level, the mountains are covered with coniferous forests; higher up there are alpine meadows, and even higher - snow-capped peaks. Snow on the peaks of the Rocky Mountains generally melts in mid-August, with the exception of a few glaciers.

It passes along the ridges of the Rocky Mountains, separating the river basins of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

East of the Rocky Mountains is the Eastern Colorado Plain, a vast high (more than a thousand meters above sea level) plain that is part of the United States region. Although Colorado is a state, the Eastern Plains region is often classified as a state.

Here, in the plains and eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the majority of Colorado's population lives. Most cities are also located here, the largest of which is the capital of the state of Colorado.

The largest rivers in eastern Colorado are the Arkansas and South Platte.

The climate in eastern Colorado is temperate continental and semi-arid. Most precipitation falls from April to September, with alternating dry spells and heavy thunderstorms.

The region is characterized by large daily temperature differences. The average temperature in July is 13°C at night and 27°C during the day, in January -12°C at night and -1°C during the day.

West of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado is the Colorado Plateau, part of the region

SEE ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF EXCURSIONS AND TOURS ON MY PERSONAL SITE.

Tour of Denver, the state capital.

The city's most important landmark is the late 19th-century Colorado State Capitol, a massive white granite building topped by a 55-meter gold dome.

Lower Downtown, which is called LoDo for short, is a walk through the old district.

Let's visit the Molly Brown House Museum. The “unsinkable” Lady Molly Brown, one of the few surviving passengers on the Titanic, lived in a large Denver mansion in the 1880s. Today you can see not only original furniture from the period, but also a lot of charming antique trinkets on a tour.

Another pretentious mansion worthy of a visit is the residence of the Governor of Colorado. The history of the mansion, full of famous names of aristocratic residents of Colorado, and the interiors of the building are noteworthy.

The triangular-shaped Brown Palace Hotel, built in 1892 in the very center of the city, hosted Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and even the defeated Beatles. They all left their autographs in the hotel guest book. At the end of the tour, afternoon tea awaits - a long-standing Brown Palace tradition that is not forgotten for a single day. Anyone can join.

A very calm and charming place is the Botanical Garden.

On the way to the National Park we stop in the town of Boulder. Pearl Street is a cozy street with a variety of souvenir shops, galleries and cafes.

This city has long been loved by hippies, and generations of them have had a great time here.

In the surrounding area there are a number of hippie communes, and indeed various communities in general, trying to leave worldly affairs and devote themselves to spiritual things.

The “pearl” of not only the state of Colorado, but the entire country is the Rocky Mountains National Park.

Alpine landscapes are so mesmerizing and alluring with their beauty that National Park It gets crowded with tourists from time to time. More than three million people visit the National Park every year.

Anyone who truly loves mountains will never be able to resist the sight of amazing mountain landscapes, crystal clear rivers and lakes. If you stop following the beaten tourist paths, you can easily find many places where you can calmly contemplate the beauty pristine nature. The National Park has a total area of ​​1,075 square kilometers and contains more than 370 hiking trails.

The paths vary in their difficulty, some of them go through protected areas. On many trails it is allowed to ride horses, which you and I will not use.

The most popular ski resorts in the states are located in this area, allowing you to actively spend your winter vacation. But it’s beautiful here even in summer - the landscape is rightfully considered magnificent, how many poems and songs have American poets composed about this pearl of Colorado...

Hiking trails run through rocky mountains, alpine lakes, tundra, aspen groves, forests and meadows strewn with bright mountain flowers. There's no better place to experience the full range of mountain natural beauty than Rocky Mountain National Park in the Rocky Mountains.

The next point is the famous Colorado Springs.

The city is located in a picturesque location at the foot of the mountains, and lies at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, with some areas much higher.

Colorado Springs was founded on July 31, 1871 by William Jackson Palmer, who was involved in the construction of railroads. Palmer was so impressed by the view of the valley at the foot of the mountains that he purchased the land and founded a settlement. From the very beginning, Palmer had a desire to found a resort town, and the surrounding area only favored this. In the very near future, onlookers, settlers and gold seekers flocked to Colorado Springs. The first tourists also appeared, attracted by the beautiful area, clean mountain air, sun, mineral waters and a very dry climate. Over time, the flow of gold and silver seekers dried up, but there were more and more tourists.

Colorado Springs is home to two major air bases, the United States Air Force Academy, and Fort Carson. These 4 military installations are the largest employers in the region. In addition, an aerospace defense command center is based in the vicinity of Colorado Springs under Cheyenne Mountain. North America(NORAD), responsible for missile defense. The NORAD complex was built at the height of the Cold War with the USSR and at one time caused concern among local residents who believed that the city could be the target of a Soviet nuclear strike.

Most tourists come to Colorado Springs to admire the local nature. In close proximity to Colorado Springs there is Pikes Peak (4302 meters), which attracts thousands of people. It is believed that this is the second mountain in the world after Fuji in terms of the number of tourists. To see the most beautiful scenery you need to climb up the Cog Railway, by car or on foot trails. Each option is interesting and extreme in its own way. Every year, Pikes Peak Mountain hosts two popular sporting events: the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (a race to the top in cars of various classes) and the Pikes Peak Marathon (a marathon).

Another mountain worthy of attention is Cheyenne Mountain.

We will take a walk through the Cheyenne Canyon.

The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are also located here. These Colorado Springs attractions are located close to each other and are very popular among tourists.

We will take a lift to this only high-mountain zoo in the country.

Next is a tour of the old city of Old Colorado City, which was one of the centers of the American Gold Rush, and today attracts tourists with historical places of the past, souvenir and art shops, bars and cafes.

