Mountain Research Station

The Mountain Research Station is an interdisciplinary research facility of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, devoted to advancement of study of mountain ecosystems.  Our mission is to facilitate research and education to better understand the unique patterns and processes of biotic and physical systems in mountains, and how environmental changes may influence these patterns and processes.

Research is performed by investigators from numerous organizations including the National Science Foundation, sponsored programs such as the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research Program, the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Program, the National Ecological Observatory Network, and multiple individual investigators. The Mountain Research Station is in charge of the Mountain Climate Program, established in 1952, established to provide long-term climate data from the montane, subalpine, and alpine zones of the Colorado Front Range.  Four main meteorological stations have been maintained continuously since the inception of the program.

The Mountain Research Station hosts undergraduate field courses, and provides site support for visiting K12, undergraduate, and graduate courses.  Additionally we organize research conferences, including the Guild or Rocky Mountain Ecologists and Evolutionary Biologists.

• Logo:
• UN Geographic Region: North America
• Street: 818 County Road 116
• P.O. Box: 334 UCB
• City: Nederland
• Zip Code: 80466
• Country: United States
• State/Province: Colorado
• Latitude: 40
• Longitude: 105
• FSML E-mail Address: mrs@colorado.edu
• FSML Web Address: https://www.colorado.edu/mrs/
• FSML Year Founded: 1917
• Year Join OBFS: 2023
• University affiliation(s)?: Yes
• Names of Universities affiliated / Parent Organization: University of Colorado Boulder
• Address Line 1: 1900 Pleasant Street
• Address Line 2: 334 UCB
• City: Boulder
• Zip Code: 80309
• Country: United States
• State: Colorado
• Contact Name: Scott Taylor
• Contact Email: scott.a.taylor@colorado.edu
• Contact Position: Director
• Contact Address: 1900 Pleasant Street
• Contact Phone Number: +16072271374
• Station Director Name: Scott Taylor
• Station Director Email: scott.a.taylor@colorado.edu
• Billing Contact Name: Kris Hess
• Billing Contact Email: kriss.hess@colorado.edu
• Voting Delegate Email: scott.a.taylor@colorado.edu
• Operating Budget: $50,001 - $200,000
• Size of Field Station: 501-1000
• Federal, state, or local governmental partners?: USFS
• Community College users: Yes
• Open to the Public?: Yes
• Onsite staff?: Yes
• Year Round Staff: 3-5
• Seasonal Staff: 6-10
• Overnight housing facilities: 50+
• Conference space: 101+
• Food service or catering available?: Yes
• ADA accessibility: Yes
• Electricity: On Grid
• Distance to emergency services?: 41-60 minutes
• Internet Access?: Yes
• Library?: Yes
• Classes: Onsite public programs
• Hiking trails?: Yes
• Artists in Residence Program?: Yes
• Internships?: Yes
• Biome Type: Terrestrial
• Terrestrial Biomes: Tundra
• Minimum Elevation: 1501-3000 meters
• Maximum Elevation: 3000+ meters
• Köppen climate classification: D (continental)
• Freshwater habitats: Yes
• Urban/Rural: Rural
• REU host station?: Yes
• Dry lab space?: Yes
• Wet Lab space?: Yes
• Research vessels available?: Yes
• Long term data sets?: Yes
• On site herbarium or voucher species?: Yes
• Formal Data Management Plan: Yes
• Outdoor manipulative experiments: Yes
• Research and/or graduate student training: 60
• Formal education: 30
• Outreach: 10