All About Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park offers a rich mix of outdoor activities and breathtaking views, making this one of the most visited parks in North America.
What to do at Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
The Best Trails and Hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park has over 300 miles of trails. With so many choices, there’s bound to be a trail that works for you.
Alluvial Fan
Alpine Ridge
Bear Lake Loop
Sprague Lake Loop
- Bear Lake Trail
- Cub Lake Trail
- Mills Lake Trail
- Gem Lake Trail
- Sprague Lake Trail
- Adams Falls
- Cascade Falls
- Granite Falls
- Deer Mountain
- Alluvial Fan
- Alpine Ridge Trail
Things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
- Find a spot near the Colorado River, Sheep Lakes, or other lower elevations for wildlife viewing.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the many picnic areas in the park.
- Attend a ranger-led program throughout the summer months.
- Camp under the stars at one of five front country campgrounds or go wilderness camping in the backcountry.
- Go on a horseback riding adventure from one of the two stables.
- Fish in one of over 50 streams and alpine lakes where sport fishing is permitted with a valid Colorado fishing license.
- Visit in the winter months to go snowshoeing, sledding, or cross-country skiing.
- Stop at one of the many scenic overlook pull-offs listed on the Rocky Mountain National Park maps.
What to see at Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers
There are five visitors centers in Rocky Mountain National Park. Make sure to check the website for their hours and seasonal closures.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is just west of Estes Park. Here you’ll find the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store, rangers who are ready to help, and flushing toilets.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Alpine Visitor Center
The Alpine Visitor Center is at the top of Fall River Pass and can be accessed via Trail Ridge Road or Old Falls Road. This is the highest elevation in the park with spanning views of the mountain peaks and alpine ridges. Here you’ll find vault toilets, a ranger information station, Junior Ranger books, and a snack bar.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Moraine Museum Discovery & Visitor Center
Moraine Museum Discovery and Visitor Center is located along Bear Lake Road across from Moraine Park. The building has flushing toilets, Junior Ranger books available, exhibits, and a gift shop.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Fall River Visitor Center
The Fall River Visitor Center is also west of Estes Park and has flushing toilets and an information station.
Kawuneeche Visitor Center
Kawuneeche Visitor Center is just north of Grand Lake. This building has flush toilets, a ranger information station, a gift shop and bookstore, and informational exhibits.
Passport Book Stamp Location
National Park Passport Book Stamp Locations
- Holzwarth Historic Site
- Kawuneeche Visitor Center
- Alpine Visitor Center
- Bear Lake Ranger Station
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
- Longs Peak Ranger Station
- Moraine Museum Visitor Center
- Wild Basin Ranger Station
Rocky Mountain National Park Basics
1000 US Hwy 36,
Estes Park, CO 80517
$35 per vehicle
Valid for 7 days
Mountain Time Zone
1915
Location, Phone Number, and Address
The park’s physical address is 1000 US Hwy 36, Estes Park, CO 80517. This is near the park entrance station in Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is located in north central Colorado in the United States, just 55 miles north of Denver.
What are the Entrance Fees for Rocky Mountain?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the places in the National Park Service that uses the timed entry permit system. The entry permits are required for visits from late May through mid-October. The timed entry reservation system is run through www.recreation.gov. Make sure you know your plans for the day, because there are two entry reservations options: the first will get you to Trail Ridge Road, Old Falls Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, and the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you want to go down the Bear Lake Road Corridor, Sprague Lake, Moraine Park, and Glacier Gorge, you will need the timed-entry reservation + Bear Lake Road. Entry reservations are required from 9 AM to 2 PM to access Trail Ridge Road and from 5 AM to 6 PM if you want to add the Bear Lake area to the entrance. Make sure to check the Rocky Mountain National Park official site for the schedule of timed entry pass release. The timed entry reservation is $2 per vehicle which will be paid when you purchase the reservation. They are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Once you have your timed entry pass, you will also be required to pay the park’s entrance fee when you arrive at any of the entrance stations throughout the park. Unlike most national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park has a one-day vehicle entrance pass for a slightly lower rate than a seven-day entrance pass.