We will also visit the Wild West Museum.

And we will visit the Cave of the Winds in a picturesque mountain canyon.

Midwestern town - Manitou Springs.

If you wish, you can swim in the healing hot springs.

In this town there is the legendary Indian Cliff Dwellings museum, consisting of two parts: the first - under open air a museum of an ancient Anasazi Indian settlement in the red rocks of Colorado, the second is a gift gallery together with indoor museum rooms.

Very close to the city limits of Colorado Springs there is a park area called the “Garden of the Gods”. The main attraction of the Garden of the Gods are the bizarre orange rocks created over the years by wind erosion. The park has many hiking and biking trails, allowing you to take an unusual walk among the wonderful geological formations.

We will do a short hike along the mountain route - Red Rock Open Space Canyon.

We will pass it on the way to the magnificent Royal Gorge Bridge Park - the world's highest suspension bridge over an abyss-gorge.

And one of the best experiences for all tourists is rafting on the Arkansas River. The pleasure is simply indescribable, both for children from five years old and for all adults without exception.

An hour and a half drive from Colorado Springs is the gold mining town of Cripple Creek. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is located at an altitude of 2 miles above sea level (almost 3 km).

This trip will be of interest to those who not only love nature and fresh air, but are also interested in the history of the North American Gold Rush and the gambling business.

We will go for a walk in the mountains, then take the elevator down to the Molly Katlin gold mine for a tour, visit the museum of the history of the development of the Wild West region of the United States, walk through the streets and casinos of the town, where not so long ago blood was shed in the struggle for wealth or honor.

And if there is time left, we will take a ride on an open excursion train to the Golden Valley.

In the heart of the famous Rocky Mountains, or, as Americans simply say, The Rockies, four of the most picturesque American states are nestled: Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. Translated from Spanish"Colorado" means "red hue" - 16th-century Spanish explorers struggled to find a suitable definition for the complex color of the local rocks and river. The most mountainous state in the United States, Colorado became American in 1896, and is now called the ski capital of America. Some of the best resorts in the hemisphere are concentrated here, but before heading to Aspen or the Vail Valley, skiers are strongly advised to make a short stop in the state capital, Denver. Firstly, it is from here that a small plane takes off to the desired ski resorts; the travel time is only 25 minutes. Secondly, Denver is notable for its parks and museums - we recommend visiting the Colorado History Museum and the house of Molly Brown, a resident of the state who miraculously escaped from the sinking of the Titanic. But it is the mountains that are the main feature and pride of the state. In Rocky Mountain National Park, tourists are proudly shown natural resources Colorado - local residents claim that the most beautiful mountain panorama in the United States can be seen exclusively here. Traces of the Colorado Gold Rush are preserved in Manitou Springs, a charming town famous for its spa resort thanks to the natural mineral springs fortunately discovered on this site. And Colorado Springs - resort town, dubbed "Little London" due to its popularity among British tourists. Colorado also has its own “Grand Canyon” - a whole Canyon City, famous, however, not so much for its picturesque mountain falls as for the museum... of local prisons. Sand dunes, rivers, forests - everything you want is in Colorado, but none of the above can compare with the eternal and rock-solid glory of the local mountains.

Aspen and others

The first “steps on alpine skiing” were made in Colorado in 1935, when pioneer skiers began skiing in the Rocky Mountains: remember the movie “Sun Valley Serenade”?.. Things almost immediately went uphill, and many small towns announced their their desire to become ski resorts: this is how the world fame of the Vail Valley, Aspen and other now world-famous resorts began. The very word “Aspen” for Americans sounds like “success” - the whole point is that the richest and most famous Hollywood stars, famous athletes and millionaires actually meet and relax here. And you can easily join the chosen society! Aspen - main resort Colorado, which every self-respecting skier should visit at least once in his life. The town of Aspen itself is built in typical Victorian style, and there are countless restaurants, shops and other “non-ski” activities and entertainment. For those who are firmly on skis (or dream of getting up and standing on them), four ski areas are offered, in other words, four mountains, for which they sell a single pass - a “ski pass”.

Four mountains

Aspen Mountain (or Ajax), with an altitude of 3,418 m, is best suited for experienced skiers and those who have skied for at least a couple of seasons; there are practically no easy trails here. But experienced skiers will appreciate the local slopes and picturesque views; For extreme sports enthusiasts, virgin lands and descent from peaks to gorges await. Snowmass (height 3813m) is a completely different matter, there are most of the slopes for skiers with less experience, there are long gentle slopes, but there are also interesting offers for experienced skiers (there are 83 slopes in total at Snowmass, so there is plenty to choose from!) . As for those who do not ski or snowboard and are not fundamentally going to change the situation, Snowmass invites them to take a break at one of the 11 mountain restaurants and relax for their own pleasure, admiring the snow-capped mountain views.

The signature feature of Colorado resorts is that it is customary to take into account even the most unusual and difficult wishes and requests of vacationers. They will select your skis and adjust them ski boots on the leg, if necessary, they will teach you and your children how to ski, and if children learn skiing too early, they can be entrusted to experienced baby sitters (while mom and dad conquer the mountains). Aspen Highlands (elevation 3,559 m) offers 131 runs, most of which are designed for advanced skiers, while the Buttermilk Ski Area (3,018 m) made history as the capital of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Winter Extreme Games. At the same time, Buttermilk is considered an ideal place... for beginner skiers. As for the weather, it seems to be specially adjusted to the needs of amateurs winter holiday. The days here are usually sunny, and it snows only at night. Locals They joke that the mayor of Aspen secretly turns on a special switch every night to add fresh snow, and turns it off at dawn. A “post-ski” vacation, or, as it is commonly called, apres-ski, in Aspen will give a hundred points ahead of any European resort in terms of diversity - you will find cinemas, discos, art galleries, gourmet restaurants, and clubs with live music. . Be sure to check out The J-Bar, which has been in business since 1889. It is included in the National List of Historic Landmarks. For children, Aspen offers dog sledding, special children's trails, an indoor skating rink, a swimming pool, a skate park, a Western entertainment center in Buttermilk and a nightly comedy show in Snowmass. If, despite the abundance of local entertainment, you need additional experiences, from Aspen you can go on an excursion to the picturesque Maroon Lake or to the famous spa resort of Glenwood Springs.

