Rocky Mountain National Park closing meadows Sept. 1 to protect mating elk

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·1 min read

In preparation for the annual elk rut, Rocky Mountain National Park will close meadows starting Friday, the park announced.

Closure hours are 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.

Meadows affected by the closure include those in the areas of Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow.

The closures are to reduce disturbance and harassment of elk during the fall mating season, also known as the elk rut.

The closures include all travel on foot or via horseback off established roadways and established trails.

Fishing locations along Fall River, Thompson River and Colorado River that are accessed by walking through closed areas are closed to fishing 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The park's elk rut usually runs mid-September through mid-October.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Why Rocky Mountain National Park is closing meadows starting Sept. 1