Cheers, Julie, QQ for those noon thunderstorms, are they quick showers? We were here in early July, so all of the photos on our website were taken around the first week of July. Timed Entry Reservation Info for 2023 Season Dec 16, 2022. Travelers favorites include #1 Trail Ridge Road, #2 Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and more. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing. Explore the exhibits at the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park Service. Park Fee: $25 per vehicle, valid for 1 day. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular natural parks featuring 76 mountains each over 10 thousand feet high. 6.2 miles, moderate, 3 to 4 hours. From Loveland it's 30 miles (48 km) and 45 minutes by car to get to Estes Park. Quantity. Loveland & Boulder, CO - Rocky Mountain lodging further away. This easy hike offers spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park and it is great for all ages and ability levels. I hope you have a great time! . If you are coming from sea level, you will feel the effects of the altitude as soon as you do anything strenuous. You can hike here from Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Trailhead. Because the entrance is so accessible from Estes Park and open year round, it is the most popular. Approaching Moraine Park, the road winds through large open meadows where the elk love to congregate. On the way you'll pass the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on your right. Loch Lake. GREAT SAND DUNES: In our article Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, we cover the top experiences, plus how to plan your time, where to stay, and more. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. The Fall River entrance is 4 miles from Estes Park a wonderful little mountain town. Do you think this is doable? The permit is in effect from 9 am to 2 pm. Cheers, Julie. Longs Peak and Timber Creek Campgrounds are easier to get reservations. 11. Trail Type: Out-and-back. This gives you enough time to acclimate to the higher elevation (very important if you live at a low elevation) before tackling some of the higher, tougher hikes (such as Mount Ida, Hallett Peak, or Longs Peak). Glacier Gorge parking lot and Longs Peak trailhead parking lot fill before sunrise. 11 miles of this road is located in the alpine tundra, which is above the treeline. These shuttle buses connect Moraine Park and Bear Lake, with numerous stops in between. Hiking poles are a good idea for some of the tougher hikes (Sky Pond, Chasm Lake) if you have knee issues or if there is snow on the trail. I recommend the shorter, easier hikes if you are not acclimated to the altitude, arent a big fan of hiking, and/or have more than one day in Rocky Mountain National Park. The wilderness area includes 355 miles of hiking trails, 147 lakes, 77 mountains taller than 12,000 feet, and the opportunity to see elk, bighorn sheep and moose. You can follow this itinerary during the winter months with some modifications. 800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) Top Rated On . Known appropriately as the "Highway to the Sky," it crosses the Continental Divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Its a short, easy hike in the subalpine tundra so you have 360 degree views on the entire hike. 9.8 miles, strenuous, 4.5 to 6.5 hours. Trail Ridge Road is 48 miles long, connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake. Note: Its a slightly shorter hike (1.7 miles) if you park at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. With that being said, you should know that crowds are the largest during the summer months, especially July and August. Travel to Aspen and Rock Mountain During thanksgiving Nov 08, 2022. Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park; Flat Tops Wilderness; Maine. This road will lead you all the way up to the Alpine Visitor Center and across the Continental Divide to Grand Lake. Plan on being at the trailhead by 7am (or earlier) if you want to park at the trailhead itself. Thats crazy how early parking lots fill up, too. (Learn about the different park pass options available.) Entrance Sign to Rocky Mountain National Park Photo: Depositphotos. Thats awesome that you got Bear Lake permits and thats so COOL that you got them while on Lassen Peak (yes, I cant wait to visit that park). Longs Peak is the biggest at 14,259 ft and can be seen from nearly anywhere. great service , clean and location is in the center of town. But even with a week here, there are still a lot of hikes left on our to-do list. Bear Lake Road runs into the heart of the park. Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful place so we hope you have a wonderful time here. Do you think August is a good time to visit RMNP? Plus, this is a lesser known hike, so the trail gets a lower number of hikers than other hikes on this list. The Alberta Falls Trail, like many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, follows a creek (in this case, Glacier Creek). Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. I recommend wearing waterproof hiking shoes or boots (not running or walking shoes) so that you have good traction. Is it safe?. Gorgeous alpine views can certainly be seen from this center located at 11,796' elevation! You will hike past Alberta Falls, wind around lovely Mills Lake, and end at Black Lake. 1,400 feet (426 m)of elevation gain. This entrance station has only one entry booth. Rocky Mountain National Park. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. On the east side of the park, located on highway 36 and 3.5 miles west of Estes Park, is the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Estes Park. Odessa and Fern Lakes, Mills and Black Lake, Sky Pond, and Hallett Peak can all be hiked from this trailhead. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. In a normal year, Rocky Mountain National Park attracts well over 4 million visitors to its 415 square miles that are home to 147 lakes, dozens of different mammals (bear, moose and bighorn sheep among them), 355 miles of hiking trails and the Continental Divide. Ah one for each day, got it Ty !! But this is a strenuous hike and longer than your 8 mile cut-off. Moraine Park - Located just a few miles east from the park headquarters, Moraine Park is one of the best places to see elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you are an avid hiker, I recommend spending five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hiking poles can help you keep your balance in the snow. Thanks for writing in!! Cheers, Julie. So you basically log on in July when they open it up for dates in August and quickly pick 2-3 dates? To feel like you are really in the heart of the mountains, head to the only entrance on the parks west side, the Grand Lake Entrance. 1000 US Hwy 36 There are four main entrance stations to Rocky Mountain National Park. Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks.. You need to make it through the Beaver Meadows entrance and where they check permits for the Bear Lake Corridor (I think that is the junction of Bear Lake Road and US-36 but I am not 100% about this) before 5 am. The Beaver Meadows Entrance was remodeled in 2000-2001, adding another entrance lane to reduce the time spent waiting in line. So August is a safer bet if you want to hike snow-free. Tahosa Valley Cabin (from USD 275) Show all photos. Parking at the most popular trailheads fill up extremely early in the day. Timed Entry Ticket: Park Access (excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) is sufficient unless you choose to hike to Fern and Odessa Lakes. There are four entrances into Rocky Mountain National Park, and in 2022, you will need a park pass plus a separate day-use reservation to get into the park, regardless of which entrance you take. Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. Due to its large size and long list of noteworthy hikes, you need several days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. It is our favorite short hike in the park. Good to know: Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Black Lake, Sky Pond, Flattop Mountain, and Fern Lake are some of the trails that start at or near Bear Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, located in northern Colorado, encompasses an area of 416 square miles (265,769 acres). Trailhead Location. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. Restaurants. Buckle in for some altitude gain and, outside of warmer summer months, pack spikes for the hiking trail! With its large collection of hotels and restaurants, this is a great place to stay when you visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Otherwise you'll need to login the day before and try to obtain one of the limited entry passes with . The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Never been to park at all. miles of dramatic beauty, high rugged mountains, sparkling lakes, 350 miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. The price for one way is just $55, but you can also book a round-trip shuttle for $95. And for FREE checklist of the US National Parks, take a look at our article US National Parks List. Mills and Black Lake. It is situated on the north side of Moraine Park. photo by Ladona Stork. Rocky Mountain National Park Is A National Treasure. 6. 3.4 miles, moderate, 2 to 3 hours. Trail Ridge Road winds high into the Rockies, taking visitors into the treeless tundra. This is the hike that I recommend for today. You will need a Bear Lake Road Corridor + Full Park Access Timed Entry Ticket (Park Access +)for this day. , Tombstone Ridge | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Timed Entry Permit: If you have plans to visit the park in the summer months, dont forget to reserve your permit in advance. Head to Grand Lake, a quaint, historic town surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park. Elevation Gain: 1,100 ft. 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. 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. 10. If you are visiting between late May and mid-October during peak hours, then you will also need to show your timed entry permit to gain entry. 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. Hi Julie ! Loveland and Boulder are two Colorado cities that are located much further away than the other options for where to stay when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park made our list of the best national parks for kids. Up above 10,000 feet the air is thin, the temps are much cooler, and the wind is usually . The best way to . Cheers, Julie. On the east side of the park lies the Beaver Meadows Entrance, the most direct entrance from Estes Park, Colo.,which lies right outside Rocky Mountain National Park. Anything to keep in mind? Chasm Lake. You will need a Park Access (Excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) permit if you plan to hike Chasm Lake or Mount Ida. It is close to my Rocky Mtn NP trip (going there next week tue-sat), I wanted your opinion for this following itinerary and if it is doable 1) Tuesday afternoon: I will be at RMNP around 4pm. This hike passes Cub Lake, Fern Falls, Fern Lake, Odessa Lake and Lake Helene. Enter the number of passes you would like to purchase from the available choices below: Site passes table. Here you'll have access to Holzwarth Historic Site, the Coyote Valley Trail, the Colorado River Trail, Green Mountain, and Onahu Trail as well as Trail Ridge Road. This very highly rated property offers two-bedroom apartments that can accommodate up to six people. #2 Grand Lake - Where to Stay in Rocky Mountain National Park for Couples. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. Your email address will not be published. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. From the Alpine Visitor Center, drive Alpine Ridge Road back to Estes Park. Cheers, Julie. The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. These amazing mountains cradle the Estes Valley, providing residents and guests with incredible beauty and inspiration. If you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, it will be a busy day. Old Fall River Road | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. The best places to have your questions answered is at one of the park visitor centers. In summer 2022, timed-entry reservations are required between May 27 and October 10, 2022, and are in addition to your entrance fee. View from Mount Ida | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Best Day Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park sits to the east of the park. Old Fall River Road is an 11-mile long gravel road that runs one-way from Horseshoe Park (near Estes Park) and ends at the Alpine Visitor Center. One week was perfect for us. Rocky Mountain National Park is a relatively large park, with a total area of 415 square miles. Our website uses cookies. Start your trip off right, with a hike from the Bear Lake trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road. If the weather was clear yesterday, and you drove Trail Ridge Road, I recommend doing another hike this morning. These are the only official entry stations into the park. Alberta Falls: 2 miles, easy, 1 to 1.5 hours. There are a million different ways to put together a Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, and how you choose to do so really depends on your interests, the time of year you plan to visit the park, and the weather. Thank you! For Longs Peak, that means starting by 3 or 4 am. COLORADO ITINERARY: With 10 days in Colorado, road trip to all four national parks (Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde), linking them together with some very scenic drives. If you are planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. If you have no desire to fill each day with a hike, your itinerary will look something like this: Day 1: Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes plus Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine Ridge Trail Day 2: Gem Lake in the morning, Estes Park in the afternoon Day 3: Sky Pond Day 4: Old Fall River Road and Estes Park Day 5: Mills and Black Lakes Day 6: More activities in Estes Park Day 7: Deer Mountain. Thanks so much ! You have a choice today: take a break from hiking and explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, or hike another trail. Rocky Mountain National Park is a relatively large park, with a total area of 415 square miles. WorldMark Estes Park. However, both routes cross high over the mountains and close down once winter weather arrives. This station, which is one mile west of the park's headquarters and Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, usually receives the highest volume of visitors. Three Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Four Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Five or More Days in Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. 80517. View from the Alpine Ridge Trail | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. We also have a guide to the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and how to spend one day in RMNP. ie last an hour or so and go away? There are pull outs along the road for viewing but can get busy during the day so head . Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Accessible trails include favorites like Bear Lake and Sprague Lake, and you can also reserve an all-terrain wheelchair from Estes Park Mountain Shop (970-586-6548). Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Stop by the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near the Grand Lake Entrance to get more information. How crowded does Rocky Mountain National Park get? During the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are very common. $35 per vehicle, valid for one week. Best Things to Do in Great Sand Dunes National Park, One Perfect Day in Rocky Mountain National Park, 10 Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, 15 Best Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Complete Guide to the Twin Sisters Peak Trail, RMNP. And you must have really been moving to catch sunrise at Chasm Lake. If your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park is part of a bigger road trip through Colorado, here are some articles to help you plan your trip. There are many things to do here. This gave us enough time to hike at least one trail every day, with contingency time for bad weather. Emerald Lake. Emerald Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. All entrances into Rocky Mountain National Park require entrance fees, even the ones that don't have a physical entrance to drive through. It also is just a few minutes from Estes Parks downtown. Rocky Mountain National Park is a special place any season, but fall brings out the best in the park. When is the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park? And if you hike fast, you should have no problem getting to all 3 lakes on Tuesday afternoon. Afternoon/Evening Trail ridge road/Alpine ridge trial. When to Visit. So if i am staying at Estes, thats a 10-15mins drive to the Beavers meadow entrance (where I am assuming they check for the timed entry thing?) Running north to south through the park is the Continental Divide and the highest mountain peaks. Rocky