All inclusive

Colorado's Vail Valley takes a slightly different approach to skiing, and while it may not be as well known as Aspen, you should definitely check out the resorts here. They are famous for their variety of trails and the cozy atmosphere of the villages at the foot of the slopes. Here, skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a huge area for skiing and not the highest prices, in addition, the ski pass of the Vail Valley resorts is valid for skiing at the resorts of nearby Beavercreek, famous for its well-groomed slopes and a village that is like two peas in a pod like an illustration of an alpine winter fairy tale However, Beavercreek also has typical American features, for example, outdoor escalators that take guests to the doors of the necessary stores and heated walkways. And also a comfortable ski concierge system: after skiing, you don’t have to worry about equipment and get to the hotel lightly. Staff specially allocated for this purpose (ski concierges) will not only help tired skiers take off heavy boots and wet overalls, but this is especially convenient for beginners and the youngest mountain conquerors. Your skis and suit will be put in order, and the next day the prepared equipment will be waiting for you at the slope chosen the day before.

Family values

Families with children are welcome here - young guests are offered a trip to an amusement park with a bear's den and an Indian village, and in a special school for little ones children from 2 months to 6 years old are supervised. Parents can ride with peace of mind knowing that their children will be cared for by qualified staff. Children from the age of 3 are taught to ski; there are lifts, equipment, and trails designed specifically for children. And after training, girls, again starting from 3 years old, can relieve tension in a special children's spa, decorated in a style reminiscent of a Barbie dollhouse. Apres-ski in the city center - Vail Village - includes everything imaginable and unimaginable recreational options: from shopping and visiting galleries to day spas and street concerts. In the small town of Breckenridge, we recommend visiting a museum dedicated to gold miners. And for those who are partial to shopping, we advise you to look into shopping malls a sample of the megamalls already familiar to us, located here, nearby. Stores of famous brands selling the latest fashion collections will delight even the most fastidious customers. Luxury items here can be bought about 7-8 times cheaper than items of the same class in Moscow!

Hotels in the mountains
In Aspen and the Vail Valley you can find a variety of hotels - from "star" hotels, going off scale for all imaginable indicators of chic and luxury, to quite affordable, but outstanding in quality, where all the needs of vacationers are taken into account - from ski storage to barbecue on street. Situated at the base of Aspen Mountain between two major ski lifts, The St. Regis is renowned for its stunning views and exceptional customer service, as well as being home to a popular hospital for people with back and spine problems. One of best hotels in Aspen - The Little Nell.
Hotel, it is relatively small - only 92 rooms, but equipped with the latest technology. For special comfort of guests, individual service is provided here in accordance with all their wishes and the most refined cuisine. No wonder 60% of those who visit here become regular guests of the hotel. The Hotel Jerome is an Aspen landmark. Individually decorated apartments with huge bathrooms are designed for people who prefer to combine the full joys of winter recreation and sports with business. Special rooms are equipped with the latest equipment and satellite communications. Upon request, everything necessary for rest and work will be delivered to the guest upon arrival. The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beavercreek embodies a classic approach to hospitality. They offer spacious and stylish rooms, relaxation in the SPA and fitness center, excellent cuisine and the highest level of service.

The decision to go to Colorado arose spontaneously, although for me any trip is a great pleasure. And even more so see the Rocky Mountains! A young Muscovite, a geophysicist, who worked on a business trip in Houston for 3.5 months, decided to take a short vacation before returning home and see interesting places in the states. She needed someone for company - after all, traveling alone in a foreign country is not very comfortable. As the least burdened with work among her friends, I agreed with great pleasure to go for four days. I’ll immediately note that during the trip we made a colorful couple with her - grandmothers and granddaughters, and everywhere we were treated with a wonderful attitude. Two weeks before the trip, we began to carefully plan the route, where it was best to go and what to see, based on the time available. My son, as an experienced person in these matters, took upon himself all the worries about issuing tickets, booking a hotel and renting a car. He made us printouts from the Internet of all the necessary maps with detailed indications of turns and exits to this or that road or street. Lord, bless the Internet - the most wonderful assistant for travelers! On the Internet we found the most necessary information about the state of Colorado.

The area of ​​the state of Colorado is 269.7 thousand square meters. km - in terms of territory size, it is the 8th largest in the United States. And in terms of population, it’s only 24th, with only 4.3 million people living there, less than the number of people living in “big” Houston! The state capital is Denver, with a population of just over 600 thousand people. Colorado is the highest-altitude state in the United States, its entire territory lies at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level. If you look at a map of the USA, then on it Colorado has the shape of a regular quadrangle, its boundaries are parallels and meridians, i.e. it is located between 41 and 37 degrees north latitude, and from east to west it extends from 102 to 109 degrees west longitude. Only the states of Wyoming and Utah have similar borders. The state got its name from the Colorado River, which in Spanish means “colored red”, as the river flows among rocks with a reddish tint. Yes, there are a lot of red rocks among the mountains in Colorado! Colorado’s nickname, or, as they now say, “nickname,” is the “Century State,” since it became part of the United States in 1876, on the hundredth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

