Rocky Mountain National Park provides an incredible combination of alpine lakes, rugged craggy peaks, and a bountiful array of wildlife that are seldom found elsewhere across the country. We invested five complete days in Rocky Mountain National Park, and enjoyed every moment of it. Spend your mornings tackling the hiking trails, drive above the tree line on Trail Ridge Road to experience the distinctive Alpine Tundra landscape, and spend your evenings watching elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and black bears in their natural habitat.
This full Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary will supply the information essential for planning the perfect trip to the park, including:
- Where to hike, drive, and see wildlife
- Where to stay inside or outside the park
- How to organize your time to make the most of your limited time
Are you into hiking? This reference to hiking destinations could assist with planning an itinerary. Checking these recommendations of trails in Rocky Mountain National Park could reveal worthy routes to experience.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I earn a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, I would never recommend something to you that I don’t stand fully behind.
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What is the Best Time to Visit to Rocky Mountain National Park?
The top season for exploring the park is mid-June to Labor Day in summer. At this time, you`ll find relatively warm afternoon temperatures around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, with cooler nights due to the elevation (~8,000 feet above sea level). However, you`ll also encounter daily thunderstorms above the tree line, meaning you should plan on starting hikes early and being off the trail by noon. Or at least on your way down. That said, you`re in the mountains. Weather can be unpredictable, as demonstrated by the snowstorm in September 2020.
Shoulder season, mid-May through June and Labor Day until early October, offers a great time period inside the park. Weather may be more changeable, but significantly fewer visitors will be present.
We have visited Rocky Mountain National Park twice now, spending approximately a week in total within the park exploring the finest trails and wildlife spots, and neither has been “peak season.” However, both May, when the days are somewhat cooler but everything is GREEN, and September, when temperatures remain warm and snow is generally gone from all routes, were very pleasant times to be in the park.
Additionally, elk mating season is in September, and we spent multiple evenings at Moraine Park observing hundreds of elk milling about with the males bellowing their all-out efforts to compete for the attention of the females. And by `all-out efforts,` I mean `that animal is tremendously large and could eliminate me in approximately three seconds flat.`
How to Get to Rocky Mountain National Park
If you’re arriving from outside the state and plan to fly, the easiest way to reach Rocky Mountain National Park is to strongly fly into Denver International Airport, rent a vehicle, and drive.
From Denver, it’s just over an hour and a half (68 miles) to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, the most visited section of the park. The briefest route is to access Highway 36 and follow it north through Boulder and Estes Park.
From Boulder, it will take approximately one hour (40 miles) to arrive at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center near Estes Park by following Highway 36 the entire way.
This route along Highway 36 can become crowded on summer weekends, so check Google Maps before you leave to prepare for a potentially longer journey if there’s traffic.
How Many Days in Rocky Mountain National Park?
Two days provides sufficient time to explore the park if long treks are not your interest (hint! Have you consulted our guide to the top trails in Rocky Mountain National Park yet?).
If engaging in hiking is desired, we recommend planning for three or more days.
“But Matt, I have [1, 3, 5, 86] days, what should I do?” Don’t worry, I’ve included some suggestions below the itinerary itself for activities if you have extra time.
Where to Stay at Rocky Mountain National Park
Camping is the best way to experience Rocky Mountain National Park, as it`s the only way to stay inside the park bounds. Unlike some national parks, there are no historic lodges inside.
Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park
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Obtaining campsite reservations for camping spots is highly competitive. If you don`t secure locations immediately, KEEP VERIFYING availability. I mean daily. We got our sites by checking on open spots a few times per week, and were able to get four nights inside the park..
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On the more popular east side of the park, you have a couple of choices with regards to camping.
We set up camp at Moraine Park Campground, and really enjoyed it. It’s highly convenient to most of the places you’re likely to want to visit on the east side of the park. Plus, it`s on the shuttle route, so you don’t need to worry about parking. There are 245 sites, such as a tent-only loop (loop D) if wanting to get away from the RVs full of loud children and generators. If visiting in the peak season you should plan on making reservations months in advance. From October to May, it is available on a first-arrive, first-served basis. Check availability here.
