Elk Meadow Park covers 1,140 acres of expansive meadows, ponderosa parks and montane forests at the foot of Bergen Peak (9,708'). A well-maintained multiuse trail network offers numerous routes through the meadows, foothills and up to the summit.

Small windows offer views of Mt Evans and Mt Spalding on the final run up to Bergen Peak

Noble Meadow is the northernmost parcel of the Elk Meadow Park conservation area

By fall, elk herds in the park can reach over 100 animals in preparation for the rut

Aspen typically grow in large clonal colonies derived from a single seedling; new stems in the colony may appear hundreds of yards form the parent tree

While elk are the Park's most popular resident, scores of birds and small mammals occupy these expansive meadows

Elk cows can reach 400 - 800 pounds and over 4' at the shoulder

Mt Evans (14,264') is the 14th highest peak in Colorado

Elk grazing near the rustic barn in Noble Meadow

An abundance of prey and ideal hunting habitat in open ponderosa parks attract an active but seldom seen mountain lion population

Before European settlement, Native Americans hunted these meadows each summer

Limber Pine are found across a wider range of elevations than any other tree in the central Rockies

A healthy ponderosa ecosystem might have only 30-40 trees per acre

Mild grades and trail conditions attract runners and mountain bikers year-round to Elk Meadow Park

Stellar jays are known for their bold actions and strong flight form

Elk grazing, selective cutting and prescribed burns have helped return Elk Meadow Park to its natural state

The meadows and lower slopes of Bergen Peak fully bloom out by mid June

Autumn sees elk congregating in waves of golden grass in the meadows below Bergen Peak

Periodic, low intensity fires are crucial to a healthy ponderosa ecosystem; ponderosa actually need fire to open their cones and release seeds

The Bergen Peak Trail offers partial views of peaks to the south and west, while the Too Long route mostly looks down upon Elk Meadow Park