This road opened in 1920 at it was the first road that led into Rocky Mountain National Park. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. Emerald Lake. Known as a "scenic wonder road of the world," it traverses 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, taking in several not-to-be-missed sights. Timed Entry Permit: If you have plans to visit the park in the summer months, dont forget to reserve your permit in advance. COLORADO ITINERARY: With 10 days in Colorado, road trip to all four national parks (Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde), linking them together with some very scenic drives. The best way to . Gem Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Is there any need for an SUV or non-standard vehicle to access any of the trailheads for your recommended hikes? 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. GREAT SAND DUNES: In our article Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, we cover the top experiences, plus how to plan your time, where to stay, and more. The main entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located on highway 36 just four miles west of downtown Estes Park. Most recently, in 2020, we spent one very busy week here, and learned a lot about this park. Full-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Over The Top Tour" - RMNPhotographer. Get answers to your questions about Rocky Mountain Do's and Don'ts When Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, Timed Entry FAQ's and Explaining the Bear Lake Corridor. . You will need a Bear Lake Road Corridor + Full Park Access Timed Entry Ticket (Park Access +)for this day. You'll either need to pay an entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass to enter. 10 miles, moderate, 5 to 7 hours. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For a full list of our Rocky Mountain National Park articles, plus important planning tips, check out our Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide. Most people will be acclimated by this point, which means that you can hike almost any trail in the park. We just walked up and down the main road, and glanced at all the salt water taffy . Phone. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. Gorgeous alpine views can certainly be seen from this center located at 11,796' elevation! Ascending only 700 feet over 3 miles, this is a great introduction to moderate hiking in the park. The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Is RMNP a good place to visit for the elderly or those with limited mobility? Ive lived down the hill and explored RMNP a lot for 44 years. On our first attempt it was cloudy and we could barely see the lake and we couldnt see the spires of rock around the lake at all. Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park, 10 Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Complete Guide to the Twin Sisters Peak Trail, RMNP. In the southeast corner of the park there is an entrance to the Wild Basin area. Show more. Even for Old Fall River Road, a 44 or SUV is not necessary, as long as road conditions are good, and you can get updated info on this either on the NPS visitor center or at one of the visitor centers. After the passes and permits are sorted, they will offer you a park map and a park newspaper. Rocky Mountain National Park's 4 Neighborhoods to Stay in. Past the Alpine Visitor Center, you can continue on Alpine Ridge Road and go all of the way to Grand Lake, if you like. Nymph, Dream, Emerald & Bear Lakes: 4.2 miles, easy to moderate, 3 hours. 10.4 miles, strenuous, 6 to 8 hours. The best entrance for Rocky Mountain National Park is Beaver Meadows Entrance or Fall River Entrance. If you want to see some of the best lakes such as Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, or Sprague Lake, then you should go to the Beaver Meadows entrance. $35 per vehicle, valid for one week. Be aware that you'll need to make a left turn at the stoplights onto Moraine Avenue. This entrance station has two booths and is generally one of the quieter entrances of the park; however, on busy days you may have a short wait. This road is gravel and is quite narrow. And you must have really been moving to catch sunrise at Chasm Lake. This hiker shuttle take visitors to some of the most popular trails along Bear Lake Road. Sky Pond. But this is a strenuous hike and longer than your 8 mile cut-off. or maybe 4? On the east side of the park, located on highway 36 and 3.5 miles west of Estes Park, is the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. And bring a headlampyoull be hiking before the sun comes up. . Itinerary Help: 1 or 1.5 days in RMNP and other CO NPs Nov 20, 2022. Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road, not only in Colorado, but also in the entire US national park system. 94 within 3 miles. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in the United States, with 4.4 million visitors. Its our favorite hike in RMNP. This area is home to various trails, lakes, and wildlife. If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. It also is just a few minutes from Estes Parks downtown. Longs Peak is the highest mountain in the park, and the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park. And you wouldn't be disappointed at any choice. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is the best place to get information, books, maps and backcountry permits, as well as catch the park bus. For Longs Peak, that means starting by 3 or 4 am. That means you will not be able to visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge, drive Old Fall River Road, or visit some of the best overlooks in the park. You spend very little time below the tree line, so the views are incredible for most of the hike. Crowds will begin to quiet down in October, but snow on the trails becomes a lot more likely. Do 4 days if you canthere are a LOT of hikes to choose from here. We spent a week there in July and had a thunderstorm in the afternoon about 50% of the time, starting between 1 and 4 pm. Illustrated t Earth Trekkers is my starting point for every hiking vacation. If the skies stay clear, you can stay in the park and do more exploring. Rocky Mountain National Park is the most visited recreation area in the state, headquartered in Estes Park. If you choose to skip Sky Pond, you can combine Loch Vale and Mills Lake into one hike. Turn around and look for the trailhead on your left. Tahosa Valley Cabin is situated near the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, easily sleeping up to four guests. Yay!! If you have five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park (lucky you! See what else made the list! You can drive Trail Ridge Road, visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike to Longs Peak and to Chasm Lake, and hike Gem Lake. This is one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. , Thanks ! Best nearby. Alternatively, continue straight ahead and you'll find yourself on the dramatic Trail Ridge Road which leads over the Continental Divide to the west side of the park and Grand Lake. Moraine Park Campground is located in Rocky Mountain National Park near the Beaver Meadows Entrance on Highway 36. The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Text in English. Hiking poles are a good idea for some of the tougher hikes (Sky Pond, Chasm Lake) if you have knee issues or if there is snow on the trail. I climbed 3 different volcanoes in 3days and it was lovely. I highly recommend this particular residence. Alpine Ridge Road reaches its highest point at 12,183 feet. Youll reach Trail Ridge Road a lot faster than those waiting in line at the Beaver Meadows Entrance during the summer and fall seasons. The closest town near Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park, less than 5 miles from the Beaver Meadows entrance.Many popular trails are easily accessible from here, as well at the national park's Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Fall River Visitor Center, and Moraine Park Discovery Center. Best Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Gem Lake. Pass Type. It is a common misconception that there are fee-free entrances into the Park. 700 feet (213 m) elevation gain. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes: Easy Tundra Hikes. There are four main entrance stations to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you love lakes you'll like this hike. While in Rocky Mountain National Park, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trails, pack out what you bring to the hiking trails, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Plenty of room, good WiFi, nice furnishings, and beautiful views from our balcony. This is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. During the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are very common. For example, if you hike Deer Mountain at 6 am, you do not need a permit. But the real reason for doing this is for the incredible view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular alpine lakes in the USA. Due to its large size and long list of noteworthy hikes, you need several days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Forest Canyon Overlook | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Rainbow Curve Overlook | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. I recommend the shorter, easier hikes if you are not acclimated to the altitude, arent a big fan of hiking, and/or have more than one day in Rocky Mountain National Park. But dont bring your RV there. There are many things to do here. Evening at the hotel 3) Thur Morning: Mt Ida. 970 586-1206 With numerous hotels and restaurants, and a great location near the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great place to stay. If you plan to hike Sky Pond, Mills Lake, or Black Lake later in this itinerary, you will pass Alberta Falls, so there is no need to hike to it today. Thank you! Is there anything you recommend to bring on the hikes? 9 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. Learn more on the official National Park Service website. Moraine Park Campground. 11 miles of this road is located in the alpine tundra, which is above the treeline. Get a free Colorado national park trip planner for inspiring itineraries and essential information. Finch Lake is a 4.5 mile hike through pines, aspen glades, and wildflower laden meadows to a sub-alpine lake where the forest surrounds its shores. This easy hike offers spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park and it is great for all ages and ability levels. Few people hike out this far so this is a great place to leave the crowds behind. And once at topwhat a view.! For reference, we live in Maryland, visited RMNP as our first Colorado park last summer, hiked to Emerald Lake and Fern Lake on our first day here, and had no issues whatsoever. If you are an avid hiker, plan on spending at least three to five days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thanks for writing in!! Potentially one of the busiest trails at RMNP is the Emerald Lake trail. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sometimes, when the permits open up, you just have to grab them, no matter where you are in the world (we got our Narrows permit for Zion while rock climbing Svolvaergeita in Norway ). The Alberta Falls Trail, like many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, follows a creek (in this case, Glacier Creek). Hi Julie! 1. Estes Park. Cheers, Julie, QQ for those noon thunderstorms, are they quick showers? If you are visiting between late May and mid-October during peak hours, then you will also need to show your timed entry permit to gain entry. 1. There is also a shuttle bus that runs from Denver International Airport straight to Estes Park. This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). If you are coming from Estes Park, this drive takes 30 minutes. You will hike past Alberta Falls, wind around lovely Mills Lake, and end at Black Lake. Just wrapped up my RMNP trip, ty so much for your help with the itinerary. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Odessa and Fern Lakes. And I think that RMNP just got its first snow storm of the fall season. If you plan to visit multiple national parks, consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass ($80 and valid for all of the national parks for one year). This short, strenuous hike offers sweeping views over Estes Park and out to Longs Peak and it ends at a very pretty alpine lake. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. Emerald lake lays below Hallett peak, Tyndall glacier, and Flattop mountain. Hike to one of the most popular waterfalls in RMNP. In June, there still could be snow at the higher elevations, and it really depends on how much snow the area gets this spring. Note: You do not need a 44 for this drive. Information? Snow can start to fall in September. Complete Rocky Mountain National Park Winter Guide. Thanks for the article I am planning to travel below hikes/places in 3rd week of june. Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks.. I think Augusts dates open on Jul 1 but i will be at Lassen NP around then (so idk about internet coverage and the morning ones usually fly out fast). I want to avoid crowds and yet have good weather ( no snow). It is located just outside of Estes Park, on the south side, an excellent location for driving into the park. The Stanley Hotel. We are going to put RMNP last so we have time to get used to the altitude, because we are from the East Coast. On the west side of the park is the Kawuneeche entrance, located just north of the town of Grand Lake. Julie Last updated: February 23, 2023 United States 61 Comments. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Not bad for a town of 400 residents, all of whom seem . In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. And for FREE checklist of the US National Parks, take a look at our article US National Parks List. Dream Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. This entrance is right next to the intersection with Bear Lake Road providing you with easy access to this area of the park. Location: north-central Colorado. Ideally, you want a day with crystal clear skies and no chance of rain. Wondering if there are differences between entering park through entrances by Estes park or better to enter park through grand lake? For now, the forecast does call for afternoon thunderstorms from what i can see on weather.com, It depends. When does Trail Ridge Road close in the fall? Quantity. The Mummy Mountain Range, Lumpy Ridge, and several . If you plan to go hiking during July and August, you will have to assume that there will be a 2 pm thunderstorm. this is a great place to stay when you visit Rocky Mountain National Park. 10. Follow the Two Day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Estes Park. You can visit Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) all year, but sections of the park close once the snow begins to fall. Mills and Black Lake. You'll pass the popular Wild Basin Lodge just before the entrance. On the east side of the park lies the Beaver Meadows Entrance, the most direct entrance from Estes Park, Colo.,which lies right outside Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 80517. Combine two of the above hikes into one great experience. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. To reserve a campsite at Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Park, call (970) 586-5342. Abandon Your Car. For every hike that we list, you do not need an SUV or non-standard vehicle. Or visit recreation.gov to make your reservation. For your afternoon activities, just keep your fingers crossed that you wont have afternoon thunderstorms on those days. The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. There are two ticket types: Park Access + and Park Access. The park is quieter and with the snow, it is a winter wonderland. This hike passes Cub Lake, Fern Falls, Fern Lake, Odessa Lake and Lake Helene. Watch the weather, enjoy the time you spend in the park, and you might find you want to hike more, or less, than you expected to. Cheers, Julie. When Trail Ridge Road closes, there will be no access to the west side of the park, if you are staying in Estes Park. , Emerald Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. 9.5 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. On the other side of this entrance station you enter the meadows of the Kawuneeche Valley. Moraine Park - Located just a few miles east from the park headquarters, Moraine Park is one of the best places to see elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Each daily reservation costs $2 per vehicle, which is in addition to the $25 daily entrance fee or $35 weekly fee per vehicle. Anything to keep in mind? For reference, I was able to do Highline trail from the loop all the way to Grinnell viewpoint, Ptarmigan tunnel and Grinnell Glacier including Grinnell lake, hidden lake overlook, virginia waterfalls over 3 full days at my recently concluded Glacier NP trip. Lily Lake. 5. Crowds are still big in September, both to see fall colors and the elk mating season. From here, hike the Alpine Ridge Trail. Ranking of the top 16 things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fern Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Ah one for each day, got it Ty !! Thats crazy how early parking lots fill up, too. Best Things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Alberta Falls: 2 miles, easy, 1 to 1.5 hours. Timed Entry Reservation Info for 2023 Season Dec 16, 2022. The longer and harder the hike, the earlier you will have to start. 7.5 to 10 miles, depending on the route you choose. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best US national parks to go hiking. When you visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you have several choices of which entry point to use. Whats the Best Season to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. So August is a safer bet if you want to hike snow-free. So you basically log on in July when they open it up for dates in August and quickly pick 2-3 dates? Is it worth going to RMNP if I only have 4 hours? Looking at the trail signs on our Sky Pond guide, it looks like hiking the spur only to Loch Vale adds 1.6 miles total. (Learn about the different park pass options available.) When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prospect Mountain is a 15-minute drive, and you can set out along Lake Estes Trail less than 10 minutes after departing the accommodation.