- Private Vehicle for one day: $30
- Private Vehicle for seven days: $35
- Motorcycle for one day: $25
- Motorcycle for seven days: $35
- Pedestrian for one day: $15
- Pedestrian for seven days: $20
Rocky Mountain National Park also offers an annual pass for $70 or you can use an interagency park pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass for $80.
Note: Rocky Mountain National Park has moved to a cashless system. Cash will not be accepted as a form of payment at any of the entrance stations. Visitors with cash can purchase most park entrance passes from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store located at Beaver Meadows, Fall River, or Kawuneeche Valley Visitor Centers.
Current as of July 2024
What Time Zone is Rocky Mountain National Park in?
Rocky Mountain National Park is in the Mountain Time Zone in the United States.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, though the summer and fall months are the peak season for the park. If you are traveling at this time of year, plan to arrive early and be patient. Parking lots fill up quickly, so the park offers a free shuttle around Bear Lake Road.
During the fall, winter, and spring months, the road conditions and weather conditions can quickly change in the mountains. Always check the weather forecast and road closures, and check in with a park ranger before your visit.
No matter what time of year you visit, make sure to dress in warm layers. The weather changes drastically with the elevation change throughout the park. In the open meadows in the sun, it may be warm. But when you are at the alpine areas, above the tree line, the temperature can drop.
When did Rocky Mountain become a National Park?
On January 16, 1915, the Rocky Mountain National Park Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
How Big is Rocky Mountain National Park?
Rocky Mountain National Park is an impressive 265,807 acres or 415 square miles of meadows, aplines, and mountain peaks.
Park Website
Always check the official park site for the most up-to-date information, hours, prices, and conditions.
Travel Tips for Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
Driving Through Rocky Mountain National Park
Private Vehicle
There are two scenic drives through Rocky Mountain National Park. One is on Trail Ridge Road, the other is on Old Fall River Road.
The main road through Rocky Mountain National Park is called Trail Ridge Road. This runs from Old Fall River Road on the eastern side of the park and winds through to the southwestern entrance to the park near Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road closes in the winter months, so make sure to plan accordingly. Along Trail Ridge Road, you will cross the Continental Divide at Milner Pass. There are a few trails that go near or over the divide, but this is the only place in the park where you will drive over the divide.
The scenic drive on Old Fall River Road is a one-way unpaved road that leads from near the Endovalley Picnic Area up to the Alpine Visitor Center and Fall River Pass.
Park Shuttles
There are three shuttles that run through the park during the peak season. Most of the buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs, but they do not have bike racks.
Moraine Park Route runs daily from late May to late October from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM with a bus every 60 minutes. This takes visitors to stops at:
- Sprague Lake
- Park & Ride Transit Hub
- Glacier Basin Campground
- Hollowell Park
- Tuxedo Park
- C Loop
- Cub Lake Trailhead
- Fern Lake Bus Stop
The Bear Lake Route Shuttle Bus has daily service from late May to Late October from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM with a bus every 10-15 minutes. Starting at the Park & Ride Transit Hub, this line stops at:
- Bierstadt Lake Trailhead
- Glacier Gorge Trailhead
- Bear Lake
Hiker Shuttle Route requires a reservation and can be purchased at www.recreation.gov for $2 each. This route runs daily from late May to early September then on the weekends only from early September through late October. The hiker shuttle doesn’t have any stops between the Park & Ride Transit Hub and the Estes Park Visitor Center. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 9:45 AM through 6 PM.
Where are the National Park Entrances?
Grand Lake/Kawuneeche Entrance Station
Just north of Grand Lake, Colorado, is the Kawuneeche Entrance Station on Highway 34. The visitor center is on the right side of the road before you reach the entrance booth. This is usually the least-used entrance station, although with only one booth you’ll sometimes have a short wait here. Just past the west entrance is the Kawunaache Valley with access to Holzwarth Historic Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Colorado River Trail, Green Mountain, Onahu Trail, and Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Visitor Center.
Fall River Entrance Station
The Fall River Entrance Station is also near the town of Estes Park, about five miles east of the city on Highway 34. This entrance has three booths and is often a faster way into the park from the east side. From here you can access the Aspenglen Campground, Horseshoe Park, Old Fall River Road, Trail Ridge Road, and Bear Lake Road.
