Ranger-Led Programs

NPS

2024 Summer Ranger-Led Walks, Talks, & Activities

Explore the history and nature of the Rocky Mountains on a ranger-led program. Walks, talks and other ranger-guided activities are free and open to the public. Ranger programs (topics, descriptions, times, and locations) are posted at visitor centers throughout the park. Programs may be canceled at the last minute, due to unforeseen circumstances like thunder, lightning, , or staff availability. We advise that you check at one of the park's visitor centers to see if a program is scheduled and/or to check on the status of a program.

East Side (Estes Park) Programs
Program Name	Program Description	Location	Days of Week	Time of Program	Length	Season Dates
Walks & Talks
Discover Birding!	Spot the park’s migratory and resident birds on this easy ranger-led walk in Upper Beaver Meadows.	Meet at end of Upper Beaver Meadows Road	Monday, Wednesday, Friday	8:00 AM	1 hour	Starts May 20
Bighorn Basics Talk	A symbol of Rocky Mountain National Park since 1915, explore the natural history and behavior of the elusive bighorn sheep. Will you spot one today?	Sheep Lakes Information Station	Daily	10:30 AM 11:30 AM 2:30 PM 3:30 PM	15-20 minutes	May 25 - Aug 18
Rocky Mountain Speaks	Explore Rocky through a new lens! Join us as guest presenters cover a variety of topics, from science and history, and everything in between. Stop at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center for topics.	Beaver Meadows Visitor Center	2nd and 4th Sundays of each month	1:00 PM	1 hour	Starts June 9
Twilight Discovery Walk	Experience the magic of day slipping into night on a stroll through Hidden Valley. Bring warm layers and water. Program Times: Aug 8-15: 7:45pm; Aug 22-29: 7:30pm; Sept 5: 7:15pm; Sept 12: 7pm; Sept 19: 6:45pm; Sept 26: 6:30pm	Hidden Valley (Junior Ranger Headquarters)	Thursday	Varies. See Program Description.	1 hour	Aug 8 - Sept. 26
Evening Campground Talks	Spend an evening with a ranger for an activity, talk, or walk! Stop by the visitor center to find out what the program topics are each week.	Glacier Basin Campground Amphitheater	Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday	8:00 PM	45-60 minutes	Starts May 31
Activities 30 Minutes or Less
Calling All Junior Anglers! - East Side	Join a park ranger anytime between 8:30 am - 10:30 am and learn how to fish. Kids can earn a Junior Angler Badge! *Please note: anyone 16 and older must have a Colorado Fish and Wildlife permit to fish.	Park at Alluvial Fan west; Meet in meadow across from parking lot	Thursday	8:30 AM	Anytime between 8:30-10:30am	Starts May 30
Hooked on Fishing	Find the park ranger and cast a fishing line...you might even hook a big one! *Please note: anyone 16 and older must have a Colorado Fish and Wildlife permit to fish.	Sprague Lake *Requires Timed Entry Plus Permit (Bear Lake Rd).	Sunday, Wednesday	9:30 AM	Anytime between 9:30-11am	Starts May 26
RockyLAB	Dive into hands-on fun! Dissect an owl pellet, design a ranger station, or cast a wildlife track...and more! Perfect for all ages. What will you discover? (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)	Fall River Visitor Center	Daily	9:30 AM 1:30 AM	Anytime between 9:30-11:30am and 1:30-3:30pm	Starts May 25
Discover Rocky!	Looking for a short activity to get to know the park? Join anytime to participate in hands-on activities and discover something new.	Moraine Park Discovery Center *Requires Timed Entry Plus Permit (Bear Lake Rd).	Daily	9:00 AM	Anytime between 9am - 4:30pm	Starts May 18
Amazing Rocky!	Meet a park ranger for this interactive talk, to learn more about a variety of topics.	Moraine Park Discovery Center *Requires Timed Entry Plus Permit (Bear Lake Rd).	Daily	2:00 PM	30 Minutes	Starts May 18
Ranger Skills	What skills do you need to work at Rocky? Meet different park rangers each week and learn about the jobs they do to protect the park.	Hidden Valley (Junior Ranger Headquarters)	Thursday	Varies	Varies	Starts May 18

