The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of the most visited national parks in the United States and for good reason: its incredibly high peaks, beautiful landscape, magnificent lakes, tons of wildlife, and endless trails to explore. It is one of the world’s most stunning parks and a premier destination for hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife watching.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service websites, the park drew in 4.4 million visitors last year in 2021!

With the park attracting in crowds, it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you have the best trip possible!

Here’s the Ultimate Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park!

When to Visit

RMNP sees visitors year-round, but summer and fall are the busiest seasons; mostly due to nice weather and school schedules.

Winter (Dec–Mar)

The snow scares most people away so it will be less crowded!

If you’re brave enough to visit during the colder months you will be rewarded with fun winter activities like snowshoeing, sledding, and skiing.

Just keep in mind that most trails will be heavily covered in snow and some roads will not be accessible at this time of year. Most of Trail Ridge Road, for example, is closed in the winter.

Spring (April–May)

The snow starts melting and the stores, hotels, and park roads start opening to get ready for the peak summer season. So, not everything will be open yet and many trails are still covered in snow. Trail Ridge Road opens around the end of May.

Summer (Jun–Aug)

The weather is warm, the wildflowers are in bloom, and most roads are now open! But that also means more crowds during this time of year! Permits are now required to enter the park, which does help reduce some of the crowding. (Be sure to purchase permits as soon as they become available, since permits are limited.)

Summer also brings afternoon thunderstorms, so pack a rain jacket!

Fall (Sep–Nov)

The summer crowds die off, the air is a bit chilly, and the leaves start changing colors; making Fall a popular season, as well. Just keep in mind that snow may still fall during the autumn months. Trail Ridge Road typically closes by mid-October.

How to Get There

Most people arrive at the closest airport, Denver International Airport, and then rent a car and drive approximately two hours to the town of Estes Park. Or, you can take the Estes Park Shuttle. There is no public transportation available from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Getting Around

The easiest way to get to get around is by car, or grabbing a shuttle.

Once you are in the town of Estes Park, there are free shuttles that run throughout Estes Park and several trails in RMNP. However, the shuttles aren’t always running. The park’s free shuttle buses operate late spring, summer, and early fall. The buses do not run in late fall, winter, or early spring.

So, renting a car will be more convenient if you are visiting during the months that the shuttles aren’t fully operating, and if you are interested in traveling across Trail Ridge Road.

If you are interested in driving Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuous paved road in the US), like going at your own pace, and prefer the freedom of having your own car to get around and explore other areas outside of Estes Park, then I recommend renting a car.

Where to stay: East side or West Side

There are four entrances to RMNP, and three of them are near the town of Estes Park. The main entrance is Beaver Meadows and the other two entrances are Fall River and Wild Basin. The Grand Lake entrance is on the western side of the park, in Grand Lake.

Estes Park (East):

Estes Park is a busier town that has more things to do, and more lodging and dining options than the smaller town of Grand Lake. It’s also closer to the popular sites and hikes in RMNP. Since it is a popular base for RMNP, be sure to book accommodations as soon as possible!

Grand Lake (West):

Grand Lake is a smaller and quieter town with fewer things to do, fewer lodging and dining options than Estes Park. However, the peacefulness of Grand Lake appeals to many visitors, so you still want to book your accommodations early.

If you’re visiting from Denver, the drive to Grand Lake will be much longer than reaching Estes Park. The drive is also longer when you’re trying to reach the popular highlights in RMNP from Grand Lake.

The drive from Estes Park to the popular Bear Lake trail is 30 minutes, while the drive from Grand Lake is about 2 hours.

Both towns will be good options, but if you want to be as close as possible to RMNP, then I recommend staying in Estes Park.

Tip: The parking lots fill up fast in the summer. If you want to be as close as possible to RMNP, stay in Estes Park.

What to Expect

Altitude Sickness is real

As you climb to higher elevations, breathing becomes harder and anyone can get altitude sickness. Symptoms of altitude sickness can include headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion and shortness of breath.

It helps to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, rest when you need to, and move to a lower elevation, if possible.