Other options on the east side of the park include Aspenglen Campground (small, quiet campground – make a reservation here) and Glacier Basin Campground (located on Bear Lake Road – reserve here).
On the western side of the park, worth exploring for its solitude and wildlife sightings (like moose!), there is a single option – Timber Creek Campground. It has 100 sites and remains open year-round.
If planning to hike Longs Peak (or other nearby hikes like Chasm Lake), camp at Olive Ridge Campground or Longs Peak Campground, both located off of Highway 7 south of Estes Park. Both are first-come-first-served and reach full capacity by midday in summer months. To secure a site here in summer, I`d recommend arriving by 10am at the latest to be safe.
Finding sites inside the park may not be possible. Consider checking into . On a busy Saturday night, we chose to lodge initially at East Portal because sites were accessible and it had pleasant facilities like heated showers. Additionally, campers may often cancel reservations allowing previously booked spots to open up. Note these grounds lie near yet outside Rocky Mountain National Park bounds.
Where to Stay Outside Rocky Mountain National Park
If you’re not into camping, your best option is likely to be Estes Park, which is about 10-15 minutes outside the park.
It sees more visitors in summer, between Rocky Mountain National Park tourists and summer festival attendees. Springs and falls find calmer crowds and lower costs.
Hotels, Cabins, and Lodges in Estes Park
Below are three places to lodge near Estes Park that will put you 10-15 minutes from the park entrance.
StoneBrook Resort:This location is ideal for a couples getaway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Cabins only for adults (yes please) along the Fall River. Kitchenettes, so you can save money on meals, and all the amenities expected at a resort in a town adjacent to a National Park.
Inn & Cabins on Fall River: This is another riverside resort just outside of Estes Park with lodge and cabin-style accommodations of all forms and sizes, from one to three bedrooms.
YMCA of the Rockies: We drove past this location and I was quite puzzled, needing to search online what it was, since when I think YMCA I envision the facility near my home where one plays casual basketball on Sunday mornings. This place is DEFINITELY not that. It’s essentially a resort, with cabins and room styles to select from. No extras, but comfortable.
Click here to view all hotels and resorts in Estes Park
The Best Airbnbs in Estes Park
There exists a plentiful choices of lodging in and surrounding Estes Park of all configurations, ranging from rustic cabins to modern flats.
If you’re a couple or a group of two, consider either the current loft style apartment or this light-filled home with an outside deck if you wish to be in the heart of all the action in Downtown Estes Park. For a more rustic stay, take a look at this historic single bedroom cabin that includes a hot tub.
For groups of four individuals or more, consider this old style cabin constructed in nineteen hundred fourteen having all the rustic allure sought after when visiting a National Park, or this contemporary riverside cabin with three bedrooms and ample space for you and your group to spread out (plus, stunning design and a hot tub facility).
I had come across mentions of them in a few online sources, including Sprudge, and was extremely eager to try their coffee offerings. They lived up to the positive reports. They should undoubtedly be a coffee lover`s initial stop in Berlin. They have a location in Kreuzberg, and a newer site in Mitte.
Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
- Admission Fees – you can expect to pay a minimum of $20 to enter the park for a single day, while access for a 7-day period will be approximately $30 (it should be noted that in 2020, 7-day passes were not available and the one-day entrance fee was $25. It remains to be seen if this continues into 2021). If you plan on visiting multiple National Parks in the coming year, the smarter choice is an America the Beautiful Pass, costing $80 but paying for itself with 3 visits to National Parks, National Forests, or National Recreation Areas. Get it here.
- The elevation takes its toll – most of the park sits at approximately 8,000 feet, so hiking trails often reach over 10,000 feet. We discovered upon arrival from visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (around 7,000 feet) that the change in elevation significantly drained our energy levels on that first day. It`s best not to plan overly rigorous routes initially to allow your body to adjust (for example, avoid Longs Peak for the first hike) while being sure to stay hydrated.
