800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) Top Rated On . Call 970-586-1222 before you head out. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trailhead: Glacier Gorge (40.31053, -105.64033) Why we love it: This quiet winter hike avoids the Bear Lake throngs while still delivering the same stop-in-your-tracks alpine viewsincluding Longs Peakfor hardy snowshoers. Tahosa Valley Cabin (from USD 275) Show all photos. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular natural parks featuring 76 mountains each over 10 thousand feet high. What should you not miss in Rocky Mountain National Park? The Ultimate Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park - AARP The stark colors of the evergreen trees and the sparkling high-mountain waters combine for picture perfect vistas. From Loveland it's 30 miles (48 km) and 45 minutes by car to get to Estes Park. Ty in advance for your help as usual ! Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide - Parks & Trips There are sixty mountain peaks over 12,000 feet and many of these top out over 13,000 feet. If time permits be adventurous and try a different entrance each day! 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. 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. Plenty of room, good WiFi, nice furnishings, and beautiful views from our balcony. Trail Ridge Road is 48 miles long, connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake. It does get tiring, but these trails are so much fun and offer such a wide variety of views and experiences that it never gets monotonous or boring. The job of the entrance station rangers is to welcome the visitors to the park, issue entrance passes, and answer visitor questions. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. The permit is in effect from 5 am to 6 pm. Cheers, Julie. Timed Entry Ticket: You will need a Bear Lake Road Corridor + Full Park Access permit (Park Access +) if you plan to hike Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, or Mills and Black Lake. Required fields are marked *. Is it worth going to RMNP if I only have 4 hours? Snow on the trail in July (hiking to Fern and Odessa Lakes from Bear Lake). 80517. Arrived at the park entrance before 5am which allowed us access to Bear Lake Road before the timed entry kicked in. Is there anything you recommend to bring on the hikes? Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Drive Trail Ridge Road. Rocky Mountain National Park operates on a timed permit entry system during the summer (May to October), and entry to the park during every season requires a $30 vehicle entrance pass. This is the hike that I recommend for today. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to 2 fantastic scenic drive opportunities. So August is a safer bet if you want to hike snow-free. The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. You will have to find your own way to the park from Estes Park because the shuttle only runs to the town. 4 Entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park - Which is best? Stop at Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the US national parks. Black Lake looks similar to Chasm Lake, as both of these alpine lakes are surrounded by jagged mountain peaks. Rocky Mountain National Park offers plenty of contrast from one season to the next. Also, if Longs Peak is on your list, watch the weather report for your visit. 9. Crowds are still big in September, both to see fall colors and the elk mating season. Plus, this is a lesser known hike, so the trail gets a lower number of hikers than other hikes on this list. On the other side of this entrance station you enter the meadows of the Kawuneeche Valley. 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 ). You have a choice today: take a break from hiking and explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, or hike another trail. However, both routes cross high over the mountains and close down once winter weather arrives. Mount Ida. This hike starts at Bear Lake and summits Flattop Mountain before arriving at Hallett Peak. Gem Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Head to Grand Lake, a quaint, historic town surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park. RMNP East or West Entrance? - Rocky Mountain National Park Forum [The vibe of Estes Park is very wild west mountain-like] [We passed at least 4 Saltwater Taffy shops on our way up the main street] [The Historic Park Theater] Estes Park is definitely worth checking out if you go through the Beaver Meadows entrance like we did. Those are the 3 that were recommended to me. Learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect day in Rocky Mountain National Park! Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: You can learn more about all of these hikes on our post, For full details on how to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, read our post, Two Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Rocky Mountain National Park | Estes Park Wildlife & Activities 4. Get updates on trail closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website. Show more. Autumn ushers in cooler days, smaller crowds, golden aspen and elk bugling. Alberta Falls: 2 miles, easy, 1 to 1.5 hours. Cheers, Julie. Bear Lake with Longs Peak and the Keyboard of the Winds in the background. Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of the most popular attractions in Colorado, drawing 4.5 million annual visitors to its 415 square miles of mountain beauty. So, climb those stairs, catch your breath if you need to, and enjoy the awesome views from the top. 10 Best Weekend Trips From Denver - Bearfoot Theory Best beginner hike in Rocky Mountain National Park: Emerald Lake. They said if you skip bear corridor, timed entry is only needed between 9a-3p. But one afternoon, they went until dinner, off and on. Its proximity to the charming town of Grand Lake make it even more alluring. However, the road is open to Many Parks Curve, approximately 7 miles from the start of Trail Ridge Road from the east. If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. 