Rocky Mountain National Park

America loves their national parks. The documentarian Ken Burns called them America’s Best Idea as the title of his 2009 6-part series. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best and encompasses 415 square miles of north central Colorado. The park has two gateway communities: the town of Estes Park on the east (coming from Denver) and the town of Grand Lake on the west (coming from — the Pacific?). These are charming little towns where you just might find some Thai food along with the pizza, Mexican and bison burgers. Maybe some Nepali or Himalayan cuisine will bring out your inner sherpa.

Don’t forget you are at altitude with elevations from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet, “Rocky” (as the locals call it) will literally take your breath away. Within the park’s boundaries are 77 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet high and the Continental Divide. The park’s Alpine Visitor Center also sits at the highest elevation of all National Park Service sites. Don’t miss the Alpine meadows far above the tree line with their delicate flowers nestled just off the trail.

Fleece may not be chic on the Champs-Élysée, but it is basically business casual in Colorado and your best friend along with maybe a puffy vest and light hiking shoes. Beyond the basic hiking gear, bring refillable water containers and drink often. If you are starting to feel tired - drink water. Lots of water. Chapstick is good and maybe even pick up some saline nasal spray if your nose gets dry. And be really careful with alcohol at this height as it will have a much more powerful effect. Yes, Americans are used to ice water on the table in every restaurant. Drink it!

But we almost love the national parks to death. If you get anything from my site, it is that you will almost always enjoy a location more during the shoulder seasons and that is very true for the national parks. After August and the kids are back in school or before the jam-packed 2 weeks of summer vacation Americans start after the beginning of June. Yes, European friends, Americans get 2 weeks total for les vacances as a starting benefit for most jobs. After many years you might get 3 then 4 weeks. But don’t try to actually take the vacation! Career Limiting Move.

(Notice that the French word for vacation is always plural.)

So summer days and fall weekends prepare to get to the trailhead early. Nothing wrong with that, but it may not be the rural escape you might have expected. I know the American West has a unique appeal to folks from countries and cities where there are always fences to keep you from crossing the street and there is still a lot of the wide open spaces to enjoy. My secret to getting any park to yourself: pick a medium length trail — like 5-7 miles. After 2 miles you won’t see another American. But Zee Germans, jawohl*! I ran in to several German friends on the trail after we had all attended the same conference a few hundred miles away. That evening we discussed color science by the fire, as God intended.

*German for “youbetcha”.