National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Rocky Mountain National Parkphoto of hiker with Long's Peak
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Rocky Mountain National Park
Aspen
a photo of aspen
Photo courtesy of
E. Bernard.
Aspen grow well in sunny openings but would not survive in the shade of the large pines in the foreground.
a photo of gneiss (a metamorphic rock)  

Did You Know?
The oldest rocks in the park are metamorphic (biotite schist and gneiss) estimated at 1.7 billion years old, making them some of the oldest rocks within the National Park System.

Last Updated: February 01, 2007 at 15:15 EST