IN mid-19th century, from 1850, Colorado “suffered” a gold and silver fever, described in many works. The largest silver nugget, weighing 835 kg, was found in the Aspen area in 1894. It is still the largest nugget in the world. The state's mines still produce gold and silver, and Colorado ranks first in the United States in molybdenum mining and steel production. It is no coincidence that the state's coat of arms depicts a pick and a hammer, symbolizing the mining industry - the basis of the economy. And the golden ball inside the letter “C” on the flag indicates the presence of gold mines. There are two mints in the United States, one in Denver and the other in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Colorado is one of the most beautiful states, as we have seen. Two-fifths of its territory is occupied by the Rocky Mountains, in which 55 peaks have an altitude of more than 4,200 meters, and the highest Mount Elbert rises to 4,399 meters. And so we fly to admire the mountains, because as V. Vysotsky sang: “The only mountains that can be better than mountains are mountains that you have never been to before...”

Day one, Monday, September 29.
A plane from Houston to Denver covers a distance of 876 miles (1410 km) in just over two hours. Departure is on Monday at 6-20 am, and in Denver, the state capital, taking into account the time difference of an hour, we land at 7-40. Denver airport is very comfortable, clean, spacious. There are many cafes, in one of which we drank coffee and had breakfast, since American domestic airlines do not serve food on planes. After receiving our luggage, we went to the information desk. There we were given a free large guide to Denver and a detailed map of the city, and they explained how to get by shuttle bus (also free) to the company where we had booked a car for rent. Registration and receipt of the car took no more than 15 minutes. How wonderful and clearly organized everything is! Here we received another map of Denver, although we already had our own printouts of the main routes. And the employee who gave us the car also explained in words how best to leave the parking lot and get to the hotel. And here we are in a small KIA car (we chose this one ourselves, it’s very economical) driving along the highway towards the city. The terrain here is flat and only in the distance we see the silhouettes of mountains in the haze. The hotel in the northern part of the city is 18 miles away, after 25 minutes we, having overcome a rather difficult road junction, are already in place. I admire my young companion; at 23 years old, with just over a year of driving experience, she drives the car perfectly. Having checked into our room and settled in, we decide to go to the parks closest to the city. First to the park with the intriguing name “Dinosaur Ridge”.

Dinosaur Ridge Park is located approximately 10 miles west of Downtown Denver or 20 miles from our hotel on Highway 70, near the town of Morrison. There is another huge park in Colorado dedicated to discovering dinosaur bones and skeletons (Dinosaur National Monument), but it is on the Utah border, in the far northwest, more than 300 miles from Denver. This park is small. The parking lot at the entrance is decorated with the silhouette of a dinosaur. There is a small information center, a shop with souvenirs, and various snacks. Once upon a time, 100 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed here. The bones of dead animals were covered with dirt and sand, saturated with silica, and as a result they hardened and became similar to the surrounding stones. About 70 million years ago, active processes of displacement of mountain layers began, as a result of which part of the rocks turned around, split and exposed the internal layers, which made it possible to see fossil bones. A small bus, driven by an amateur tour guide with a passion for geology, takes us for three dollars up the mountain for a mile and a half, stopping at interesting places oh and talking about the many finds of fossilized dinosaur parts. There are many schoolchildren here; school buses bring them on excursions. From the upper border of the park we go down on foot, constantly taking pictures and admiring the surrounding landscapes. What I admired most were the dinosaur footprints, which were naturally tinted to make them more noticeable. Through the narrow basin behind the “Dinosaur Ridge” you can see strangely shaped red rocks. The guide says that this is another park called Red Rock. The drive there is no more than 4 miles. And of course, we immediately go there.
Red Rocks are amazing! Here the mountains are composed of red sandstones, which, as a result of long weathering processes, have acquired bizarre shapes. On the road that winds between the rocks, in especially beautiful places, there are small areas where you can stop and take pictures. There are no guides here, we go on our own. There are small houses in some places in this park. Perhaps people just live, or maybe for service personnel. The beauty is added by the varied vegetation, colored with the colors of early autumn. It’s amazing how pine trees, shrubs and even small deciduous trees grow on rocks with virtually no soil. Everywhere is very clean, all the mini-parking lots have trash cans, and we never saw any trash lying around anywhere. And what amazing air there is! And there is no sweltering heat like in Houston. But, as the day was drawing to a close, we were full of impressions and decided to return to the hotel. Tomorrow we will continue our journey!

Day two, Tuesday, September 30.
When traveling, I play the role of a navigator, I sit next to the driver (or rather, the driver) with a map in my hands and suggest all route changes and turns in the road. Therefore, on Monday evening, I carefully study the maps of our route to the largest National Park in Colorado, the Rocky Mountains. The park is huge, covering 1,075 square kilometers, and can be entered through Visitor Centers on both the west side, near Grand Lake, and the east, near the town of Estes Park. In fact, the entire Rocky Mountain park is often referred to as Estes Park. It takes us about 70 miles from Denver to Estes Park, through the city of Boulder, along Federal Highway No. 36. We leave at 8 o'clock in the morning to return before dark. While we are driving along the city highway, we have to stand in traffic jams; the highway within the city is crowded with cars.