Mountain National Park Fees. From Glacier Gorge parking lot (get there super earlypeople are rolling into the park before 5 am if they dont have a timed entry ticket so parking lots are filling up earlier this year), hike to Mills Lake. Whats the Best Season to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. CO I am there all day Wed,Thur and Fri (in mid August), On that Tuesday afternoon, you might be able to go hiking, depending on the thunderstorm situation. The best entrance for Rocky Mountain National Park is Beaver Meadows Entrance or Fall River Entrance. Elk on Trail Ridge Road | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. All offer bookstores and much printed information to supplement the knowledgeable staff. Sky Pond | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. As one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Alberta Falls Trail is a must on any itinerary. Also, it can snow every month of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park. Dont miss Forest Canyon Overlook, one of the best on the drive. In the southeast corner of the park there is an entrance to the Wild Basin area. Two of them, Beaver Meadows and Fall River, are just west of the town of Estes Park. Longs Peak is the highest mountain in the park, and the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park. But dont bring your RV there. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. For more information about where to stay and where to eat, read our Guide to Estes Park. For now, the forecast does call for afternoon thunderstorms from what i can see on weather.com, It depends. Estes Park to the Alpine Visitor Centre distance. You can drive Trail Ridge Road, visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike to Longs Peak and to Chasm Lake, and hike Gem Lake. Gem Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. But its only worth it if skies are clear. But it is a great entrance for those traveling the Peak-to-Peak from Nederland who dont want to join the crowds entering in Estes Park. On the return drive, hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Youre itinerary is great, thanks for this! The rooms within the main hotel building get mixed reviews. I recommend hiking Longs Peak on the day with the clearest weather. The only thing to note is that each day I started the hike between 4a-5a (especially because some parking lots like the Glacier gorge one and Longs peak one get filled up by 5a). I am travelling solo. This road will lead you out of town and to the Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Shuttle Bus. Thank you! I lucked out and it didnt rain on the 3 main days i was hiking (there was some rain on the day i came in but even that stopped around 4p and i was able to do nymph to dream to emerald and bear lake hike that evening). 9. Fern Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Cheers, Julie. But one afternoon, they went until dinner, off and on. To ensure everyone gets a chance to experience the park during this . So if i leave Estes at 4.30a I think i should be past that entrance by 4.45a or so and can avoid having to buy the time entry correct? On the way, you'll pass the park entry sign on your right, which is a great place to take family photos, and then the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on your left. How much is the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a 0.4-mile detour to Lake Haiyaha for an added bonus. Length: 5.2 miles round-trip. However, if Longs Peak is on your list, I recommend waiting one more day if you come from sea level. Do we have others using the trails even in the mornings? We are going to put RMNP last so we have time to get used to the altitude, because we are from the East Coast. If you want low crowds and dont mind cold temperatures and snow, plan your visit from November through May. If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. The elevation of the lowest sections of the park range from 5,600 to 9,500 feet. $70. Here are six tips on what to do in Estes Park during your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation. Park at Bear Lake Trailhead. 3. Bear Lake: 0.6 miles, easy, 30 minutes. This entrance gives you access to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake. 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. 365. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes: Easy Tundra Hikes. Wondering if there are differences between entering park through entrances by Estes park or better to enter park through grand lake? The Park's 415 square miles encompass a variety of alpine terrain, with at least 60 mountains exceeding 12,000 ft. Acadia National Park; Montana / Wyoming. Even for Old Fall River Road, a 44 or SUV is not necessary, as long as road conditions are good, and you can get updated info on this either on the NPS visitor center or at one of the visitor centers. If you have any questions about planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. This is a hike that we did on our first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago, and we retraced our steps on our latest trip en route to Sky Pond (more on that in a second). Full-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Over The Top Tour" - RMNPhotographer. If you are an avid hiker, your itinerary will look something like this: Day 1: Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes plus Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine Ridge Trail Day 2: Deer Mountain in the morning, Estes Park in the afternoon/evening Day 3: Sky Pond Day 4: Continental Divide Trail to Mount Ida Day 5: Longs Peak Day 6: Rest day from hiking (Old Fall River Road and activities in Estes Park) Day 7: Chasm Lake.
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