Discover 9 Ways to Enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

It’s hard to describe the grandeur and beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Snow-capped mountain peaks, meadows, tundra, wildlife, and beautiful alpine lakes can be found within the over 265,000 acres that make up the park. Once you arrive, you will understand why this park typically ranks in the top five national parks for visitation, with well over 4 million visitors a year. We recently spent a few days enjoying the park as part of a Colorado family vacation. This gave us time to hike to beautiful alpine lakes, drive parts of Trail Ridge Road, and search for wildlife. You can see our three-day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary below to get a better sense of how we planned our days in the park. 

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General Information

Driving from Denver to Rocky Mountain Park (east side entrance) takes just over 90 minutes. If you are looking for places to stay near Rocky Mountain National Park, you can’t beat the convenience of Estes Park. We spent four nights at the Rams Horn Village Resort, just minutes from the Beaver Falls entrance with easy access to the Bear Lake Corridor. The location of our cabin also made it convenient to enjoy fun  activities in Estes Park. You can start the search for Estes Park vacation rentals here. There are also a handful of campgrounds inside Rocky Mountain National Park, with most requiring advanced reservations. Grand Lake offers other options for lodging on the west side of the park.

Note that the Fall River Entrance is under construction for early summer 2023, with only a single lane each way to enter and exit. We entered the park via the Beaver Falls entrance before 8 a.m. with only minor delays, even during July. There was quite a backup later in the day, so get an early start. If you are staying in the Grand Lakes area, enter the park via the Grand Lake Entrance Station. Access the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on the west side of the park.

​Be aware and prepare for the high elevation and changing weather when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Many of the hiking trails start at over 8,000 feet. Check out the National Park Service safety tips for more information. If you can, spend a few days in Denver to get acclimated. Take a local hike, explore a nearby state park, or enjoy a walking tour of the colorful street art around town. You’ll want to make sure you are well hydrated long before your trip even starts. 

​2023 Rocky Mountain National park ENtrance INformation

Under the pilot permit system in effect for 2023, timed entry passes are required through October 22, 2023. A regular Park Access Timed Entry Permit will allow general park access and is required to get into all areas of the park (except the Bear Lake Road Corridor) between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. A Park Access+ timed entry permit provides access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Without a pass, you won't be able to access the Bear Lake Road Corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Permits are released on the first of the month for the following month. The month before our July trip, my daughter and I each went online immediately at 8 a.m. MDT on the first of the month to obtain permits for 3 days. There are some permits held and released at 5 p.m. the night before. Just remember that these timed-entry permits are in addition to the regular National Park Entrance Pass. Consider purchasing an annual park pass if visiting more than one park within a year.

​Here’s our general itinerary for three days in Rocky Mountain National park. Keep reading to discover 9 ways to enjoy the park, and use this list to build your own itinerary for a future visit.

1. Drive Trail Ridge Road. Did you know that Trail Ridge Road is designated as an All-American Road and is also the highest continuously paved road in the country? It’s the primary road that crosses Rocky Mountain National Park, extending 48 miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake. After seeing the tall snow banks from the past winter near the Alpine Visitor Center, it’s easy to understand why the road is closed to through travel during the harsh winter months. It's a 48-mile drive on Trail Ridge Road to get from one side of the park to the other. With all the curves and elevation, allow at least 2 hours one way without counting time to stop at the points of interest. We saw countless spectacular views, with plenty of marmots and two elk herds on our drive from the Alpine Visitor Center to Estes Park.
 

2. Hike to an Alpine Lake. Take advantage of the fact that Rocky Mountain National Park is home to over 150 lakes! A hike in the popular Bear Lake Corridor is a good way to see several lakes within a few hours. Start at the Bear Lake trailhead, with an option to hike 4.2 miles to Lake Haiyaha, pictured below, with stops at Nymph & Dream Lake. You could also continue to Emerald Lake from Dream Lake. You’ll want to spend some time enjoying the beauty of these lakes, especially Lake Haiyaha! From there, either return the way you came or take the trail to Mills and Jewel Lake, then come back by way of Alberta Falls. Be sure to take the .5 mile loop around Bear Lake to enjoy the different vantage points and scenic views. Other lake hikes include scenic Bierstadt Lake, and Cub Lake, where there is a better chance for wildlife sightings. Seeing these beautiful lakes was a definitely a highlight of our trip. 

3. Learn About & Search for Bighorn Sheep. We've learned over our many visits to national parks that seeing wildlife, even in a protected space, is never guaranteed. With that in mind, stop by Sheep Lakes during the summer for your best chance to spot Bighorn sheep. There you can listen to an informative Bighorn sheep Ranger-led program or chat with park volunteers about sheep sightings. During the busy summer months, the twenty-minute ranger program at Sheep Lakes happens several times a day. This area is also popular with visitors during the fall elk mating season. 

