From the park's main gate it's a meandering two-mile drive to the visitors' center.

"It's a special, isolated place," volunteer and interpretive services manager Angel Tobin, 47, says of her tranquil place of employment for the last eight years.

Tobin graduated in 2001 from the University of Colorado at Denver with a master's in education, curriculum and instruction for non-formal educators.

Roxborough is home to dramatic geological formations and offers typical state park activities such as hiking, but rock climbing and camping are banned because they threaten the delicate ecosystem of the park.

The Fountain formations of tilted sandstone are the result of millions of years of uplift and erosion.

The first thing Tobin does when she arrives at work is take a walk. Tobin examines the daily changes in the flora and fauna of the park so that she is prepared to provide up-to-date information about the park to its visitors.

"I encourage everyone (on staff) to get out for a short walk so they can answer those questions," Tobin said. " I also do it for myself, for my quality of life."

In addition to administrative responsibilities, Tobin's main job is to help educate people about the park.

"Interpretation is a communication process that hopes to make a connection between the visitor and the resource, Tobin said. "It's a move to action; we try to do it (interpretation) with enthusiasm, with a message."

Her favorite part of the job? "The excitement when visitors have a connection to the resource ... when they have a good time, " Tobin said

Tobin's efforts seem to be paying off. The park boasts 160 volunteers who do everything from monitor the main gate to teach educational programs and the nitty-gritty of trail maintenance.

One volunteer, Vickey Trammell, has been giving her time to the park for more than 30 years.

Tobin also is in charge of the parks extensive educational programs. The programs teach geology, ecology other natural sciences to school children and scout groups throughout the year.

"It's up to us adults to teach the young ones," Tobin said.

The married Littleton resident and mother of a 20-year-old daughter also oversees continuing education classes for adults through the Colorado School of Mines.

Visits to Roxborough State Park are up sharply this year; Tobin thinks that people are staying home due to the high price of gas. "State parks are going to boom this year," Tobin said.

Roxborough became a state park in 1975 and was opened to the public in 1987. Approximately 90,000 to 100,000 people visit the park annually. The park encompasses 3,329 acres starting at an elevation of 6,200 feet and rising to 7,200 feet at Carpenter Peak.

Roxorough State Park is located at 4751 N. Roxborough Drive in Littleton. Entrance to the park is $6 per car for daily parks pass or with a valid Colorado State Parks annual pass. For more information about Roxborough State Park, visit http://parks.state.co.us/Parks/Roxborough.