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Living in Colorado comes with a ton of perks, the biggest of which is being surrounded by some of the country’s most beautiful natural spaces.
When we first moved here, we knew that we wanted to take advantage of the stunning nature as much as possible. Of course, this includes Colorado’s four national parks!
Rocky Mountain National Park is the most famous national park in the Centennial State. It boasts incredible vistas, fabulous hiking trails, and amazing wildlife! From challenging hikes to panoramic scenic overlooks, there are things to do and places to visit for every interest and fitness level.
Continue reading to discover how we spent two days in Rocky Mountain National Park!
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How to Get to Rocky Mountain National Park
The nearest major airport to Rocky Mountain National Park is Denver Airport, just a 1.5-hour drive away. While a few day tours depart from Denver, renting a car is the best way to experience RMNP. This way, you can visit the park on your schedule, which allows you to completely customize your experience.
We live in the Colorado Springs area, about 2.5 hours from the park. While we could’ve made a short day trip, we decided to stay overnight in Estes Park. This allowed us two days to explore the gorgeous nature throughout the park. On our departure day, we decided to drive through the park, starting in Estes Park and ending in Grand Lake.
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Top Tours of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Rocky Mountain National Park Day Trip and Lunch (from Denver)
- Rocky Mountain National Park Safari Tour (from Estes Park)
- Rocky Mountain National Park Glass-Top Bus Tour (from Estes Park)
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is late summer. The weather is absolutely ideal, and there’s a ton of wildlife out and about. We stayed over Labor Day Weekend, which we thought would be very crowded, but it wasn’t at all. There was always a parking spot open wherever we stopped, and the trails were not too crowded.
Another fantastic time to visit would be early fall. You’ll enjoy the changing colors of the leaves and crisp, cool air, perfect for hiking through the mountains.
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Securing a Timed Entry Ticket
If you are visiting Rocky Mountain National Park between Memorial Day and mid-October, you must reserve a timed entry permit for each day you choose to visit the park. This goes for all parts of the park.
Additionally, if you’d like to see the Bear Lake Road section of the park, you will need to secure a separate entry ticket for that section of the park. The Bear Lake entry ticket also includes entry to the rest of the park.
Timed entry tickets are typically released 30 days in advance. Additional tickets are also made available at 7pm (local time) the night before. We got both our Bear Lake entry and general park entry for the next day during the 7pm release with no issue.
Click here to reserve your timed entry ticket or download the Recreation.gov app. If you are active duty military, a dependent, a Gold Star family, or a veteran, you can get a free annual entrance pass to all US National Parks. Check out the NPS website for more information. While it’s free to enter, you’ll still have to secure a timed entry ticket for Rocky Mountain National Park, and additional amenities such as camping are not included.
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Top Spots to Visit + Things to Do
Bear Lake Road
I highly recommend visiting the Bear Lake Road area of the park. While it requires a separate entry ticket, it includes entry into the rest of the park, so you can spend the whole day there.
Bear Lake Road is located shortly after the main entrance to the park. Get there early to secure the nearest parking, otherwise, you may have to park at a further parking area and wait for the park shuttle.
If you’re looking for an easy but scenic hike to start off with, I recommend the Bear Lake Loop. You’ll see signs from the parking area and shuttle stop going to the right from the ranger station. The entire loop is just over a mile and doesn’t include significant elevation gain.
We took our time on the Bear Lake Loop, taking many pictures and soaking up the stunning scenery. We also brought our lunch to have here! There are several benches and pull-off points along the lake where you can sit and relax.
Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake
If you’re looking for a more adventurous hiking route, turn left at the fork from Bear Lake Loop and head to the Nymph Lake trailhead. This route is not super challenging, but there is more elevation gain than walking around Bear Lake. This single trail takes you first to Nymph Lake, where you can continue on to Dream Lake and finally Emerald Lake.
We took the trail to Dream Lake, which is 1.1-mile-long (one way) and has an elevation gain of 474 feet, according to the National Park Services website. While we could have continued the 0.6 miles to Emerald Lake, we just spent a lot of time taking in the gorgeous scenery from Dream Lake.
I don’t consider myself athletic by any means but I do think that this is a hike most people can do. If you’re not used to the elevation, take it slow, but I don’t think it was anything too challenging. Don’t forget sunglasses, a hat, and lots of water!
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Wildlife Spotting
As you probably already know, there’s a ton of wildlife to be seen! All the deer, elk, pikas, squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots we saw were the highlight of my time in the Rocky Mountains. We saw a whole herd of elk near the Alpine Visitor Center as well as several pikas and marmots at the Forest Canyon Overlook.
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Hiking & Scenic Drives
We spent our first day hiking around Bear Lake Loop, so on the second day, we took it pretty easy. Our plan was to drive from Estes Park to Grand Lake (aka one side of the park to the other) and make as many stops as we wanted along the way.
One of my favorite stops was Hidden Valley, which is also the Junior Ranger Headquarters! There’s a small path that loops around the area and crosses a small stream as well as several picnic areas. We also spotted a few elk here basking in the sun! Another fantastic spot to stop for views is Many Parks Curve, which features an incredible panoramic view of the park.
Another awesome stop was Forest Canyon Overlook, which I mentioned earlier. At this spot, visitors can catch a glimpse of some alpine lakes and a ton of wildlife that call the Rockies home. The Tundra Communities Trail (off the Rock Cut trailhead) is one of the highest points on the road at 12,110 feet. It was beautiful, but I definitely felt out of breath easily here.
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Where to Eat in the Park
There is one restaurant within RMNP. It’s in the Trail Ridge Store, next to the Alpine Visitor Center. It’s a great place to get a grab-and-go snack or coffee or sit down for a heartier meal.
We opted to bring our own lunch and snacks. For lunch both days, we picked up sandwiches, once from Jersey Mikes and once from a local spot, Rocky Mountain Deli. They had an array of super yummy-sounding sandwiches, as well as desserts and sides. We went with the turkey bacon avocado, and it was fantastic!
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Where to Stay
If you’re not camping or staying in an RV, your two best options are Estes Park or Grand Lake. I recommend Estes Park since there’s a lot to see and do, and it just has a really cool vibe. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Estes Park, which was super convenient. It’s not right downtown but is within walking distance and also has a ton of parking.
If you’d like to camp, there are five campgrounds within the park. Campsites cost between $30 and $70 per night, and annual pass holders can get 50% off standard campsites. Most campgrounds close for the winter, but a few winter camping opportunities are available at the Aspenglen Campground.
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FAQ
How long does it take to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park?
A straight drive through Rocky Mountain National Park from the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (Estes Park side) to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (Grand Lake side) takes about 1.5 hours without stops. The length of your drive will vary by how many stops you make and how much time you spend at each stop.
What is the best town near Rocky Mountain National Park to stay in?
The best town to stay in near Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park. This charming town is known as the gateway to the Rockies and features so many great restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Can you enter the park without a timed entry ticket?
Yes, if you are not able to secure a timed entry ticket, you can enter the park before 9am and after 2pm. If you enter after 2, you still have plenty of time to drive through the park and stop at several scenic spots.
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