The Alpine Visitor Center includes restrooms, exhibits on the alpine tundra ecosystem, and a gift shop operated by the park's non-profit partner organization, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. A great place to stop for a picnic, the Medicine Bow Curve Overlook is a beautiful place to take in panoramic views of the Medicine Bow Mountains, now known as the Never Summer Mountains. The Alpine Visitor Center, at 11,796’, is the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park System. Enjoy more photos from Rocky Mountain National Park in the RMNP photo gallery. Copyright © 2020 Bourn Creative, LLC. Great stop along Trail Ridge Road primarily to walk the Alpine Ridge Trail for some incredible views of the alpine tundra at an elevation of over 12,000 ft. Where four distinct seasons offer something for everyone in our outdoor paradise from quiet relaxation to a myriad of recreational activities. Alpine Helen, Georgia – with a population of only 430 residents – is the state’s third most visited city. At 11,796 feet elevation, the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest national park visitor center in the United States. At 11,796 feet elevation, the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest national park visitor center in the United States. All affiliate links on this site use "/aff/" in the URL to denote that it is an affiliate link. NOAA National Weather Service National Weather Service. Fully accessible vault toilets available 24 hours a day. Views from the Alpine Visitor Center include the Mummy Range, the Fall River Valley, and Trail Ridge to the east and the Never Summer and Medicine Bow ranges to the west and north. The visitor center offers magnificent views of the alpine tundra and has a bookstore, gift shop and snack bar {great spot for some hot chocolate!} It is the highest visitor center in the National Park System. We had plans to make that drive the next day and seeing it from this angle just sealed the deal. We first wandered through the visitor center, checked out the exhibits, and headed outside to see the views behind the building, which were breathtaking. Temperatures are often moderate at elevations below 9,400' (2,865 m). Bountiful winter snow and late-spring snowstorms delayed its … at the Alpine Visitor Center. At the Visitor Center, you’ll find park information, a ranger-staffed desk to answer questions, a bookstore, interpretative exhibits about the alpine tundra ecosystem and mountain geology, and accessible flush restrooms. Luckily, the next day when we arrived just before lunch time, we were able to find one of just a few spots left! On a sunny day, Estes Park could be 12F colder than Denver, and the visitor center could be 23F colder than Estes Park. (3,535 m) Ending Elevation: 12,023ft. (And It's So Good! 3348 Alpine Boulevard Alpine, CA 91901 (619) 445-6235 Fax - (619) 445-1753. ... (due to the higher elevation), it makes for great recreation any time of the year. NPS’s Highest Altitude Visitor Center Near the summit of Trail Ridge Road at 11,796 feet (3,595m), the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest visitor center in the entire National Park Service’s system. (128 m) Facilities: Restrooms, snack shop, visitor services, etc. The center itself is at … Visitors. The first time we drove by, the parking lot was closed. While it’s a short hike, you’ll climb 300 feet in elevation in just a quarter mile and at 11,796 feet elevation, it can feel pretty dang strenuous — which is probably why we heard people calling the hillside it climbs, Alpine Visitor Center is located in Fall River Pass on Trail Ridge Road in. Near the summit of Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest-elevation visitor center in the National Park System, and a perfect place to stop for a souvenir. Fees: $20 fee to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, valid 7 consecutive days. Rocky Mountain National Park 's Alpine Visitor Center is located at 11,796 feet (3,595 m) above sea level at Fall River Pass, one mile west of the highest point on Trail Ridge Road and four miles east of the Continental Divide at Milner Pass in the U.S. state of Colorado. Specimen Mountain viewed from the Alpine Visitor Center. Welcome to Alpine! The visitor center in late May. Come and visit us! Although a very short hike, the trail is fairly steep, gaining more than 200 feet in just three-tenths of a mile. While the visitor center itself is quite small, the adjacent gift shop is extensive and there is also a restaurant Park Rangers provide park orientation and interpretive programs on the alpine tundra. Type: Museums, National Park, Scenic Viewpoint, Visitor CenterDetails: Colorado, Dining, Educational, Hiking, Larimer County, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shopping, Walking, PreviousMedicine Bow Curve Scenic Overlook On Trail Ridge Road, Broadway At Music Circus Presents Mamma Mia! The Alpine Visitor Center indoor restrooms are available early June through mid-September. The Alpine Ridge Trail begins from the far end of the parking area for the Alpine Visitor Center atop Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. The wet weather pattern for the Northwest will continue for one more day, as a strong cold front sweeps through the region on Monday. Trail Ridge Road was built from 1929-33. This hike to Forest Canyon Pass begins