Courtesy NPS

Winter ecology program

Come to Explore the Winter World of the Rocky Mountains!
Share the wonders of winter with your students! Spend a day on snowshoes learning about the challenging conditions of winter in the park. Discover what plants and animals do during the winter season and how they have adapted to survive here. Programs are available for grades K-12. We provide the snowshoes! Click Here for a list of programs.

Please Note:
During 2012 there will be capital improvement projects in the park that will impact the availability of sites around the park.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center: Due to remodeling of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center lobby October 17, 2011 - May 1, 2012 there will be very limited seating for the park movie, Spirit of the Mountains.

During this time the auditorium is not available for group reservations. The park movie is available for purchase through the Rocky Mountain Nature Association.

Bear Lake Road: There will be major road re-construction along Bear Lake Road in 2012. During the reconstruction, the road will be closed to all traffic Tuesday -Thursday. Winter shoeshoe programs for schools and organized groups will only take place Friday - Monday. Expect delays and plan your drive time accordingly.

Schedule a Visit
The park offers two types of educational field experiences - field trips and self-directed park visits. Education programs organized by an accredited educational institution, whether self guided or ranger guided, may qualify for a fee waiver for free entrance into the park.  

Any group wishing to visit one of the park visitor centers must make a reservation through the Education and Outreach Office. If you do not have a reservation, your group may be turned away.

Before making a reservation, please review the information for scheduling a self guided or ranger guided visit. Reservations are made on a first come first served basis. We recommend that you call at least three months in advance of your desired date for ranger-led programs.

To schedule a program, please call 970-586-3777.

Fee waivers must be requested in writing, on the institution's letterhead at least two weeks prior to the visit. Include a statement about your group's educational objectives.