Have you ever hiked through Rocky Mountain National Park and wondered how a lake got its name, or how a geological feature was formed? One of Rocky’s seasonal interpretive rangers, Bob Thorn, answered many of those Rocky Mountain questions at the bi-weekly Winter Speaker Series. Thorn presented his interactive program, What’s in a Name? Unique Rocky Mountain Nomenclature, at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium, on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Over 75 people attended to learn about how iconic places in Rocky Mountain National Park were named.
Combining his interpretative skills and lifelong love of national parks, Thorn provided an engaging, interactive program to increase the audience’s appreciation for the park, its geological features, history and cultural significance. To test their Rocky Mountain knowledge, Thorn encouraged participants to use their phones to scan QR codes on the projector screen and answer multiple choice questions. “It’s going to hopefully spark an interest in you to learn more,” said Thorn. “There is something to be learned no matter how familiar you are with the park.”
Participants in the audience used their phones to answer multiple choice questions accessed through QR codes.
Thorn kicked off his presentation by highlighting the park’s unique characteristics, such as its 95% designated wilderness area. He shared historical anecdotes about the naming of places such as Bear Lake, Sheep Lakes, Longs Peak, the Diamond, and discussed culturally influential events such as the 1914 Arapaho Pack Trip.
The naming of features in Rocky Mountain National Park is heavily influenced by historical context and cultural significance. “Name is very subjective,” said Thorn. “It’s relative to who you are, what the time is, the history, and who has control over the written word.”
To emphasize the subjective nature of naming, Thorn asked the audience to come up with their own names for features and locations within Rocky. By associating objects or landmarks with personal experiences, it allows an individual to connect more deeply with the park.
Different names have been established for the same places in Rocky for thousands of years. For example, Rocky’s highest summit, Longs Peak, was called “neniis-otoyou’u” by the Arapaho Tribe, which means “two guides” in reference to Mt. Meeker. The Ute tribe named it “pa-na-kaav,” which means “shining mountain,” because at over 14,000 feet it is one of the first things the sunlight touches in the morning. The mountain was eventually named “Longs Peak” after Stephen Harriman Long, who led an expedition in 1820 into areas acquired by the US government in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.
Indigenous tribes such as the Ute and Arapaho inhabited the valleys, tundra meadows, and lakes of Rocky long before the U.S. government acquired the land now known as Rocky Mountain National Park. “Native people have been successful stewards of this land since time immemorial. Indigenous people have fostered relationships with the plants, animals, and beings that also call these mountains home. The natural and cultural resources found within the park remain important to connected Tribal communities” (NPS.gov).
Thorn highlighted the importance of recognizing the origins of indigenous names, especially since Rocky is the traditional homeland and territory of many present-day Tribal nations. Kawuneeche Valley, which means “Valley of the Coyote” in Arapaho, is one of the places in Rocky that has maintained its indigenous name.
Thorn concluded his program by challenging participants to learn more about Rocky’s distinct features and history, be observant of the nature around them in the park, and recommended books and resources for further information. “It’s the beauty within us that makes it possible for us to recognize the beauty around us. The question is not what you look at but what you see” (Henry David Thoreau).
We would like to thank Bob Thorn for sharing his time and expertise through a unique, engaging program that grew our appreciation for the history and cultural influences in Rocky Mountain National Park. To learn more about park history, visit NPS.gov for additional resources and information: Brief Park History – Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service).
The Winter Speaker Series and similar programs are made possible by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and the generous support of our donors and members.