- Sun exposure should not be underestimated – the sun seems disproportionately intense at elevation in the mountains. Maybe the reduced atmospheric density provides less protection. Regardless, consistent use of sunscreen is vital (We are devoted fans of Sun Bum!) along with a protective sun hat.
- Parking availability fluctuates – in mid-September, the Glacier Gorge lot was full by 6am while Bear Lake reached capacity an hour later. Multiple exceptionally busy trails launch from each location, so arrive early. Thankfully, park and ride facilities with plentiful parking and shuttle service are available, transporting visitors directly to trailhead areas along Bear Lake Road. A hiker shuttle even departs from Estes Park Visitor Center, removing any need to locate parking within the park itself.
- Differences between east and west regions – the less visited western half of the park can be accessed via the seasonal Alpine Ridge Road (connecting the east) or by Grand Lake. Worth exploring for views stretching across the alpine tundra landscape and surrounding Rocky Mountains from above the tree line. Do the Green Mountain Trail to Big Meadow for odds of observing wildlife like moose.
A Perfect 2 Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary
We spent four days exploring the park during our Colorado road trip, and the recommendations below are based on our personal encounters. We included our favorite activities while removing some less engaging experiences, consolidating it into an ideal two day itinerary.
Below are suggestions for spending a couple days exploring Rocky Mountain National Park.
Note: If only having one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, I’d follow the first day of the below itinerary.
Day 1 in Rocky Mountain National Park
On the first day of your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, a morning hike will be followed by driving one of the park`s most scenic routes, and finally some wildlife viewing at dusk before retiring for the evening.
Pro-tip: Packing lunches for both days is advisable since options for purchasing food within the park boundaries are limited.
Do a Hike Near Bear Lake
Begin your trip off properly, with a hike from the Bear Lake trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road.
You will want to start early in the morning, as parking fills up very quickly. It is recommended to be at the trailhead by 7am or earlier if wanting to park directly at the location. If that time is too advance, head over to the park and ride option instead, which gets busy but has significantly more space available. From there, it`s an easy shuttle ride to the Bear Lake Trailhead. After the hike, take the shuttle back from where you were dropped off to return to the park and ride.”
There are a couple of hiking options from the Bear Lake Trailhead, relying on your appetite for high altitude hiking.
If you’re looking for the simplest possible amble, do the 3⁄4 mile Bear Lake Loop, which takes you entirely around Bear Lake. It’s fairly level, and Bear Lake is a pleasant spot, but it isn’t going to exhaust you (or your kids).
The finest hike for beginners would be to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. Dream Lake is particularly stunning at sunrise, where you’ll see photographers gathered to watch the pink glow light up the mountains across the lake. Continue on to Emerald Lake, and then head back the way you came. It’s also a good place to see wildlife – we saw a herd of elk along the shore of Dream Lake, including a big bugling bull.
If you’re up for a challenge and you’re interested in some mountain lakes, do the Fern Lake Trail stops at Lake Helene and Odessa Lake. You have the option of hiking one way from Bear Lake to the Fern Lake Trailhead near Moraine Park Campground, or making a loop and returning the same way. In my view, Odessa Lake is actually the primary attraction here – it’s much more photogenic than Fern Lake.
Insider Suggestion: If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can do a hike that I’m naming “All of the Lakes” (don’t sue me, Kanye) by continuing past Fern Lake to Cub Lake, and then looping back to Bierstadt Lake, where you can catch the shuttle back to your car either at the park and ride or Bear Lake Trailhead. It’s a long hike, but the elevation gain isn’t terrible if you end at Bierstadt Lake.
Feel free to enjoy lunch on the trail, or find a picnic spot along Bear Lake Road ( this is the location we stopped) to relax and refuel for the second portion of the day.
Drive Trail Ridge Road to the West Side of the Park
For the afternoon, head to Trail Ridge Road for one of the most scenic drives in Colorado.
This route takes you from the more visited eastern side of the park, over the Continental Divide, and down into the more tranquil western side of the park, home to elk and moose.
Several stopping points along the road offer truly spectacular photographic views. Be sure to visit the Alpine Visitor Center and walk the Alpine Ridge Trail for breathtaking vistas over 12,000 feet above sea level.
