YMCA of the Rockies is committed to the health and safety of our visitors. Please review our wildlife safety, stewardship rules, and weather and altitude recommendations to ensure the best possible experiences during your stay with us.

 

Wildlife Safety

We share our beautiful locations with all different kinds of wildlife. Please read these articles to learn how to stay safe around wildlife and how to help our wild neighbors stay safe, too.

Safely Enjoy Wildlife
Your Elk Rut Questions Answered
Be Bear Aware

 

Stewardship

To help maintain our beautiful surroundings, guests must abide by the following rules:

• Stay on trails when hiking and only park in designated areas. Traveling in undesignated areas causes erosion of fragile ecosystems.
• Do not feed wildlife under any circumstance.
• Keep your distance while viewing wildlife. For your safety, use a zoom lens and stay at least two bus-lengths from any animal.
• Be bear aware. Do not leave food or beverages in your car, or on your cabin counter or table. Lock doors and close ground-floor windows when you leave your cabin and when you are asleep. Your actions could save the life of a bear!
• Pack a water bottle and refill at water stations on campus, and use recycling facilities for your recyclable materials.

 

Weather

At YMCA of the Rockies, weather can vary dramatically over the course of a day because of our altitude (8,010-8,700 feet above sea level). We recommend bringing:

Packing List

• A variety of layers
• Warm jacket and rain jacket
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Sturdy shoes in case of snow

Summer & Fall
Summer and fall temperatures can be warm during the day and chilly at night. We recommend bringing light-weight clothes for the day and warm jackets for the evenings. Summer is known for afternoon thunderstorms, so be prepared by having a rain jacket. Also, plan your hiking accordingly by leaving early in the morning and returning before the afternoon.

Winter & Spring
Winter and spring have the potential to be cold and sunny or cold and snowy! Prepare yourself with sturdy shoes, warm clothing, and adequate tires or four-wheel drive for your vehicle.

 

High Altitude

The low oxygen levels found at high altitudes can cause problems for travelers who are going to destinations higher than 8,000 feet above sea level. YMCA of the Rockies locations are found between 8,010 – 8,700 feet above sea level. We suggest the following to help our visitors adapt to altitude.

• Drink plenty of water.
• Rest if you feel fatigued or dizzy.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Reapply sunscreen often.