Unpredictable Weather

Weather patterns change really quickly, so always check the weather before venturing into the park and be prepared for anything. In the summer, always carry a raincoat since afternoon thunderstorms are common, and start your hikes early! And remember, the higher you go up the mountains, the colder it gets, so bring a jacket (even in the summer).

Crowds

RMNP is one of the most visited parks in the United States. With millions of visitors a year, you obviously won’t be alone, but you can still have a great time!

My #1 tip is to get started as early as possible to avoid crowds. Also, know when to go. Try to avoid holidays and weekends. If you can visit the park during the week, you may have a bit more elbow room!

2022 Timed Entry Permit Reservation System

If you’re entering Rocky Mountain National Park between May 27 and October 10, 2022 you will need a timed entry permit and a park pass. For more information visit Recreation.gov.

Seeing Wildlife

Seeing wildlife is a matter of luck, but there are a lot of animals that you will probably see from the road, or on the trails. For your best chance at seeing animals, dawn and dusk are your best bet, so always keep an eye out! And remember, keep a safe distance between you and the animals, and don’t ever feed them!

What to do While You’re There

Hiking

Rocky Mountain National Park is the premier destination for hiking, so come prepared with good shoes; preferably hiking boots!

Some easy hikes include:

Bear Lake Trail – one of the easiest trailheads to access because of its flat walking path; also making it the most popular among visitors.

The Emerald Lake hike – you will get to see gorgeous lakes along the way (Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake)

Alpine Ridge Trail – it’s a short trail that starts from the Alpine Visitor Center parking lot, but the elevation makes it a bit harder than it looks! You will be over 12,000 feet once you make it to the top.

Adams Falls – you’ll need to head over to Grand Lake (western side of RMNP) to check out Adams Fall. It’s a short and easy trail that features a waterfall.

Tip: Start as early as possible to avoid the crowds and afternoon thunderstorms (if visiting during the summer)!

Explore Estes Park

If you’re visiting Rocky Mountain National Park for a few days, mostly likely you’ll be staying in this quaint mountain town known as the base to RMNP. Take the time to explore the town; it truly has something for everyone!

Some of my favorite things to do in Estes Park are:

Take a tour of Stanley Hotel (the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write “The Shining”!)
Shop in downtown Estes Park
Stroll the Riverwalk along a mountain river
Ride an aerial tram to the top of Prospect Mountain
Rent a kayak at Lake Estes Marina

FOR MY COMPLETE LIST, CHECK OUT my GUIDE Top 10 things to do in Estes Park!

Drive Trail Ridge Road (summer only)

Trail Ridge Road, known as the “Highway to the Sky,” is the highest continuous paved road in North America. The 48-mile road is a scenic drive that stretches from Estes Park in the east of Rocky Mountain National Park, all the way to Grand Lake on the west.

Along the road, you can stop at the many scenic overlooks to see some incredible views and you’ll probably even spot wildlife!

Some of my favorite overlooks are:

Rainbow Curve
Forest Canyon Overlook
Fairview Curve
Lava Cliffs Overlook
Alpine Visitor Center

Tip: Try to schedule half a day, or maybe even an entire day to drive Trail Ridge Road.

Explore Grand Lake

Grand Lake, Colorado is located on the western end of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a pretty town and a great option if you want a quieter place with less visitors than the busier town of Estes Park.

Some of my favorite things to do in Grand Lake are:

Hike the Adams Falls loop trail
Have a picnic by Grand Lake
Walk the Coyote Valley Trail
Check out the Kawuneeche Visitor Center
Look for moose in the Kawuneeche Valley (about 10 minutes away from the town)

What to Pack

Hiking boots
Backpack
Paper maps (don’t always rely on cellphone signal and technology when you are in the park)
Sunscreen
Snacks – for hikes and the road
Hat
Sungl asses
Layers! (even in the summer) It’s cold in morning and evenings, and then hot during the day. The higher elevation, the colder it gets!
Water bottle – my favorite are collapsible bottles that are perfect for travel (space saving)
Hydration “Liquid IV” (helps stay hydrated to avoid altitude sickness)
Raincoat (expect daily afternoon showers in the summer)
Blister prevention band-aids & anti blister balm
Bathroom wipes (for hikes)

Hello! I'm Ambar.