from the Poudre Lake Trailhead at Milner Pass, located 15.7 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance, and 4.2 miles south of the Alpine Visitor Center. Here's an example: Denver's elevation is 5,225 feet, Estes Park 7,522 feet, and the Alpine Visitor Center inside Rocky Mountain National Park is at 11,796 feet. Over the next 20 meandering miles of Trail Ridge Road, catch views of glacier-carved valleys, daunting peak summits that loom in all directions and distant crystalline lakes. Alpine Visitor Center, Alpine, Wyoming. Visitors enjoy a sunset near Alpine Visitor Center, the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park Service at 11,796 feet (3,595 m). The Alpine Visitor Center is the perfect halfway point, when driving Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake. ), Interpretative exhibits about the alpine tundra ecosystem, mountain geology, and animals living in the park, A ranger-staffed desk to answer questions and ranger-led park orientations and interpretive programs on the alpine tundra, The Alpine Ridge Trail, a short 0.25 mile out and back trail totaling 0.5 miles. The camera is along Fall River in Estes Park. Privacy | Affiliate Disclaimer | Contact, Medicine Bow Curve Scenic Overlook On Trail Ridge Road, Broadway At Music Circus Presents Mamma Mia! In fact, the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store (elevation 11,796 feet) are still buried up to their roofs. It is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, depending on weather. Many links on this site are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link and purchase the item, I may receive a small affiliate commission — it costs you nothing extra but helps me keep the lights on and the hosting for this site paid. Phone: (970) 586-1206 Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 … This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. Additional gift and food services at Fall River Pass are provided at the concession-operated "Trail Ridge Store and Cafe. The parking lot is busy from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and during these hours, you may be unable to park. Visit the Alpine Visitor Center early or late in the day. At 11,796 feet elevation, the Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest elevation visitor center in the entire National Park System. Her renowned business systems and automations allow her business to thrive while she travels with her husband of 21 years and two teenagers, squeezes in daily workouts, tries out new recipes, embarks on ambitious craft projects, speaks at events, facilitates workshops, and leads online courses. Our town started as a home to the Cherokee, and then to European settlers who came for the gold and the timber. At the Trail Ridge Store and Café adjacent to the Alpine Visitor Center, you’ll find the only restaurant and snack bar in the national park, as well as a huge store with food, drinks, clothing, gifts, souvenirs, games and toys, artwork, and much more. I knew we’d visit Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Fall River Visitor Center, and Kawuneeche Visitor Center because they are all near major park entrances, and the Moraine Park Discovery Center because it’s off Bear Lake Road in one of the most popular areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, but the one I was most excited to visit, the one that I knew would be unlike any other visitor center we have been to, was the Alpine Visitor Center. The van struck a stopped vehicle, which was then pushed up on the sidewalk in front of the Alpine Visitor Center, a popular stop at an elevation of 11,796 feet. 166 likes. Center includes a drinking fountain, bookstore, information desk, ranger-led programs, and exhibits on the Alpine Tundra region Hikers will follow the old Ute Trail all the way up to Forest Canyon Pass. Alpine Visitor Center is just one of approximately half a dozen visitor centers that are located in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Stop at Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the US national parks. From here, hike the Alpine Ridge Trail. Sitting at the top of Fall River Pass at the junction of Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, the Alpine Visitor Center provides absolutely spectacular views of the alpine tundra, Fall River Cirque, Continental Divide, and the Never Summer Mountains. Near the summit of Trail Ridge Road at 11,796 feet (3,595m), the Alpine Visitor Center is the highest visitor center in the entire National Park Service’s system. Call the Trail Ridge Road Status Line at 970-586-1222 for more information on road status. Stay Connected. So after visiting the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, stopping at Farview Curve Overlook, checking out the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, and taking in the view at Medicine Bow Curve Overlook, we pulled into the crowded parking lot ready for lunch! The trail starts off by circling around the southern end of Poudre Lake. Highest point; Elevation: 12,494 ft (3,808 m) Prominence: 1,731 ft (528 m) Isolation Join our community! Local Service If you can, try to arrive in the morning. Photo: vermontalm/Shutterstock. About the parking… The Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Café parking lot is crazy busy from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and