Descend down into the valley on the other side and head to the Green Mountain Trailhead to accomplish the expedient and simple hike to Big Meadow. It’s about four miles return trip with rather minimal elevation gain, and along the way to Big Meadow, which is in fact a big meadow, you’ll pass a couple of smaller meadows on the right which are prime spots for animals like moose and elk to hang out. We saw a family group of three moose – mama, dad, and baby moose – hanging out in the second meadow on the right.
Travel south to inspect Grand Lake and check out Arapahoe Bay before turning around and heading north and over the mountain pass back to the east side of the park, or remain at Timbercreek Campground for the night, which is the solitary campground on this side.
On your return journey, pause at Sheep Lakes to spot additional wildlife. A ranger informed us this is among the best places to see elk, and truly the place to see bighorn sheep. Plus, you`ll travel along Fall River Road, which served as the original route up and over the pass.
Day 2 in Rocky Mountain National Park
For day 2, I’d suggest doing one of the longer hikes in the park, which will probably take up most of the day with the distance, elevation gain, and altitude associated with some of these hikes.
If you’re not up for a long hike, I’d do the hike to Alberta Falls in the morning, which is a short and easy hike from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Then, do a picnic lunch, and in the afternoon do the hike to Cub Lake, which leaves from a trailhead near Moraine Park Campground.
If you`re up for a more extended hike, I have two options for you.
The first hike is Sky Pond, which commences from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. The trail takes you past Alberta Falls, which is worthy of a stop, and winds up some forested winding paths before you emerge onto the Loch, a beautiful lake that serves as the midpoint on the route to Sky Pond.
Take a brief break, appreciating the views of the craggy peaks towering above the shores of the Loch, and continue on the trail up to Sky Pond. As you near the end of the hike, you’ll need to clamber up a waterfall basin (it’s more of a trickle than a rushing falls, don’t worry). Proceed slowly, and definitely avoid this hike if it’s still icy or snowy when you’re in the park. We did it, and thought that the buildup was worse than the actual hike.
All that being stated, it is a bit of a scramble, but the Lake of Glass at the top of it is worth the cost of admission, as is the final stop on this trail – Sky Pond.
The second choice is Chasm Lake. To get there, you will need to head outside the park south of Estes Park along Highway 7. It takes approximately 30 minutes from Moraine Park, and 15 minutes from Estes Park. You must arrive at this trailhead early as it fills up quickly with ambitious hikers tackling Longs Peak, one of the more accessible high peaks in Colorado, which shares the same trailhead. Show up before 7:30 for the best chance at a space.
This hike involves a steady climb with switchbacks through an aspen forest at first. After several miles, you will emerge into a new alpine tundra landscape with a flatter section lacking switchbacks. Continuing on will lead you to pass Longs Peak Junction before arriving at Chasm Lake.
From here, the trail drops into a valley that is absolutely gorgeous. The last part of this trail also involves scrambling, but it’s a short and easy scramble over the rockpile separating you from the lake.
Whichever hike you opt for, it will likely consume most of your day and drain your energy for other physical activities. Head back to explore more wildlife near Sprague Lake or Moraine Park, or go into Estes Park to treat yourself to a well-earned meal and drink. I`d suggest Ed`s Cantina for their bison enchiladas, which happen to be gluten-free and suitable for those with celiac disease!
You are sure to be captivated by Rocky Mountain National Park – it is packed with the natural splendor that you will find all through the Rocky Mountains contained in one relatively small, accessible area. It was one of our favorite spots on our Colorado road trip, and is certainly worth investing a few days exploring.
Be sure to check out these other posts about enjoying nature and exploring America’s National Parks.
- A post outlining how to plan an excellent self-drive tour of destinations in the northwestern United States.
- A Complete Guide to Hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area
- What to experience at Mount Rainier: A complete guide for first timers
- Learning About Visiting Mount Rainier National Park
- Hiking Guide for North Cascades National Park (For Beginners)
- The Complete Route for Hiking the Yellow Aster Butte Trail
