Native Orchids of Rocky Mountain National Park (Friday)

Did you know a variety of orchids make their home in and around Rocky Mountain National Park?
It's true! Orchids aren't only found in the tropics - they're hiding in plain sight across RMNP and Colorado. In this course, participants will learn about orchid terminology, characteristics of the orchid family, the symbiotic relationship to fungi and other plants, the history of orchid uses, and the different species found in and around RMNP. We'll spend half the day discovering where these captivating plants are hidden in the park, and the other half in an illustrated lecture on all things orchid.

Who: Participants ages 16 and up.

Program level: Easy/Moderate – This program is appropriate for most people. Expect to travel 1-2 miles over the course of the program and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating both maintained trails and unmaintained meadows or wooded areas. There will be periods of off trail travel during this course. Transportation will be in a 15-passenger van with bench seats and a narrow aisle that requires stepping up to enter. Prior experience hiking or walking above 8,000 feet is recommended.

This program has a classroom session and a field session.

When: Friday, June 5th, 2026 from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, and travel together to various locations within RMNP in Conservancy vehicles. All required fees and permits for park entry are included in your registration.

What to Bring:

• 10 Essentials for Field Institute Courses.
• Hand lens (optional)

About Your Instructor: Marlene Borneman spends much of her time in Rocky Mountain National Park locating and photographing wildflowers in their native habitats. Her passion for Colorado flora began in 1974 and has only grown. As a member of the Colorado Native Plant Society, in 2013 she won the photo award for Native Plant Landscapes. Marlene is a Colorado Native Plant Master and the author of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers 2Ed., The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes, and Rocky Mountain Alpine Flowers.

Refund Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

Conservancy members get 10% off individual registration when you use the discount code in your membership email!

Not a member of the Conservancy? Learn more and join here:

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at [email protected] or by phone at 970-586-3262.

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Host or Publisher Rocky Mountain Conservancy Education Team