But now the suburbs have begun, it has become more spacious. The mountains are getting closer and higher. Autumn forests on the mountain slopes delight the eye with bright colors. We pass small lakes and towns. I especially liked the small town of Lyons with a variety of cafes and shops along the road selling wooden sculptures, souvenirs, flags of countries around the world, tree seedlings and flowers in pots. The last part of the road goes through the vast Roosevelt National Forest, which lies along the eastern edge of Eastes Park. After a two-hour trip we are already in the town of Eastes Park. It is located on the shores of the lake of the same name, very picturesque, from which flow the Thompson River and several streams (Creek). The altitude here is 2700 meters. There is a large parking lot and a tourist information center next to the road. And on beautiful square There are a lot of different shops and cafes near the river, even a mini confectionery factory where sweets and chocolate are made by hand. And various chocolate sweets here are very expensive, three times more expensive than usual in stores.

At the information center we are provided with a detailed map of the park, which shows all the attractions, parking areas, recreation and picnic areas, lakes, main peaks and all roads and trails. The map told us everything a tourist needs to know about the park. The abundance of routes and interesting places makes your eyes wide open - there are a huge number of them here, for all tastes - the total length of roads and trails is more than 640 km. There are trails for hiking, for cyclists, special horse trails, and of course, one of the highest mountain highways Peace, No. 34, or Trail Ridge Road. It encircles the entire park along the perimeter, branching off in the east from Highway No. 36 at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, and most of it passes at an altitude of more than 3000 meters. Certain sections of the road in the north and west with an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level are closed to travel for the winter, from mid-October to early June. So we are lucky, we can still drive through, and we go west, deep into the park, to the peaks!
But first, on the advice of a travel agency worker, we go to the small but picturesque Lake Mary, where you can see the pipes of a mountain water supply laid in a tunnel. Almost diagonally across the entire park, from Grand Lake to East Lake, there is a water tunnel with large diameter pipes, it is called Alva Adams Tunnel (Water diversion structure). Lake Mary is only 4 miles from town, a little off the main road #34. Around the lake there are cottages, houses, small hotels, and a power plant on the mountain is visible. Fishermen with fishing rods were seen on the shore. After taking a few photos, we decide to drive up to the peaks of Eastes Park along Trail Ridge Road.

Entry to Rocky Mountain Park costs $10 per person, or $35 for a family of up to 7 people, and is valid for a week. You can leave and come back again, or spend the night right in the park, where in the intermountain valleys there are small hotels, wooden houses, and campsites for tents. The road is magnificent! With a median, there are speed limit signs at every mile - depending on the steepness of the road, from 10 miles per hour, up to 20 on the flattest sections. Although there are few cars, no one breaks the rules or tries to overtake. Altitude indicators above sea level are placed at certain intervals, sometimes only in feet (1m = 3.28 feet), more often in meters too. The weather is sunny and bright. Nature is amazingly diverse and incredibly beautiful, and my young companion constantly exclaims: “Amazing!!!” Among young people this is now the highest assessment of beauty. For the convenience of tourists in the most picturesque places, where everyone wants to take a photo, there are small “pockets” for stopping for one, sometimes two cars.

About every 2-2.5 miles there are large areas with restrooms and sometimes a picnic area. It is surprising that at high altitudes, where there is no running water, dry toilets are installed, but not in plastic or metal standard cabins, but in wooden houses, they are very clean, there is no smell, and there are vessels with sanitary liquid for your hands. And there are even, as is the case throughout the country, large toilets for wheelchair users, since they also travel here by car. The concern for the comfort of travelers is simply amazing! I really liked the recreation area in the Fall River area. The height there is 2511 meters, there is a small dam on the river. Again a small information center as the road soon forks. There is a souvenir shop and a cafe where you can drink coffee and eat a donut.

Since the speed of movement into the mountains is slow, and frequent stops for photography took time, we drove a little more than 30 miles from the town of Eastes Park, and spent about three hours. The higher we climbed into the mountains, the more winding the road became. At first, on both sides of the road there was a mixed forest, pine trees, just like our European ones, multi-colored aspens, from a distance very similar to birches with their almost white trunks, shrubs, and rare spruce trees. When we crossed the 3000-meter mark, a continuous spruce forest began - tall fir trees, with sharp tops and an abundance of cones. And at an altitude of 3500 meters the tundra zone began, as announced by another sign by the road. But even without the sign it was clear. Like A.S. Pushkin in the poem “Caucasus”: “skinny moss, dry bushes...”, stunted grasses, low flowers. Of course, in the spring the vegetation here is richer, but it’s already autumn... Many hollows filled with rubble appeared, devoid of any vegetation. In many places the road ran along the edge of deep gorges and cliffs. To be honest, I was a little scared. You look back, and below us is a whole mountainous country, lakes, rivers, winding roads, as if you were looking from an airplane!

Another sign announced that we were in the Alpine zone, and we reached the highest point on this Trail Ridge Road - 3713 meters! We've reached the next one tourist center Alpen Visitor Center, after which the road turns south towards Grand Lake. There are still almost 30 miles to go, but we decided to return. We still had to go not only down to the town of Eastes Park, but also back to Denver. We drove back almost non-stop to the town of Lyons, where we had a delicious lunch at a Mexican restaurant. We didn’t stop in Boulder; after the mountain beauty, the city was not attractive, although the guidebooks call it cozy and very beautiful. After visiting the Rocky Mountains National Park, we concluded that you need to come there not for one day, but at least 3-4, in order to fully enjoy the beauty and relaxation.

