Explore Park Science and Stewardship at Rocky Mountain National Park’s Biennial Research Conference

Contact: Park Information Office, (970) 586-1206

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) invites you to explore research, monitoring, and management during the Biennial Research Conference "Park Stewardship: From Discovery to Decision" on March 4-5 at The Holiday Inn in Estes Park. Scientific research is an integral part of science-informed decision making and adaptive management at RMNP. The park utilizes a collaborative process in which park staff and research partners work together to conduct research to address management questions.

The Biennial Research Conference is presented by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. It is free and open to all who are interested in attending. No pre-registration is required.

Conference highlights include 27 oral presentations by research partners and park staff, a poster session highlighting over 20 research and public engagement activities in the park, an Alpine Ecosystem Question and Answer Panel with park staff and partners, and a Conversation Café in which members of the public can engage in structured, small-group discussions about vital wetland ecosystems in the park.

Oral presentations are organized into sessions covering related subjects. Sessions will focus on forestry and wildfire, park histories and cultural resources, research conducted by Rocky Mountain Conservancy fellows, wildlife studies, long term monitoring projects and management applications, and alpine ecosystem research and stewardship. Oral presentations in the alpine ecosystem session and following subject expert panel will also be available to attend virtually.

New to this year will be an in-person screening of the Alpine Ecosystem oral session and panel held at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center in Grand Lake. This event is free and open to the public to provide an opportunity for engagement with the conference for the Grand Lake community and will include opening remarks from park staff. The screening will take place in the Auditorium of the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, located at 16018 US Highway 34, Grand Lake, CO.

Conference events begin at 8 a.m. each day and conclude at 5 p.m. on March 4 and 4:30 pm on March 5. For a complete schedule of events, to access the wetland ecosystems session virtually, and other accessibility information, visit: go.nps.gov/RMNPConference2026

The conference will take place in the Ballroom of The Holiday Inn Estes Park, located at 101 S Saint Vrain Avenue, Estes Park, CO. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.