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. Information? With that being said, you should know that crowds are the largest during the summer months, especially July and August. Location: north-central Colorado. The Finch Lake trail is a great choice for those who prefer solitude as it's one of the lesser traveled trails in the Wild Basin region of RMNP. 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. Visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike Alpine Ridge Trail, and consider driving down to Grand Lake, visiting the Holzwarth Historic Site on the way. 7.4 miles (12 km). Park Hours:Park entrances are open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Just a mile from the park's west entrance, Grand Lake, Colo., offers incredible family friendly activities from paddle boating and nature walks to world-class theater productions. Fern Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Tucked in the folds of the Rocky Mountains and anchored by the stunning Grand Lake, this town is lined with locally owned shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and hotels. Keep your fingers crossed for clear afternoon skies. Do you think August is a good time to visit RMNP? Mills Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Pssst. For Longs Peak, that means starting by 3 or 4 am. Bear Lake: 0.6 miles, easy, 30 minutes. You can get to this entrance without going through the middle of town by following highway 34 up East Wonderview Avenue. Flattop Mountain to Hallett Peak. Explore the exhibits at the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park Service. Want to receive a printed insiders guide to Colorados four national parks including Rocky Mountain National Park? For now, the forecast does call for afternoon thunderstorms from what i can see on weather.com, It depends. best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. For many visitors, the winter months are their favorite time to visit RMNP. Moraine Park Museum has interactive geology exhibits. 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. Gorgeous alpine views can certainly be seen from this center located at 11,796' elevation! Black Lake looks similar to Chasm Lake, as both of these alpine lakes are surrounded by jagged mountain peaks. Or visit recreation.gov to make your reservation. We still had some snow in a few spots at the higher elevations. For your afternoon activities, just keep your fingers crossed that you wont have afternoon thunderstorms on those days. Park Access: This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park except for Bear Lake Road. Price. The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. Are current Colorado fires affecting or near RMNP? What you will find is an old-fashioned charm combined with recreational opportunities like relaxing at the beach, paddle boarding, paddle boating and kayaking on Grand Lake and visiting the park. You wont find major grocery stores here, although you can drive 25 minutes to Granby and shop at the enormous City Market. Cheers, Julie. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. You will really feel the effects of the altitude. Is it worth going to RMNP if I only have 4 hours? Longs Peak is the biggest at 14,259 ft and can be seen from nearly anywhere. Trail Type: Out-and-back. Waterproof hiking shoes or boots are a great idea too, since snow is a possibility on some of these trails, all year. This is the hike that I recommend for today. But dont bring your RV there. I highly recommend this particular residence. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to 2 fantastic scenic drive opportunities. By 4 to 5 pm, the skies begin to clear. You're going to want to start early, because parking fills up fast. Timed entry permits (separate from an entrance fee) are no longer required. You can hike here from Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Trailhead. 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. This is an essential hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. Suggestions for this weekend Nov 03, 2022. Also, it can snow every month of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park. How long does it take to drive Trail Ridge Road? Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park; Flat Tops Wilderness; Maine. Have a great trip! On the way you'll pass the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on your right. Longs Peak and Timber Creek Campgrounds are easier to get reservations. Cheers, Julie. An hours drive from Boulder and two hours from Denver, the lively Estes Park is the closest town to the park on the east side of the park. These shuttle buses connect Moraine Park and Bear Lake, with numerous stops in between. I love all of the information you provide and find your advice extremely helpful. Visiting RMNP from Breckenridge regardless of which entrance you use is not ideal. Yellowstone National Park; Wind River . 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. 800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) Top Rated On . If you are coming from a lower elevation and plan to hike to these taller peaks, you will need to spend a few days in the park, acclimating to the higher elevation, before you tackle these hikes. The hike itself is relatively easy but follows uneven terrain and rock so take caution with small children and older folks. 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. There are two ticket types: Park Access + and Park Access. Ideally, you want a day with crystal clear skies and no chance of rain. So you basically log on in July when they open it up for dates in August and quickly pick 2-3 dates? In the summer months, the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park are hiking, driving Trail Ridge Road, taking a stroll around Bear Lake, driving Old Fall River Road, and mountaineering. Chasm Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Drive Trail Ridge Road. This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. Park Fee: $25 per vehicle, valid for 1 day. