The Rocky Mountains are considered to be relatively young in geological terms. They began forming about 80 million years ago during a period of intense mountain-building known as the Laramide Orogeny. This process involved the collision of tectonic plates, which pushed the land upwards to create the rugged peaks we see today.
Although they are younger than many other mountain ranges, such as the Appalachian Mountains, which are over 300 million years old, the Rockies have undergone significant erosion and weathering over time. This has given them a distinctive appearance, with sharp peaks and deep valleys. Overall, while they are geologically young, their landscape is shaped by millions of years of natural processes.