4. Enjoy a Quiet Morning Stroll. If you can get in the park early with your Park Access+ pass, make your first stop at peaceful Sprague Lake. We arrived around 8:30 a.m. and were able to find parking and enjoy a quiet stroll around the lake. This accessible loop trail is just half a mile round trip. The timing was perfect to capture a stunning reflection of the mountains in the water. In late summer 2023, expect temporary closures on parts of the Sprague Lake Trail. From Sprague Lake, we drove to the Park & Ride to catch the shuttle to the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead. 

5. Visit the Highest Visitor Center in the National Park System. If you are like us, you always make a stop at one of the visitor centers when you visit a park. Even though we passed right by the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on our way into the park each morning, we decided to wait and instead spend time at the Alpine Visitor Center. At 11,796 feet,it’s certainly worth a stop and is easy to access from Trail Ridge Road or once you finish the drive on Old Fall Road. Be prepared for rapidly changing weather & driving conditions, including hailstorms like the one we encountered in July! There’s a large park store with expansive views both inside and out. If you are up for it, take the .6 mile Alpine Ridge Trail to enjoy the view. Be mindful that it’s a steep incline that starts at 11,796 feet. Don’t be surprised if you see elk on your way to the top!

6. Take in the View at the Forest Canyon Overlook. When you leave the Alpine Visitor Center and head down Trail Ridge Road towards Estes Park, be sure to stop at the Forest Canyon Overlook. It’s a nice spot to learn more about the fragile tundra and take in the spectacular views of Forest Canyon from a short trail. Keep in mind that the elevation at this overlook is 11,700+ feet. Visitors should stay on the trail to avoid damaging the fragile tundra plant life and encourage others as well. It was one of the most scenic overlooks we stopped at while driving Trail Ridge Road, but also the most crowded.

7. See a Waterfall. One thing you can usually count on with all the snow-capped mountains is rushing creeks and waterfalls, and Rocky Mountain National Park did not disappoint. On the hike to Lake Haiyaha, we crossed several photo-worthy rushing streams and creeks cascading down the mountain. Just a short hike on the Alluvial Fan Trail brings you to the wandering Horseshoe Falls and boulders that make up the Alluvial Fan. From Bear Lake or Glacier Gorge Trailhead, you can hike to see Alberta Falls.

8. Drive Old Fall River Road. It’s not often you can drive on a piece of history! Old Fall River Road is over 100 years old and was the first auto road to take visitors to higher elevations. If you visit during the few months when the road is open (opening date may vary; in 2023 the road did not open until July 1st) you can experience the beautiful scenery on this adventurous 9.4 mile one-way drive to the Alpine Visitor Center. Check in with a park ranger when you arrive at the park to learn more about the drive, current road conditions, and whether or not the drive is for you. The road is described as a maintained, graded dirt road and cars drive at their own risk. Once you commit to driving the road, you need to continue all the way to the end near the Alpine Visitor Center. If the thought of driving on a road with no guard rails and tight switchbacks makes you uncomfortable or you aren't sure about taking your car on this type of road, check into joining a tour. Changing weather and fast-moving storms can have a major impact on driving conditions on Old Fall River Road. 

9. Visit the Hidden Valley Junior Ranger Station. If you are traveling with kids (or kids at heart), definitely check out the Junior Ranger Program. When our kids were younger, it was a great way to keep them interested in exploring, and recently at Alaska's Denali National Park, my husband earned his Junior Ranger Badge! We have great memories of watching them getting sworn in as Junior Rangers when they completed all the activities. At the Hidden Valley Junior Ranger Station, chat with a Ranger, grab a self-guided explorer bag, and walk on the nature trail. The Hidden Valley Junior Ranger Station is open for about three months starting mid-May. Download a book ahead of your visit or pick up a Junior Ranger book to complete and earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Kids 9 and up will learn about ecosystems and wildlife, while younger kids can be nature detectives, solve animal riddles and play Trail Ridge Road Bingo. 
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​Rocky Mountain National park Planning Tips & Things to Know Before You Go

*Peak summer months are the most crowded at Rocky Mountain National Park. Be sure to plan ahead as I mentioned above to secure a timed-entry permit, especially if you are spending time in the popular Bear Lake Corridor. June through early September are some of the most popular times for visitors. That’s not to say that the park doesn’t get visitors during the winter, but the park access and activities are different during the winter months when much of Trail Ridge Road is closed. The activities listed here are intended for the summer months.
*Use the Park and Ride and take the shuttle to get to the trailheads. We had a short wait in the afternoon to get back to the car, but it was the most efficient way to get around.
*It’s always a good idea to grab a photo or hard copy of the shuttle bus schedule and maps to have on hand. Remember that cell service in most national parks is non-existent. Download the National Park Service app and save the park information for offline use. We do this before any visit to a national park. Just remember to download it from home, your hotel, or another place where you have Wi-Fi. The app is a good tool for advanced planning that we use on every national park trip. 

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