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. Acadia National Park; Montana / Wyoming. The various view points along trail ridge road were worth the stop overs as well (especially Forest canyon overlook and the small hike behind Alpine visitor center) Thanks again !! Cheers, Julie, Thanks Julie, Also seems like the bear lake corridor timed entry begins at 5a. Clicking on the photos on this page will open up a larger version. Buckle in for some altitude gain and, outside of warmer summer months, pack spikes for the hiking trail! I think your itinerary looks great. You can either hike to Fern Lakes and Odessa Lake as a point-to-point hike, starting at Bear Lake and ending at Moraine Park (or vice versa). Depending on the volume of traffic, some visitors with detailed questions must be directed to the visitor centers where the rangers and volunteers there can more adequately provide the needed assistance. If you wish detailed information to help enjoy your time in the park, stop by one of the park's visitor centers. That is correct. 3. more, Rocky Mountain National Park Destination Experts. or maybe 4? I climbed 3 different volcanoes in 3days and it was lovely. Mills and Black Lake. You have included all of our favorite hikes in RMNP so I think your list looks good! Ty in advance for your help as usual ! Loveland & Boulder, CO - Rocky Mountain lodging further away. You can also access Bear Lake Road, but it requires an additional 10 minutes of driving. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. In this post, get all of the information you need to plan your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. In July, we hiked through a snowstorm on the way back from Sky Pond. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Rocky Mountain National Park is a relatively large park, with a total area of 415 square miles. BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON: One of the best things to do on the South Rim is to drive South Rim Drive to the overlooks of the Black Canyon. If you plan to hike Sky Pond, Mills Lake, or Black Lake later in this itinerary, you will pass Alberta Falls, so there is no need to hike to it today. Pre-hike fuel: Near the main junction in Estes, hit up Notchtop . Follow the three day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. After the passes and permits are sorted, they will offer you a park map and a park newspaper. You may experience lines that can stretch up to a mile long during the busy season. BEST OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For a list of top experiences, read our article Best Things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. I think its a good idea to have a basic plan of what you want to do while at RMNP but be flexible. 9.5 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. This gave us enough time to hike at least one trail every day, with contingency time for bad weather. This entrance station has three entry booths which helps traffic to enter more quickly; however, this also tends to be the busiest entrance station. You will reach Loch Vale before the final climb to Sky Pond. Glacier Gorge parking lot and Longs Peak trailhead parking lot fill before sunrise. 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. Full-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Over The Top Tour" - RMNPhotographer. 2) Wed morning: Sky pond. The Kawuneeche entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located 2 miles north of Grand Lake on highway 34. The Fall River entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located on highway 34 approximately 5 miles east of Estes Park. Emerald and Dream Lakes are great but crowded. You are now standing at 12,718 feet, with 360 views, which makes this one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park Is A National Treasure. When Trail Ridge Road closes, there will be no access to the west side of the park, if you are staying in Estes Park. This area is home to various trails, lakes, and wildlife. Hiking poles can help you keep your balance in the snow. 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. Best beginner hike in Rocky Mountain National Park: Emerald Lake. It is located just outside of Estes Park, on the south side, an excellent location for driving into the park. 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. Entrance Sign to Rocky Mountain National Park Photo: Depositphotos. 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 ). Thank you! Gem Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. This entrance gives you access to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake. The Stanley Hotel. Few people hike out this far so this is a great place to leave the crowds behind. Al, Thats a tricky question to answer. 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. 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. From here, you can park at the trailheads and hike some of the best trails in RMNP, like Emerald and Dream Lakes, Alberta Falls, Sky Pond, Mills Lake, and Hallett Peak. 94 within 3 miles. It includes Bear Lake Road and the hikes that start here (Bear Lake, Emerald and Dream Lakes, Alberta Falls, Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, and Sprague Lake). Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. Take a 0.4-mile detour to Lake Haiyaha for an added bonus. 