Rocky Mountain
Alpine tundra, elk herds and the highest continuous paved road in the US.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Required in season
- Size
- 265,800 acres
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Rocky Mountain National Park packs more than 60 peaks over 12,000 feet into a park about the size of a large city. The Continental Divide runs straight through it. On the east side, glacier-carved valleys hold alpine lakes beneath granite walls; on the quieter west side, the Colorado River begins as a small stream winding through moose country.
About a third of the park lies above treeline, which is unusual for a park this accessible. Trail Ridge Road crosses that tundra at over 12,000 feet, giving drivers views that usually take a hard hike to earn. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, dominates the skyline from almost everywhere.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- Late June to September, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Mid-September to early October brings golden aspens and the elk rut.
- How long to stay
- 2 to 3 days.
- Getting there
- Denver International (DEN) is about 1.5 to 2 hours from Estes Park.
- Wildlife
- Elk, moose (mostly on the west side), bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmots and pikas.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
- Hotels in Estes Park (opens in a new tab)Colorado
- Hotels in Grand Lake (opens in a new tab)Colorado
- No lodging inside the park. The towns above are the closest bases.
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Rocky Mountain
- Warm layersIt can be 30 degrees colder on Trail Ridge Road.
- Sunscreen SPF 50UV is much stronger at 12,000 feet.
- Rain shellAfternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
- DaypackFor lake hikes from Bear Lake.
- Water filter bottleRefill from streams on longer hikes.
A first day, start to finish
- Arrive at Bear Lake by 7 a.m.
- Hike to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes
- Drive Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Visitor Center
- Look for moose in the Kawuneeche Valley
- Return over the pass and watch elk in Moraine Park at dusk
Don't miss
- Trail Ridge RoadClimbs to 12,183 feet with tundra views; seasonal.
- Bear LakeTrailhead for Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes, an easy and very popular hike.
- Moraine ParkMeadow where elk gather; the fall rut runs September to October.
- Alpine Visitor CenterHighest visitor center in the park system.
- Kawuneeche ValleyQuieter west side with moose along the Colorado River.
Know before you go
Do
- Book timed entry when your month opens; extra permits release at 7 p.m. the night before.
- Start hikes early; afternoon lightning is common in summer.
- Drink extra water and pace yourself at high altitude.
Don't
- Get between elk, especially during the fall rut.
- Step on tundra plants off-trail; they take decades to recover.
- Plan to pay cash; entrance stations are card-only.
Open 24 hours, all year. Trail Ridge Road usually opens late May and closes for the season in mid-October.
Enter before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. and you do not need a timed entry permit for most of the park.Trekker's tip