Beaver Meadows Entrance Station
This is the busiest and most popular entrance station into Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s located just a few miles west of Estes Park on Highway 36. The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is on the left before you get to the entrance station. After entering, you can go right to head toward Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine area, or going left will take you to Moraine Park and Bear Lake Road.
Wild Basin Entrance Station
Further south from Estes Park, about 13.5 miles south on Scenic Highway 7, is the Wild Basin Entrance. There’s only one booth and the parking lot filled up quickly during peak season. Once the area is full, rangers will turn vehicles away. This leads to a gravel road taking visitors to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades, Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake.
What is the Nearest City to Rocky Mountain National Park?
The closest city to Rocky Mountain National Park on the east side is Estes Park. On the west side of the park, the closest city is Grand Lake. A little further out, some of the bigger cities near the park include Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver.
What is the Nearest Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park?
The closest major airport to Rocky Mountain National Park is Denver International Airport (DEN). There’s no public transportation to the park from the airport, so a rental car is the best way to get there. The park is about 1.5 hours from the Denver airport.
Itineraries including Rocky Mountain National Park
Lodging Near Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
Where to Stay
Rocky Mountain National Park doesn’t have any lodging inside the park other than campgrounds. The best place to stay is in Estes Park or Grand Lake, depending on which entrance you want to be near. We stayed at Beaver Brook on the River and it only took us a few minutes to get into the park every day.
Campgrounds in the Area
Rocky Mountain National Park has five front country campgrounds in the park:
- Aspenglen Campground
- Glacier Basin Campground
- Longs Peak Campground
- Moraine Park Campground
- Timber Creek Campground
What are the Closest National Parks to Rocky Mountain National Park National Park?
Black Canyon of the Gunnison
227 miles • 5 hour drive
Grand Sand Dunes
300 miles • 5 hour drive
Mesa Verde
440 miles • 8.25 hour drive
Facts about Rocky Mountain National Park National Park
The Plants and Animals of Rocky Mountain National Park
For those who are at Rocky Mountain National Park during the blooming season, the mountains will be an array of colors with over 900 species of wildflowers. Some of the wildflowers include Old Man of the Mountain, Scarlet Paintbrush, Rocky Mountain Columbine, and Mariposa-lily. The trees you’ll see depend on which area of the park you’re at, too, because of the ecosystems at so many elevations. Some trees and shrubs include pine trees, spruce trees, fir trees, Willow shrubs, Rocky Mountain juniper shrubs, aspen trees, and narrowleaf cottonwood trees. In the lakes and wetlands, there is a variety of algae that are hardly visible, but still important parts of the ecosystem. On the trees and rocks, you can often find many types of lichen and moss growing.
Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a large variety of wildlife and is one of the country’s top wildlife-watching destinations. There are almost 60 species of mammals, over 280 bird species, six amphibians, 11 species of fish, one reptile (the garter snake), and many insects. Some of the most spotted wildlife in the park include herds of elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed ptarmigan, moose, otters, bats, marmots, and falcons. The most popular time to spot elk is during the elk rut or mating season in the fall.
What is the Highest Point? What is the Lowest Point?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the United States. The elevations vary by over 6,600 feet of elevation gain within the park boundaries. The highest point is Longs Peak at 14,259 feet above sea level and the lowest point is at Big Thompson River sitting at 7,630 feet.
Rocky Mountain National Park Fun Facts
- The Alpine Visitor Center, at 11,796 feet above sea level, is the highest-elevation visitor center in the National Park System.
- Rocky Mountain National Park is surrounded by National Forests on all sides: Roosevelt National Forest to the north and east, Routt National Forest to the north and west, and Arapaho National Forest to the west and south.
- Trail Ridge Road is the country's highest continuously paved highway with the highest point at 12,183 feet above sea level. The road is 48 miles long.
- There are over 900 species of wildflowers in the park.
- Rocky Mountain National Park has sixty mountain peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation.
- Although not known for glaciers, there are several small glaciers and permanent snowfields in the highest mountains.