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. Learn more about the national parks in our Guide to the US National Parks. One week was perfect for us. The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Typically this road12,183 feet at it's highest point, remains closed from late-October to late-May. To ensure everyone gets a chance to experience the park during this . 80517. The Fall River entrance is 4 miles from Estes Park a wonderful little mountain town. 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. You'll need to be prepared to pull over regularly to let cars pass that are coming the other way. This road will lead you out of town and to the Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. 1,400 feet (426 m)of elevation gain. Plenty of room, good WiFi, nice furnishings, and beautiful views from our balcony. #2 Grand Lake - Where to Stay in Rocky Mountain National Park for Couples. How Many Days Do You Need in Rocky Mountain National Park? Yay!! Tahosa Valley Cabin (from USD 275) Show all photos. Up above 10,000 feet the air is thin, the temps are much cooler, and the wind is usually . 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). Your email address will not be published. Afternoon/Evening free to do whatever 5) Sat Morning: Prepare to drive back to the airport for afternoons flight. So on Tuesday, do you think I can salvage some hiking? 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 !!). 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. 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). 2. Do a Hike Near Bear Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park is the most visited recreation area in the state, headquartered in Estes Park. Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes: 3.6 miles, easy to moderate, 2 to 3 hours. Deer Mountain is nice because the views at the top, but we thought that the trail to get there was a little bit boring, at least compared to the other hikes we did in RMNP. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. The Continental Divide Trail to Mount Ida. This station is .25 miles north of the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley. Clouds start moving in around noon with the storms occurring almost like clockwork between 1 and 3 pm. I recommend staying at The Residences. A Park Access (Excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) timed entry ticket is sufficient for this day. Thanks for the article I am planning to travel below hikes/places in 3rd week of june. Thanks so much ! l plan on 7 days there. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Show more. Length: 5.2 miles round-trip. Head to Grand Lake, a quaint, historic town surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park. If you love lakes you'll like this hike. Summer (generally Memorial Day to Labor Day) is peak visitor season for good reason trails are snow-free, the park's wildlife is active, and the wildflowers are in full bloom. In this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, many of days end by the early afternoon, because of these storms. If you have five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park (lucky you! But the real reason for doing this is for the incredible view of Sky Pond, one of the most spectacular alpine lakes in the USA. 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). Whats the Best Season to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is a relatively large park, with a total area of 415 square miles. View from Mount Ida | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Funds from RMNP passes insure the preservation of the Lily Lake area and help to maintain the parking lot, vault. Finch Lake is a 4.5 mile hike through pines, aspen glades, and wildflower laden meadows to a sub-alpine lake where the forest surrounds its shores. This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best US national parks to go hiking. Longs Peak Campground on the East Side. Rocky Mountain National Park - Annual Pass. . Longs Peak is the highest mountain in the park, and the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park. Elevation of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located at 9,500 feet in a pine forest. Due to its large size and long list of noteworthy hikes, you need several days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Cheers, Julie. If you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this is a nice hike to consider. If the weather was clear yesterday, and you drove Trail Ridge Road, I recommend doing another hike this morning. Acreage: 265,769. Emerald lake lays below Hallett peak, Tyndall glacier, and Flattop mountain. However, I only recommend doing this if you are acclimated to the altitude, since these are strenuous hikes with big ascents. (970) 586-1206. Go back to the fork and then take the trail to Loch Vale. This family friendly hike is a great intro to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. One of the drawbacks of visiting Rocky Mountain National Park during the winter months is that Trail Ridge Road is closed. Site by, Learn about the different park pass options available, Temporary Closures In Lumpy Ridge And Loch Vale Areas Begin February 15 to Protect Nesting Raptors, Winter Adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP continues pilot timed entry permit reservations from May 26 through Oct 22, Winter Pile Burning Operations On Both Sides Of Park. Should I spend my time on the east side or the west side of the park? 9. And once at topwhat a view.! With numerous hotels and restaurants, and a great location near the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great place to stay.

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