Day three, Wednesday, October 1st.
For this day we have planned a trip to the city of Colorado Springs, which is located 70 miles south of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, at the foot of the Pikes Peak mountain. Pikes Peak is the third highest peak within the Colorado Rocky Mountains, at 4,301 meters, or 14,110 feet. The area around Colorado Springs is some of the most scenic in the state. This is a balneological and climatic resort, there are many healing mineral springs.
The city was founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, a builder railway from Denver to the Rio Grande. In the 19th century, gold and silver deposits were intensively developed around the city, which attracted settlers. Especially many immigrants from England came here, so the city even received the nickname “Little London”. Currently, 372 thousand residents live in Colorado Springs, and together with the suburbs - 525 thousand. It is one of the main centers for winter sports. It's no coincidence that Colorado Springs is home to the National Ski Association and the US National Olympic Committee.
At 8:30 a.m. we leave Denver and head south along Federal Highway No. 25. The highway is fine, the speed limit is 65 mph. And every time I remember the phrase of our wonderful journalist Vasily Peskov: “Roads are the best thing in America.” Almost halfway along the journey, passenger trains run parallel to us, although they are small, only 3 cars each, white and beautiful. Then the railway goes away. On the western side, i.e. to our left, stand-alone table mountains rise, with flat tops, not very high, overgrown with trees and bushes. These are remnant mountains formed as a result of weathering processes. Sometimes they have a bizarre shape. I especially remember the mountain with the name “Castle Rock”, near which there is a town with the same name. Until we got close, it seemed like there was an ancient castle on the top of the mountain. The Rocky Mountains are visible in the haze to the west.

Pikes Peak.
The main natural attractions are located southwest of Colorado Springs, and before reaching Downtown, we turn onto road No. 24, into the town of Manitou Springs, very green and cozy. To the north of the road we see red rocks among the greenery, and we guess that this is the famous “Garden of the Gods”. But here later, and now the way to the top of Pikes Peak! We find the information desk, the ubiquitous “Visitor Center”. A lady, clearly of retirement age, cordially tells us what and how best to see. At the stands there are a lot of booklets on attractions around Colorado Springs, everything, like everywhere else, is free.
We were told that there are several ways to get to the top of Pikes Peak.
The first, easier way is to go by train. The highest mountain railway in the USA, comfortable and safe for passengers, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, has been operating here for more than a hundred years, since 1891. By the way, before the opening of the world's highest railway in Tibet, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, in 2007 (the highest point of which is 5072 meters), the road to Pikes Peak was unrivaled, the highest in the world. There are three flights per day, the round trip duration is four hours, the cost is $30 per person. They make two short stops along the way, and at the final point, at the top of the Peak, at the Pikes Peak Summit House, half an hour is given for photography and inspection.
The second way is by your own car. You can get to the top if you don’t stop anywhere in just over an hour. Road, highest mountain toll road in the world, 19 miles long, starts approximately 2 miles from the information center, you have unlimited time, you can stop as long as you want and wherever you want.
The third way is inaccessible to us - conquering the peak on bicycles. In one direction, up, they are transported on a special bus, in which bicycles are also attached. And from the top, tourists make the way back on their two-wheeled vehicles, although this is also not easy. We talked a little and decided that we would go on our own, by car. We were already late for the next train flight, and, as it turned out, there were no more tickets for it. And the next one was too late, we wouldn’t have time to return to Denver.
The information center worker gives us a very detailed map of the road to the top of Pike Peak, and also gives us two coupons for free donuts, which we can get at the cafe if we get to the top, to the meeting house. Leaving Monitou, about 10 minutes later we turn off road 24 and approach the gate to the toll highway. The fare is $10, the same as Rocky Mountain Park. Yes, here we were warned that we need to switch to a manual gearbox, remove it from the automatic transmission. And don’t use air conditioning (though we didn’t understand why).

The first six miles are filled with gorgeous autumn scenery, the road is smooth, there are few cars, and the speed is limited to 15 miles per hour. There are distance markers at every mile and altitude markers after about a mile. Again there are many places to stop. I was especially pleased with one, not far from the Crystal Creek Reservoir lake, beyond mile six. There is another Visitor Center with a shop; a small washing device is equipped on the site; those who wish can play the role of gold miners. After this, the road begins to climb sharply, and the subalpine zone begins in the middle between miles 9 and 10. There is also a large picnic area and a house there.
Already on the way here, my heart began to sink with fear - the road went higher and higher, often along the edge of cliffs, the turns were sharp and dangerous. I really wanted to turn back. But my companion, well done, said: “Don’t squeak! Just go ahead! And don’t look back!” And it’s true, when you look around, the whole world is below us.
The mountains here are almost bare, without vegetation, with a lot of rocky scree. After the twelfth mile, the asphalt disappeared - it was buried under a layer of sand and gravel, apparently after landslides. And there was no dividing line. At times it seemed like we were going straight to heaven! Turn after turn and getting closer to the top! Closer to mile 18, there is a fairly wide area and a sign on it calls: “Be especially careful!” The sign shows an altitude of 4078 meters, here is the top of the Little Pikes Peak mountain. Light brown rocks, sparse lichens, and here and there, in depressions, remnants of snow. A minute's break, it's quite cool outside, the wind is strong, so we put on our jackets. And below, when we left, it was + 26 degrees.

Another 10 minutes of difficult road and the peak is in front of us - 4301 meters! An indescribable feeling! We've arrived! The soul is freed from fear and rejoices! There is a fairly flat area here, not small, perhaps the builders have done some work. A large parking lot with at least a dozen cars parked. A low, squat building called the Summit House - Meeting House. There is a large store with souvenirs, commemorative T-shirts and a cafe. At the cafe we ​​get donuts and take hot coffee. At the top there is also a memorial pedestal or column, I don’t know what better to call it - there is an inscription praising America - “America is beautiful!” There is a weather station on a steep slope. And along the very edge of the mountain there are railroad tracks. What is unusual is that there are three rails - in the middle there is another rail - a gear transmission, thanks to which the train rises to such a level greater height. We take many different pictures. A short rest and we head back. If the road up took us more than two hours, then in an hour and a half we returned (we descended very carefully for the first 6 miles, at a speed of no more than 10 miles per hour) and found ourselves in Manitou Springs. And we still have time to explore the magical “Garden of the Gods”.