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. 1. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Campgrounds 2022 Timed entry permits (separate from an entrance fee) are no longer required. Simply follow highway 36 through downtown Estes Park. The permit system limited visitation to about 60% of parking capacity. Deer mountain Alpine ridge trail Trail ridge drive Ute trail to tomb bridge Alberta falls Nymph, dream and emerald lake Haiyaha Bear lake Sprague lake loop sheep lakes lily lake loop chasm falls Gem lake Mills lake, Rocky Mountain is very safe for a solo traveler and yes, in the mornings, there will be people on these trails. Should I spend my time on the east side or the west side of 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. l plan on 7 days there. A Park Access (Excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) timed entry ticket is sufficient for this day. You'll need to be prepared to pull over regularly to let cars pass that are coming the other way. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. Longs Peak is the biggest at 14,259 ft and can be seen from nearly anywhere. Gorgeous alpine views can certainly be seen from this center located at 11,796' elevation! Yes, I know, I said no hiking today, but I couldnt resist adding this one in. Clouds start moving in around noon with the storms occurring almost like clockwork between 1 and 3 pm. This easy hike offers spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park and it is great for all ages and ability levels. However, this property gets rave reviews. All entrances into Rocky Mountain National Park require entrance fees, even the ones that don't have a physical entrance to drive through. Along the way, there is a good chance that you will spot bighorn sheep and elk. And for FREE checklist of the US National Parks, take a look at our article US National Parks List. The park is much less crowded at this time, but Trail Ridge Road is not open and many, if not all, of the hiking trails can be snow covered. Price. So you basically log on in July when they open it up for dates in August and quickly pick 2-3 dates? While here you can enjoy quiet walks, exhilarating hikes, gorgeous sunrises and . Yes. One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. What do you think about Deer Mtn, Mills Lake and Loch Vale [sp?]. 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. I was able to snag early AM Bear lake for 3/4 days i am going to be at the park (believe it or not, i snagged it from atop Lassen peak which was the only place i got 5g !!). Which entrance would be better. Located just a couple minutes from Grand Lake, the Grand Lake Entrance is arguably the parks best-kept secret. On the western side of the park, you can explore the Colorado Rivers headwaters, look for moose and hike to the site of Lulu City, a former mining town, among many other things. Odessa & Fern Lakes Hike. Cheers, Julie. You are now standing at 12,718 feet, with 360 views, which makes this one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. With its short distance and manageable elevation gain, it is a great first hike in the park, as you acclimate to the higher elevation. Dont miss Forest Canyon Overlook, one of the best on the drive. You can stay in a cozy cabin with a river view or a well-decorated suite. 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). Entrance Stations and Visitor Centers - Rocky Mountain National Park (U If you do not have a reservation, you will not be allowed to enter the park. 365. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are two options and option #1 (Bear Lake Road and the rest the park) is the best option since it gives you access to the entire park. So, keep your fingers crossed for clear skies! Ascending only 700 feet over 3 miles, this is a great introduction to moderate hiking in the park. Drive one of the highest roads in the USA, spot wildlife, walk the easier trails around scenic lakes and waterfalls, and be amazed at the beauty here. Can you Drive through Rocky Mountain National Park? Once you pass through the entrance booth, you have access to that area of the park (for example, if you are coming from Estes Park and enter through the Beaver Meadows entrance before 9 am, you do not need a permit and can tour the park, with the exception of the Bear Lake Corridor, for the rest of the day). Dream Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Colorado Springs is a great weekend trip from Denver if you are looking to explore a smaller city within an hour or two of Denver. Youll be glad you did. These national parks require reservations in 2023 USA TRAVEL INSPIRATION:For more great ideas on where to go in the United States, check out our article Best USA Road Trips, which has 18 sample itineraries for your next big adventure. The parking lot at the end of Bear Lake Road is large but from here, you have access to numerous popular trails in RMNP, so it also fills fast. Complete Rocky Mountain National Park Winter Guide. Or is it pretty bad and long lasting? Cheers, Julie. 9 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado From May 25 through Oct. 22, you'll need what Rocky Mountain National Park calls a timed entry permit , aka a reservation, depending on what time of day . Rocky Mountain National Park Is A National Treasure. 94 within 3 miles. You can learn more about all of these hikes on our post 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. 6.2 miles, moderate, 3 to 4 hours. Mills Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. The west side (Grand Lake side) is more about the Kawuneeche Valley and the Colorado River. Which entrance is best for Rocky Mountain National Park?