West Side (Grand Lake) Programs
Program Name	Program Description	Location	Days of the Week	Time of Program	Length	Season Dates
Walks & Talks
Fire Ecology Walk	See firsthand how fire interacts with Rocky’s landscapes as you walk on the Tonahutu Spur Trail through a recently burned area.	Kawuneeche Visitor Center; Meet at the flagpole	Daily	9:15 AM	45 minutes	Starts June 1
Holzwarth Stories	Step back in time as you listen to the history of the Holzwarth family and their journey to the Kawuneeche Valley in the early 1900s.	Holzwarth Historic Site (1/2 mile walk from parking area)	Daily	11:00 AM	20 minutes	Starts May 25
Life on the Homestead Talk	Discover what it was like to be a homesteader in the Kawuneeche Valley.	Fleshuts Cabin - at Holzwarth Parking Area	Daily	3:15 PM	20 minutes	Starts May 25
Recreate Like a Ranger	Spend an early evening with a ranger! Learn how to do a park ranger’s favorite outdoor activity at Rocky during this family-friendly program.	Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater	Daily	5:30 PM	30-40 minutes	Starts July 1
Activities 30 Minutes or Less
Cocoa with a Ranger	Start your day with free hot cocoa and ask a ranger about what you can see and do on the west side of the park.	Kawuneeche Visitor Center breezeway	Daily	8:00 AM	Anytime between 8-8:45am	Starts May 25
Exploring Rocky!	Hey kids! Join a park ranger every Thursday anytime between 9:30 am -1:30 pm for a Junior Ranger program. Kids will earn a special prize each time! Topics and locations vary from week to week. Stop at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center or call [phone] for topics and locations.	Kawuneeche Valley - West Side (Grand Lake)	Thursday	9:30 AM	Anytime between 9:30am-1:30pm	June 6 - Sept 26
Calling All Junior Anglers! - West Side	Join a ranger every Friday anytime between 9:30am -1:30 pm and learn how to fly fish. Kids can earn a Junior Angler Badge! *Please note: anyone 16 and older must have a Colorado Fish and Wildlife permit to fish.	Holzwarth Historic Site bridge, 1/4 mile from parking area	Friday	9:30 AM	Anytime between 9:30am-1:30pm	June 7- Sept 27
Wetlands Wildlife	Join a ranger and gain insight into the lives of beavers and moose!	Coyote Valley Trail (meet at bridge a few feet down the trail)	Daily	10:15 AM	Anytime between 10:15-11am	Starts May 25
Critter Chat	Join anytime to boost your knowledge of the different types of animals that live on the west side of the park. What will be your favorite to look for?	Kawuneeche Visitor Center breezeway	Daily	1:00 PM	Anytime between 1-2pm	Starts May 25

Alpine Visitor Center Area Programs
Program Name	Program Description	Location	Days of the Week	Time of Program	Length	Season Dates
Alpine Adventure Hike	Revel in the beauty of the tundra on this high-elevation, off-trail hike. Bring warm layers, sunscreen, water, and snacks. This hike is considered moderately strenuous.	Forest Canyon Overlook	Thursday	9:30 AM	3 hours	June 27-Aug 15
Tundra Nature Walk	Discover what makes the alpine tundra such an amazing place! Bring warm layers, snacks, water, and sunscreen for this easy walk.	Medicine Bow Curve	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday	10:00 AM	1-1.5 hours	June 16-Aug 17
High Country Tales	Join a ranger for this talk, to hear stories of how humans and wildlife interact with the alpine environment.	Alpine Visitor Center	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday	2:30 PM	20 minutes	Starts June 9

 

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