"Garden of the Gods".
When we were still discussing plans for a trip to Colorado, my attention was drawn to the intriguing name - “Garden of the Gods”. And who would refuse such an opportunity - to visit the “Garden of the Gods”? Therefore, returning after “climbing” to the top of Pikes Peak, we stopped by this amazing park, created not by people, but by the forces of Mother Nature. We received a guide to the Garden of the Gods at the same Visitor Center in Manitou Springs when we took the road map to Pikes Peak. Although the entrance to the “Garden of the Gods” has its own information center. The “Garden of the Gods” is located on an elevated hilly plateau east of Pikes Peak, in fact, at its foot. The park was created in 1909. Admission to the park is free, such was the will of Charles Elliot Perkins, whose children, according to their father’s will, donated the land of the current park to the city of Colorado Springs. This is reported by a memorial plaque at the entrance to the park.

The park covers an area of ​​1,300 hectares (3,300 acres). Winding asphalt roads, mostly one-way, allow those who have little time, or who do not like to walk, to drive around the entire perimeter of the park in an hour, admiring the outlandish “sculptural” structures, stopping for photography. In general, townspeople come here just to take a walk, there are a lot of walking and horse trails, and you can ride bicycles. There are even several rocks made of hard rock, which are allowed to be climbed with climbing equipment, but for this you need to obtain a special permit from the Visitor Center. Signs warn visitors to be careful, as there are many poisonous rattlesnakes in the park, especially in the hot season. There are many different animals here, we saw one deer, he calmly crossed the road, but, unfortunately, we did not have time to photograph him. Squirrels and chipmunks run around in abundance. The air is very clean, coniferous trees - pines and cypresses - predominate here. One can only envy the residents of Colorado Springs and neighboring towns who can visit here regularly and enjoy the incredible beauty of nature.

Day four. Thursday, October 2.
Our journey is coming to an end. At 15-30 you need to return the car and head to the airport for your plane. Therefore, it will not be possible to travel outside of Denver, and we hardly saw the state capital, we only crossed Downtown on the first day along 17th Street. Downtowns of American cities, in my opinion, differ little from each other. Several dozen skyscrapers, narrow streets, often with one-way traffic, a pedestrian street or boulevard with various shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs, bars. Having circled around the center by car, we decided to visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, one of the largest not only in the USA, but also in the world.

The museum is located in City Park, between Colorado and University boulevards. In the same park there is also a Planetarium, a Zoo, and a huge IMAX cinema is adjacent to the Museum of Nature and Science. The museum opens early, at 9 a.m., entrance cost us $6 per person. Here you can purchase annual family passes, it’s very cheap, and bringing your children here is a joy and a great pleasure. The museum amazed me with the abundance of exhibitions and exhibits, the beautiful design of the dioramas - there are more than 80 of them! I love nature museums, I have been many times to the Zoological Museum in St. Petersburg and the State Darwin Museum in Moscow (on Vavilova Street), and a year ago my companion visited the London Natural History Museum. So, according to her, the Denver Museum of Nature is comparable to the London Museum, and in some ways even surpasses it. But ours, especially the Zoological Institute in St. Petersburg, are still very far from them. I can’t say that the Darwin Museum in Moscow is poor; there is a lot, a lot of interesting stuff there. But the dioramas are boring, there are few of them. Photography in our museums can be either for an additional fee or not allowed at all.

And there are no restrictions here. The glass in the dioramas is so clean that the pictures look as if they were taken in nature, and not in a museum. The Denver Museum houses an extensive mineralogical collection of gemstones on the ground floor. Here are the minerals gems, gold and silver nuggets that were mined or found in Colorado mines and mines. Small displays constantly play videos telling how, where and when minerals were mined, and how stands and collections are prepared for the museum. And what’s interesting is that there is no security, at least not visible.

Then we went up to the second floor, there is a huge exhibition of life-size dinosaur skeletons. This is a museum within a museum. In one of the halls for children, a kind of plateau was made, everything was covered with sand, and the children “conducted excavations”, using small brushes to clear away the remains of the “skeletons” of fossil animals. Nearby is a table where children, with the help of workers, can make bone casts from plaster as souvenirs. Several monitors show and tell where and when strange animals - dinosaurs - lived. For children this is a real school of nature.

Several more small halls of the museum are dedicated to the study of mummies of ancient Egypt. At the Colorado State University Hospital, they did tomography of ancient Egyptian mummies from different sarcophagi - one mummy was the remains of a rich woman, the other was the remains of a poor woman. It turned out that mummies differ greatly in the method of mummification and, as a result, in preservation. After all, class differences divided people many thousands of years ago! We really liked the exhibition.

But the most delightful rooms are those that show the wildlife of North America, from the Pacific coast and islands, to the Atlantic, from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico. And all this in luxurious dioramas, with excellent artistic performance. It is simply impossible to see everything in one visit. I hope that someday I will be able to come to Denver and visit this museum.
It was time for us to return home to Houston. But I still had wonderful impressions of the wonderful state of Colorado and several hundred photographs.

In Colorado, there is a huge flat plain right in front of the mountains. But as soon as you drive an hour west from Denver, the Rocky Mountains(Rocky Mountains). They are the reason I came to Boulder. This ridge divides the continent of North America into two parts, and in the past people spent enormous effort and risked their lives to cross it. Today, here lies one of the most beautiful roads in the United States.

Today’s post is about the Rocky Mountains and this road.

