Recreational Tourism in the Mountain West

Camping, Hiking, and Biking

<h2>Mountain Formation</h2>
The Rocky Mountains and other subranges like the Uinta Mountains in Utah and Wyoming took shape during a period of intense plate tectonic activity that formed much of the rugged landscape of the western United States. Three major mountain building episodes reshaped the west from about 170 to 30 million years ago. The last mountain building event, the Laramide orogeny about 70 to 40 million years ago, is responsible for the raising of the Rocky Mountains. The growth of the Rocky Mountains, far from a subduction zone, may be due to the angle of the subducting oceanic plate being flattened, moving the focus of mountain building farther inland. This increased the friction and other interactions with the continental landmass above it. Tremendous thrusts piled sheets of crust on top of each other, building the broad, high Rocky Mountain range.
The east-west orientation of the Uintas may relate to changing stress patterns and rotation of the Colorado Plateau. Both the Rockies and Uintas have been extensively glaciated during the last ice age. Glaciers can still be viewed in Glacier National Park in Montana, but most disappear totally during the summer months due to global environmental changes. The Henry Mountains in Utah formed when molten material from the core of the Earth forced itself upward into the existing layers of crust. Erosion has exposed the hardened molten material which forms the major peaks and the domed and arched sedimentary rocks seen on the flanks of the mountains.

Mountain Wilderness

History of Tourism

Red Rock Desert

Skiing

Hot Springs and Geysers

Impact of Worldwide Tourism

Uintah County (UT) Library

Mountain West Digital Library

Large mammals such as elk, deer, moose, bears, mountain lions, mountain sheep and goats frequent the Northern section of the Mountain West. Antelope roam much of the prairie lands that abut the mountains. Grizzly bears are a protected species and are often sited in the Rocky Mountains, especially in Glacier National Park in Montana, although attacks on hikers are known to occur. The region is also home to many small mammals like river otters, skunks, raccoons, badgers, and wolverines. Bird watchers enjoy sightings of eagles, osprey, snow geese, Canada geese, ducks, and many other birds and songbirds.
Visitors and locals alike continue the Mountain West tradition of hunting large and small game. Animal population numbers are closely monitored by the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Service, which makes decisions about hunting season numbers. Past unregulated hunting practices had devastating effects on wildlife populations in the Mountain West region. Bison and wolves are two examples of animals hunted to near extinction. Current attitudes toward conservation and protection of species have helped these animals recover numbers.

Wildlife and Hunting

Introduction