In 1909, a naturalist named Enos Mills began several years of traveling the nation to lecture, for the creation of a new national park. Mills’ efforts came to reality on January 26, 1915 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act into law. Rocky Mountain National Park became the 10th national park in the United States.

As visitation increased to the park after World War I, park superintendents and rangers began building comfort stations, museums, and trails for the comfort of visitors. With the Great Depression of the 1930's came the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose efforts included the planting of trees, management of wildlife, and construction of more roads, trails, and buildings. It was also during the 1930's that the construction of Trail Ridge Road was completed. Trail Ridge Road connected east and west entrances to the park for vehicular visitors, and also provided a spectacular drive that showcases the park: through forests, across meadows, and over the open tundra of the high country.

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy (formerly the Rocky Mountain Nature Association) is one of sixty-five cooperating associations nationwide that work with the national park system. Today, the park is still a popular tourist destination, with over 3 million visitors per year. The town of Grand Lake continues to serve visitors as well, offering lodging, dining, recreation, and other services to park tourists.

The Rocky Mountains have unpredictable weather which can change rapidly. As with other highland climates, the climate changes with increasing altitude. In general, the Rockies have mild summers, cold winters and a lot of precipitation.

The park protects artifacts, archives and specimens but are digitally available to the public eye.

Airborne pollutants from vehicles, factories, and agricultural activity are altering soil and water chemistry. These changes in the physical environment are in turn altering biological communities.

There's a Master Plan which calls for rearrangement or reduction of existing facilities as necessary to meet current demands for esthetic and recreational opportunities offered by the park. Other plans include Trail Plan, Land Protection Plan, Fire Management Plan Elk & Vegetation Plan.