In fact, I flew to Boulder (Colorado) to combine business with pleasure. We have a branch there where several people work that I needed to meet. For two days I worked from the office with this view:

Yes, unlike neighboring Denver, the mountains here begin right outside the city limits. Let's get closer - there is a street, there are houses on it, and right behind them there are already beautiful rocky formations.

Because of their shape, they are called "Flatirons" - flat irons, or pieces of iron. If you come closer, you can see that they are a beautiful yellowish color and are covered with coniferous forest.

When I finished the work week, friends arrived and we staged a forced march on these “pieces of iron.” After an hour and a half of tiring climb along a rather steep path, our reward was a beautiful natural arch - the Royal Arch. And a small bottle of sake.

From this place there is a beautiful view of the entire town of Boulder. But I won't show it to you. Go and see for yourself.

By the way, in Boulder not only beautiful mountains and - there are also amazing sunsets. This happens because mountains rise immediately to the west of the city, the sun hides behind them a little earlier, while continuing to illuminate the sky. At Burning Man, which is completely surrounded by mountains, you can see something similar.

But why am I fixated on Boulder? After all, we came to see real mountains, and those near Boulder are just that, hills. Let's go to Rocky Mountain National Park!

The road we are interested in is called the Trail Ridge Road, which is part of the first American highway system that existed before the creation of Interstate Highways. It got its name because it runs next to the old trail along which Indian tribes crossed these mountains. Trail Ridge Road is a section of Highway 34. In general, this is the “highest” highway in America! (There are paved roads that go a little higher, but they are not considered highways.)

The road was built in the 1930s; this 77-kilometer-long section is partially closed for the winter; a lot of snow falls here. But that's later - for now it's open here. Since today the road is entirely located within the territory of the National Park, you will have to pay for entry - $20 per car for a day, or you can buy a pass for $30 for the whole week.

Don’t think that 77 km can be covered in an hour or even two. That is, it may be possible theoretically, but it is better to spend at least half a day on this road (or, if possible, the whole day), leaving yourself time for all sorts of stops and walks. The first few kilometers we drive on flat terrain, around a Christmas tree, and mountains are visible in the distance.

When we come across deciduous trees, we realize that we have arrived just in time for the richness of autumn colors. The leaves shimmer in colors from green to soft lime green to light yellow with hints of orange. But for some reason there are a lot of dead trees among the trees.

A snow-capped peak is visible ahead. This is Longs Peak, 4,300 meters high.

The road climbs up and runs along the slopes of the mountains. In many places it meanders like a serpentine. From here you can clearly see how it cuts through the coniferous forest on the slope.

The beauty of this road is that there are parking lots near all the beautiful places. You can park your car and walk around the area and see the views. You can even climb a little on the cobblestones to take photos.

In good weather there are wonderful views of the surrounding area. The relief landscape covered with forest goes into the distance. It’s not even clear where all those plains are, which seem to be very close here.

In the lowlands the river traces very sophisticated zigzags.

Meanwhile, the highway rises higher and higher. At this altitude it becomes cooler, and at some point the road crosses the forest border. Trees no longer grow above this line.

But now there is excellent visibility from anywhere!

In some places in the highlands, hiking trails extend from parking areas. You can walk through this desert area.

These landscapes reminded me a lot. Although probably the whole tundra looks like this.

But here you walk a little, and views of the mountain ranges open up.

Now they are not yet completely covered with snow, it lies only in individual crevices, giving the mountains a “gray hair” effect.

There are also islands of snow near the road.

Did you notice the deer in the previous photo? And they are there. But let me show you closer. Here they are used to cars constantly passing by. Mostly the animals ignore traffic, but if you try to get closer, they run away.

Clouds spread between the mountains, creating a beautiful layering of peaks disappearing into the haze.

The road reaches a maximum altitude of 3,700 meters. This is certainly not Everest, but if you climb here by car in a couple of hours, your body begins to feel the difference. The air here is noticeably thinner than below; even people in good shape run out of air much faster.

But what views there are - right from the road! Every few hundred meters you want to stop and take pictures!

It's interesting how different the character of North American mountains is from Asian ones. For example, on (where "") the mountains look completely different. Probably it has to do with the quality of the rock - the Rocky Mountains are made of harder stone, which is why, although they are less dramatic in appearance, they are somehow more peaceful and majestic.

The grass in the highlands is now a beautiful brown color. In summer it is green. There are tall sticks along the sides of the highway. Do you know why?..

Okay, I'll tell you. In winter, an incredible amount of snow falls here. And in the spring, when the road is opened, the authorities do not wait for it to melt on its own, but clear the snow with equipment. Sticks mark the edges of the road. Sometimes there is so much snow that the tops of these poles barely stick out of it!

Don't forget that it's much colder here than below. In early October, you can still wear a shirt in Boulder, but here you need a winter jacket. Not only is it cold, but also the wind is strong, it penetrates to the bones! Here is a man getting ready to film the sunset.

One more walking trail. There is a large parking lot, a toilet, a shop and a canteen. But everything except the toilet closes quite early.

Meanwhile, the road begins to gradually descend.

Soon the Christmas trees begin again.

But Trail Ridge Road has more to surprise us with. A little west of the highest point, the road crosses the North American Divide Line. This line divides the continent into western part, where all the water sooner or later flows into Pacific Ocean, and eastern, from there the water flows into the Atlantic. At the site of this invisible but very significant border there is a sign:

By evening we descended from the mountains. In the Colorado twilight, someone lit a patriotic fire next to the state flag.

For some reason I imagined a classic picture from American films - a family with children sitting around a fire, and dad telling them scary stories...