during these busy hours, you may be unable to park. Castle Mountain off Fall River Road: Currently Under Repair. ", Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}40°26′29″N 105°45′14″W / 40.4414°N 105.7538°W / 40.4414; -105.7538, Visitor center at Fall River Pass, Colorado, http://www.nps.gov/romo/alpine_visitor_center.htm, Cache La Poudre River Corridor National Heritage Area, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alpine_Visitor_Center&oldid=898437305, Buildings and structures in Larimer County, Colorado, Buildings and structures in Rocky Mountain National Park, Articles needing additional references from April 2014, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 23 May 2019, at 15:24. Food, drinks, and pets are not allowed in any park visitor centers. Food, adventures, & musings on juggling a business, loving a family, living inspired, and embracing imperfection, Published By Jennifer Bourn on August 7, 2018. Yes, that means I am also an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission from qualifying Amazon purchases referred from links on this site. Castle Mountain is in Rocky Mountain National Park. While the visitor center itself is quite small, the adjacent gift shop is extensive and there is also a restaurant and pit toilets onsite. It connects with Trail Ridge Road at the Alpine Visitor Center, elevation 11,800 feet. Open summer only: elevation 11,796 ft. (3,595 m). It is the highest visitor center in the National Park System.[1]. This is the highest visitor center in the National Park Service! The Alpine Visitor Center is a great place to stop for a restroom break, snack, souvenir shopping, and to learn more about the unique landscape. The Alpine Visitor Center, at an elevation of 11,796-feet along Trail Ridge Road in the Tundra Protection Area, is located at Fall River Pass, the dividing point between the Fall River and Cache la Poudre River drainages. Hiking opportunities include the 1/4-mile round-trip Alpine Ridge Trail, commonly referred to as "Huffer's Hill," and the 8-mile round-trip Ute Trail to Milner Pass. More Rain For The Northwest; Gusty System Drops Through Great Lakes. All Rights Reserved. Residents. I would add that the Tundra Communities Trail… The National Park Service welcomes service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities. The Alpine Visitor Center opens at 9am and is located at 11,796 feet elevation. Next, you’ll come upon the Alpine Visitor Center — situated at 11,796 feet, it’s the highest-elevation visitor center in the National Park System. When I was doing all of our pre-vacation research on Rocky Mountain National Park, I discovered that there are actually five visitor centers in the national park and a few other informational kiosks and ranger outposts. Not only is it a HUGE store with gifts, clothing, jewelry, crafts, toys, games, food, drinks, and almost anything else you can think of, but it has a pressed penny machine and Carter collects pennies from all of our family adventures. Rocky Mountain National Park's Alpine Visitor Center is located at 11,796 feet (3,595 m) above sea level at Fall River Pass, one mile west of the highest point on Trail Ridge Road and four miles east of the Continental Divide at Milner Pass in the U.S. state of Colorado. Summer days in July and August often reach the 70's or 80's and drop into the 40's at night. In mid-summer, the visitor center is also usually accessible by Old Fall River Road, a 9-mile dirt road open to one-way, uphill vehicle traffic. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” and in following the rules of the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement. On this road trip, you will reach over 12,000 ft in elevation! It, along with a large portion of Trail Ridge Road, is closed in the winter due to snow. At 11,796 feet elevation, the Alpine Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park is the highest elevation visitor center in the entire National Park System. You'll make my day and what's one more email, really? Starting Elevation: 11,601ft. Use the link at the left to go to our Webcams page -- Alpine Visitors Center has a webcam on its' observation deck looking east over Fall River Cirque. As much as I was excited to go to the visitor center, my family was excited to go to the Trail Ridge Store and Café. Great Climb Up the Alpine Ridge Trail. The log frame visitor's center is reinforced with heavy logs attached to the roof, which support the structure and catch snow, which helps prevent shingles from being blown away. With 22 years experience as a graphic designer and 15 as a web designer/creative agency owner, Jennifer helps small businesses build brands, create content, and grow profitable online platforms. Located at 11,660 feet in elevation, Medicine Bow Curve is a hairpin curve on Trail Ridge Road that descends from the Alpine Visitor Center. Hike the Alpine Ridge Trail, a short 0.25 mile out and back trail totaling 0.5 miles. This webcam reveals views of Mount Chapin, Fall River Canyon, Old Fall River Road, and part of Trail Ridge. This overlook gave us our first views of Old Fall River Road, an 11 mile, 15 mph, one-way dirt road that stretches from Horseshoe Park near the Fall River Entrance Station to the visitor center. Elevation: 11,796 feet (3,595.42 meters). 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