Rocky Mountain National Park in Larimer County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Glacial Cirque

Photographed by Sean C Bath, August 31, 2023

1. Glacial Cirque Marker

Inscription. The cirque before you was the birthplace of many glaciers. Several times during the last two million years, snow hundreds of feet deep accumulated at the top of this valley. The tremendous weight of the compacted snow and ice caused the mass to move slowly downhill-thereby giving birth to a glacier.

As glaciers crept down the mountain, they scooped out this bowl-shaped cirque, leaving behind steep headwalls, a sloping valley floor, and a broad U-shaped valley.

Photo caption, upper right: Cirques are the birthplace of glaciers

Photo caption, lower left: Water collects in the cirque, enabling plants to flourish. The lusher vegetation attracts wildlife.

Erected by Rocky Mountain National Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features.

Location. 40° 26.463′ N, 105° 45.249′ W. Marker is in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, in Larimer County. It is on Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) near Old Fall River Road. Located at the Alpine Visitor Center.

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Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Estes Park CO 80517, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Fall River Road (a few steps from this marker); Gore Range (approx. one mile away); Trail Ridge Road at Rock Cut (approx. 2.3 miles away); Roger Wolcott Toll (approx. 2.4 miles away); Beaver Trade (approx. 3.4 miles away); Continental Divide (approx. 3.4 miles away); Horseshoe Park (approx. 5½ miles away); Changing Times Bring Changing Uses (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Mountain National Park.

More about this marker. The marker is on the south side of the parkinglot óf the Alpine Visitor Center.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2025, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 30 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on January 5, 2025, by Sean C Bath of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. photo of the marker within its surroundings • Can you help?