Park Range (Colorado)
Encyclopedia
The Park Range, elevation approximately 12000 feet (3,657.6 m), is a mountain range
in the Rocky Mountains
of northwestern Colorado
in the United States
. The range forms a relatively isolated part of the continental divide
, extending north-to-south for approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) along the boundary between Jackson
(east) and Routt
counties. It separates North Park
in the upper basin of the North Platte River
on the east from the Elk River
basin in the watershed of the Yampa River
the west. It rises steeply out of the Yampa River basin, forming a climatic barrier that receives much snow
fall in winter. Steamboat Springs
, a popular ski
resort community, sits on the southwestern flank of the range, at the base of Mount Werner
. Much of the range is located within the Routt National Forest, with the summit of the ridge located within the Mount Zirkel Wilderness
, named for Mount Zirkel
, elevation 12182 ft (3,713.1 m). The range is prominently visible from both sides and forms a picturesque skyline from much of North Park. It is traversed at its southern end by Rabbit Ears Pass
which carries . It is also traversed by Buffalo Pass which carries a gravel road between Steamboat Springs and Walden, and which is traversable by most vehicles in good weather in summer.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
of northwestern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The range forms a relatively isolated part of the continental divide
Continental divide
A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea...
, extending north-to-south for approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) along the boundary between Jackson
Jackson County, Colorado
Jackson County is the fourth-least densely populated of the Colorado 64 counties of the U.S. state of Colorado. The county population was 1,577 at the 2000 Census. The county seat and the only municipality in the county is the Town of Walden.- History :...
(east) and Routt
Routt County, Colorado
Routt County is the 15th most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,690 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Steamboat Springs.- History :...
counties. It separates North Park
North Park (Colorado basin)
North Park is a high, sparsely populated basin in the Rocky Mountains in north central Colorado in the United States. It encompasses a wide valley in Jackson County rimmed by mountain ranges at the headwaters of the North Platte River and several smaller tributaries, including the Michigan River,...
in the upper basin of the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
on the east from the Elk River
Elk River (Colorado)
Elk River is a stream in Colorado. It flows from a confluence of the North Fork Elk River and Middle Fork Elk River in Routt National Forest north of Steamboat Springs to a confluence with the Yampa River....
basin in the watershed of the Yampa River
Yampa River
The Yampa River is a tributary of the Green River, approximately 250 mi long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. It's located in the Southwestern United States...
the west. It rises steeply out of the Yampa River basin, forming a climatic barrier that receives much snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
fall in winter. Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
The city of Steamboat Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Routt County, Colorado, United States. The city is also known as "Steamboat," "The Boat," or "Ski Town USA". As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,088.The city is an...
, a popular ski
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
resort community, sits on the southwestern flank of the range, at the base of Mount Werner
Mount Werner
Mount Werner is a mountain in the Park Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, four miles southeast of Steamboat Springs, the county seat of Routt County. It is northwest of Denver. The mountain reaches a height of above sea level and has a base elevation of 6,900 ft . It has a vertical...
. Much of the range is located within the Routt National Forest, with the summit of the ridge located within the Mount Zirkel Wilderness
Mount Zirkel Wilderness
The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado...
, named for Mount Zirkel
Mount Zirkel
Mount Zirkel, elevation , is the highest summit of the Park Range in northern Colorado. The mountain in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness northeast of Steamboat Springs was named after German geologist Ferdinand Zirkel....
, elevation 12182 ft (3,713.1 m). The range is prominently visible from both sides and forms a picturesque skyline from much of North Park. It is traversed at its southern end by Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass
Rabbit Ears Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States.The pass straddles the continental divide at the southern end of the Park Range along the boundary between Grand and Jackson counties...
which carries . It is also traversed by Buffalo Pass which carries a gravel road between Steamboat Springs and Walden, and which is traversable by most vehicles in good weather in summer.
See also
- Geography of ColoradoGeography of ColoradoThe geography of the state of Colorado is diverse, encompassing both rugged mountainous terrain, vast plains, desert lands, desert canyons, and mesas. The state of Colorado is defined as the geospherical rectangle that stretches from 37°N to 41°N latitude and from 102°03'W to 109°03'W longitude . ...
- Mountain peaks of ColoradoMountain peaks of ColoradoThis article comprises three sortable tables of the major mountain peaks of the U.S. State of Colorado.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface...
- Mountain ranges of ColoradoMountain ranges of ColoradoThe following table lists the major mountain ranges of the U.S. State of Colorado.-Mountain Ranges:-See also:*4000 meter peaks of Colorado*Colorado mountain passes*Geography of Colorado*Lists of mountains*Mountain peaks of Colorado...
- Rocky MountainsRocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
- State of Colorado
External links
- Rocky Mountains @ Peakbagger
- Topographic map from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps