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A field research facility dedicated to the advancement of mountain environmental science.

Mountain Research Station logo with Rocky Mountain Columbine
 

  The Mountain Research Station (MRS) sits at 9,500 ft (~2900 m) elevation in the subalpine forest of the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, with ready access to alpine areas up to 12,300 ft (~3800 m). 

Here we support studies of the patterns and processes that shape biotic and physical systems in mountain environments, and help examine how environmental change may influence these dynamic landscapes. We also host educational programs on environmental science for scientists, students, and members of the public.

Our interdisciplinary facility is part of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Weather

 

   7-day forecast 

View a weather prediction for our campus at 9,500 ft (~2900 m).

  Niwot Ridge conditions

See plots of recent weather data for 3 sites from 9,915 ft (3022 m) to 12,267 ft (3739 m).

  TundraCam

Steer a webcam on Niwot Ridge at 11,575 ft (3528 m).

Guided walks

Join us for naturalist-led excursions throughout the fall. Walks start at 10:00 am on select Saturdays, beginning in September. Each walk lasts about 2 hours and has space for 20 people. You must sign up to reserve your spot and additional details will be emailed to you one week prior to your walk.

Late summer birding - Sep 19

Join station director Scott Taylor and grad student Will Anderson to search for fall, high-elevation bird specialties like Townsend's Warbler and resident species like Evening Grosbeak and Red Crossbill. We may also band some chickadees for various Taylor Lab Projects.

Fall changes in mountain communities - Oct 17

Join station director Scott Taylor and grad student Will Anderson to look for the less-frequently observed fall changes in the mountains, like snowshoe hare changing their coat color and Clark's nutcracker caching seeds.

Overwintering strategies of flora and fauna ​- Nov 14

Join station director Scott Taylor and grad student Will Anderson to seek evidence of the varied overwintering strategies used by flora and fauna around the station, including seasonal camouflage, migration, hibernation, and year-round residence.

Upcoming events

You are invited to attend our summer seminars on Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the historic Megaron building (June-August). The science topics range widely and are not restricted to research conducted at the station. Speakers gear their talks towards a general public audience. Additionally, the MRS hosts celebrations, field courses, and conferences like the Guild of Rocky Mountain Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists (GREEBs).

News

More news

The Mountain Research Station, at a glance

Mountains sustain life far beyond their high peaks. They provide critical habitat for diverse living organisms and supply clean water to nearly half of the world’s population. Yet these ecosystems are changing rapidly, and many of those changes remain poorly understood.

At the station, scientists collect environmental and biological data across elevations and through the seasons. These long-term records help researchers detect ecological shifts, identify rare events, and distinguish lasting trends from normal year-to-year variation—insights that are essential for understanding how mountain ecosystems and water resources are changing.

Beyond supporting field research, the station fosters learning and connection. We train the next generation of scientists through undergraduate field courses, and invite the public to explore high-elevation landscapes through seminars, tours, and interpretive trails. Our mission is to advance knowledge of and care for the natural systems that sustain life in the Rockies and beyond.

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Active projects

Montane & alpine environments.
9000-13,000 feet elevation
(about 2740 - 3960 m).
 

Explore our research

7

Undergrad courses

Immersive, hands-on learning.
Weeks-long, scientific skill building.
 

See our education

3

Interpretive trails

Open to the public, incl. K-12 groups.
Short (0.3 mile), with signs.
June to October is best.
 

Visit the station

1

Tundra Lab

11,600 ft (3536 m) elevation.
Fiber optic data lines.
 

View all facilities

MRS contacts

Scott Taylor - Station Director
Mike Haffey - Station Manager
Dave Hill - Facilities Professional
Jen Morse - Climate Technician

Science partners

The Mountain Research Station supports collaborations with institutions and researchers from across the country and the world. Our closest long-term partners are highlighted below.

CU Boulder

Most MRS research projects are led by scientists from our host institution: the University of Colorado Boulder. Within the university, the units that most frequently utilize the station include: 

 

Niwot Ridge LTER

Bright blue skies over a snowy Colorado forest and mountains

The Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research program is the Mountain Research Station’s most closely integrated and longest-standing science partner. Founded in 1980 as one of the original six National Science Foundation LTER sites, it is among the world’s most enduring alpine research efforts. Based at CU Boulder but drawing researchers from across the country, the program focuses on the high-elevation terrain just northwest of the station, where key study sites—shown in the graphic below—anchor long-term environmental research.

Topographic profile of main study sites for Niwot Ridge LTER

Additional partners 

The MRS collaborates on science projects with many other groups, including:

MRS photos

Click any image to zoom
A scientist sits at the edge of a high alpine lake while collecting water samples
Drone photo showing a mountain research station tucked along gravel roads amongst a conifer forest with jagged peaks and blue skies above
Sara Padula works on a chickadee nesting box while wearing snowshoes
Aerial photo of the Mountain Research Station, looking north and showing station buildings, forest, and a snowy Niwot Ridge
Students in alpine gear stand in a beautiful alpine meadow with stunning views of a mountain range in background.
A group of people sit close together around a large table full of food in a rustic building
An American pika forages avens on Niwot Ridge. Photo by Craig Stevenson.
Students crouch on Niwot Ridge placing small flags near yellow wild flowers
A red-breasted nuthatch sits on a branch with an insect in its beak.
A bush of pink flowers with a rustic cabin in the background
A student reads a graphic for identifying pollinators while standing in a subalpine meadow
Two people work at head height on an elevated steel track holding a movable environmental sensor that moves through a high altitude Colorado forest
A lone researcher is dwarfed by the wide stretch of alpine tundra and nearby mountain peaks
A hiker with backpack and ski poles stands amidst snow covered conifer trees as a yellow and orange sunrise fills the skies
Beautiful yellow flowers in the sunlight with a large mountain with snow looming in the background. Photo: W. Bowman
A crowd sitting closely together listens to a speaker present slides in the Megaron building at CU Boulder's Mountain Research Station. This old building has beautiful exposed log walls as well as a pyramid-shaped wooden ceiling and dark wooden floor. Photo: Scott Taylor.
Two men in winter gear stand on a bare patch of tundra with a snowy research station in the background
Several dozen people sit at very large tables on an outside deck next to a rustic dining hall