The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Rocky Mountain National Park also offers a lot to do for those who arent big fans of hiking. Bear Lake Road runs into the heart of the park. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks. Start your trip off right, with a hike from the Bear Lake trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road. Do 4 days if you canthere are a LOT of hikes to choose from here. 3.1 miles (5 km). Rocky Mountain high means snow, ice, and thin air - in exchange for jaw-dropping beauty. In June, there still could be snow at the higher elevations, and it really depends on how much snow the area gets this spring. Driving distance from Denver: 1-2 hours. This hike passes Cub Lake, Fern Falls, Fern Lake, Odessa Lake and Lake Helene. Park Hours:Park entrances are open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. (Learn about the different park pass options available.) This entrance gives you access to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake. Cascade Cottages & Colorado Cottages. They are also happy to answer quick questions, but you have to keep them very short as there will almost certainly be others waiting behind you. Most people will be acclimated by this point, which means that you can hike almost any trail in the park. And I think that RMNP just got its first snow storm of the fall season. Spend the rest of the day in Estes Park. All offer bookstores and much printed information to supplement the knowledgeable staff. $35 per vehicle, valid for one week. . Fall River Visitor Center features life-sized displays of a wide variety of park wildlife. If you hike to Sky Pond, you will hike through the Loch to get there. From the Alpine Visitor Center, drive Alpine Ridge Road back to Estes Park. Thunderstorms dont happen every single day, but it is something that you need to plan for. If you want low crowds and dont mind cold temperatures and snow, plan your visit from November through May. So August is a safer bet if you want to hike snow-free. A Park Access (Excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) timed entry ticket is sufficient for this day. The Continental Divide Trail connects some of the tallest peaks, such as Mount Ida, Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak, Isolation Peak, and many more. :) All the entrances lead to the Beautiful Rocky Mountains. Do you think August is a good time to visit RMNP? The Best Campgrounds in (and Near) Rocky Mountain National Park Take a tour of the historic Stanley Hotel, ride the Aerial Tramway to the peak of Prospect Mountain, go shopping, walk the Riverwalk, visit Lake Estes, play mini-golf, or visit a winery or brewery. Once you are finished hiking, hop back into your car. Grand Lake, Colorado at Rocky Mountain National Park If you are not acclimated to the higher elevation, it is normal to get out of breath easily. 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. Thats awesome that you got Bear Lake permits and thats so COOL that you got them while on Lassen Peak (yes, I cant wait to visit that park). During the busy summer months, a free shuttle service is provided by the national park service. 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). Wild Basin Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks.. During the summer and autumn, you can expect the entrance stations to be busy for most of the day, and extra busy in the morning from 7:00am-9:30am and in the afternoon from 2:30-4:00pm. or maybe 4? The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Located on Highway 34, the gateway to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, the Quality Inn & Suites Loveland hotel is the perfect resting point for vacationing travelers. Accessible trails include favorites like Bear Lake and Sprague Lake, and you can also reserve an all-terrain wheelchair from Estes Park Mountain Shop (970-586-6548). It is located just outside of Estes Park, on the south side, an excellent location for driving into the park. Rocky Mountain National Park offers plenty of contrast from one season to the next. Few people hike out this far so this is a great place to leave the crowds behind. Buckle in for some altitude gain and, outside of warmer summer months, pack spikes for the hiking trail! Yay!! Travelers favorites include #1 Trail Ridge Road, #2 Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and more. Pass Type. Phone. Among its special features are beautiful mountain vistas (114 named peaks above 10,000', with Longs Peak at 14,259'), and thousands of varieties of wild plants and animals. Hike one of the trails that I mentioned earlier in this itinerary, or click here to see our list of 15 great hikes to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is our favorite short hike in the park. 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (With Map) - Roaming the USA The elevation of the lowest sections of the park range from 5,600 to 9,500 feet. Cheers, Julie. The Beaver Meadows Entrance was remodeled in 2000-2001, adding another entrance lane to reduce the time spent waiting in line. The larger portion of the park sits to the south of Trail Ridge Road. Loveland & Boulder, CO - Rocky Mountain lodging further away. Keep your fingers crossed for clear afternoon skies. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. Complete Rocky Mountain National Park Winter Guide. Park at Bear Lake Trailhead. This hiker shuttle take visitors to some of the most popular trails along Bear Lake Road. Important Things to Know Before You Plan Your Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, When to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Show more. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect day in Rocky Mountain National Park! Anything to keep in mind? Be aware that you'll need to make a left turn at the stoplights onto Moraine Avenue. ie last an hour or so and go away? This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). 10 of the Best Cities and Towns Near Rocky Mountain National Park The Alberta Falls Trail, like many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, follows a creek (in this case, Glacier Creek). Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and historic byway. So, climb those stairs, catch your breath if you need to, and enjoy the awesome views from the top. Note: Its a slightly shorter hike (1.7 miles) if you park at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. You need to make it through the Beaver Meadows entrance and where they check permits for the Bear Lake Corridor (I think that is the junction of Bear Lake Road and US-36 but I am not 100% about this) before 5 am. Get updates on trail closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website. Private vehicle: $30, valid for 1 day / $35, valid for 7 days; Motorcycle: $25, valid for 1 day / $30, valid for 7 days; Per person (including cyclists): $15, valid for 1 day Park Access: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park except for Bear Lake Road. If you plan to go hiking during July and August, you will have to assume that there will be a 2 pm thunderstorm. Kawuneeche Entrance. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Afternoon/Evening free to do whatever 5) Sat Morning: Prepare to drive back to the airport for afternoons flight. You're going to want to start early, because parking fills up fast. Hi Julie ! Cheers, Julie. Due to its large size and long list of noteworthy hikes, you need several days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. From $73.48 per night. Simply follow highway 36 through downtown Estes Park. After one final short and strenuous climb you arrive at Chasm 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. One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park - Earth Trekkers Longs Peak and Timber Creek Campgrounds are easier to get reservations. Learn more about the national parks in our Guide to the US National Parks. Where to Stay in Rocky Mountain National Park (2023 - The Broke Backpacker 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. Rocky Mountain National Park. There are two ticket types: Park Access + and Park Access. great service , clean and location is in the center of town. Lily Lake. If you are coming from Estes Park, this drive takes 30 minutes. Suggestions for this weekend Nov 03, 2022. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. It is about 2 hours to get to the western entrance and 2 3/4 hours to get to the eastern entrance, taking the least scenic routes in both cases and hoping for no significant delays for the Twin Tunnels construction near Idaho Springs. Itinerary Help: 1 or 1.5 days in RMNP and other CO NPs Nov 20, 2022. Black Lake and Mills Lake are often labeled as two of the prettiest lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Do you think I can do Nymph, dream and emerald lakes (or at least 2 out of those 3?). This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. What are some alternate routes if Trail Ridge Road is closed? Rocky Mountain National Park, established in 1915, is a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. You'll need to be prepared to pull over regularly to let cars pass that are coming the other way. These shuttle buses connect Moraine Park and Bear Lake, with numerous stops in between. 4. This year's system has loosened to 75% to 85% of parking capacity. BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON: One of the best things to do on the South Rim is to drive South Rim Drive to the overlooks of the Black Canyon. Drive Trail Ridge Road. The Kawuneeche entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located 2 miles north of Grand Lake on highway 34. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Campgrounds 2022 Are you referring to the timed entry ticket? If you love lakes you'll like this hike. A 2 hour trip from either Steamboat Springs or Breckenridge will only get you to the west side entrance to RMNP. 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 nearby. #1 Estes Park - Overall Best Place to Stay 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 ). Timed Entry Permit System - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Rocky Mountain National Park Fees. With its large collection of hotels and restaurants, this is a great place to stay when you visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Abandon Your Car. Visiting RMNP in the spring (April or May), Rocky Mountain National Park Bed and Breakfast, Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation Rentals, Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation Packages, Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide, Browse all 3,365 Rocky Mountain National Park topics , 2 days in Rocky Mountain National Park--afraid of heights, Multi-day horse riding trail or pack trip, See All Rocky Mountain National Park Conversations.