The Most Scenic Path To Explore The Continental Divide In This Iconic National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado offers some of the most incredible mountain views in the United States, and it's the perfect place to experience North America's Continental Divide. Encompassing over 260,000 acres, the park contains multiple mountain ecosystems including montane, subalpine, and riparian zones. Wildlife like moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and coyotes roam through the wilderness. The snowcapped mountains are perfect for winter fun, and it's one of the country's best national parks for camping, according to reviews. 

High in the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, some of the world's most iconic rivers begin, and depending on where they're located along the Continental Divide, they either flow east towards the Atlantic Ocean or west towards the Pacific. The Colorado River starts as a tiny stream of melting snow in the Never Summer Mountains and flows over 1,400 miles west across the country where it carved out the majestic Grand Canyon.

Within Colorado's most popular national park, you can experience awe-inspiring views of the pristine valleys, waterfalls, forests, and streams from some of the highest peaks in the country, towering more than 14,000 feet into the sky. The Continental Divide runs right through the park, and you can experience it up close when you hike the Continental Divide Trail.

To put it simply, a continental divide is an area that splits up a continent's watershed. Watersheds are areas of land that direct water from rainfall, melting glaciers, and snowmelt into channels like rivers and streams. Every single river in the world flows towards the ocean via a journey of twists, turns, and convergences with other rivers or other bodies of water. Sometimes, the water is contained in a reservoir or is managed through a series of dams and man-made channels, as is the case with the Colorado River, but nevertheless, rivers all flow as if they're going to make it to the sea. A continental divide is a natural boundary that often occurs at a raised elevation, like mountains and hills. They occur on every continent.

In North and South America, the Continental Divide, also known as the Great Divide, runs from Alaska all the way through South America. In the United States, that divide is marked by the Rocky Mountains. The most incredible way to experience the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park is by hiking a portion of Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

The entire Continental Divide Scenic Trail runs over 3,000 miles from the Canadian border in Montana to the Mexican border in New Mexico. It's one of the best long-distance hiking trails around the world and requires significant preparation and planning. The portion that runs through Rocky Mountain National Park is just under 30 miles, but you don't have to do the whole thing to enjoy some seriously amazing views. You can choose to hike for a few hours or a few days — either way, the experience will be unforgettable. If you're up for a real challenge, consider planning a multi-day trek of the entire section, all while camping along the way. You'll need to apply for a wilderness camping permit for multi-day treks.

One popular portion of the trail runs from Milner Pass to Bear Lake. The 16-mile portion of the trail is challenging but rewarding, and it takes just under 10 hours to complete. Along the way, you'll gain over 4,000 feet of elevation, so get ready to sweat and make sure you know how you react to high altitudes before you begin. The best time to hike the trail is between July and September. Outside of that time frame, it may be closed due to snowy and unsafe conditions. For a shorter trip, try the 2.3 mile out-and-back hike from the East Shore Trail. This easy route is great for all levels of experience and offers some gorgeous scenery, especially during wildflower season.