Rocky Mountain National Park
- WD - Home
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 5
National Park Travel Guide
Rocky Mountain National Park is a greatest-hits album of Alpine. Tundra that feels above the world, glassy lakes wrapped in spruce, and trailheads with names you'll remember forever. Elk own the meadows at dusk. On clear nights, the Milky Way is bright enough to make you whisper.
Here, the air thins, the peaks tower, and elk bugles echo across valleys.
How to Get There
Denver International Airport is your big-hub entry. From there, it's about 90 minutes to Estes Park on the east side or a little longer to Grand Lake on the west. The two sides are connected by Trail Ridge Road, a high highway that runs along the spine of the Continental Divide, provided seasonal plowing allows. Peak season utilizes a timed-entry permit system, with two distinct options: Bear Lake Road Corridor and the remainder of the park. Plan your windows before you lock dining and lodging.
Nearest airport: DEN.
By car: US-36 to Estes Park; US-34 over Trail Ridge Road when open.
Reservations: Timed-entry windows vary by area and time of day each summer and early fall.
Know Before You Go
Altitude is real here. Trailheads start around 7,500 feet and top out over 12,000 feet on Trail Ridge Road. Hydrate, pace yourself, and be aware of afternoon storms that can develop quickly. Timed-entry reservations are required during specific hours across the park, with extended hours available for the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Arrive outside the windows if you didn't score a slot.
Timed-entry: Two systems, different hours for Bear Lake Road and the rest.
Weather: Lightning is common after lunch in summer.
Wildlife: Elk, bighorn sheep, moose. Keep a distance.
Best Time to Visit
Late June through September is prime for alpine access. September brings gold aspen and bugling elk. Winter transforms the area into a snowshoe and cross-country ski paradise on quieter trails.
July–Sept: Best for high country, busiest.
Late Sept–early Oct: Aspen color season.
Winter: Snowy, quiet, lower-elevation trail bliss.
Best Things to Do
Use mornings for hikes and afternoons for scenic driving or lake picnics while storms pass. Even a single day can cover signature views.
Trail Ridge Road: Alpine tundra, pullouts, and jaw-dropping horizons.
Bear Lake corridor: String together Bear, Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes.
Moraine Park: Evening elk watching.
Old Fall River Road: One-way dirt climb to the alpine, typically midsummer to fall.
Best Hikes
Emerald Lake via Bear and Dream (3.2 miles, easy-moderate): Four lakes, nonstop scenery.
Deer Mountain (6 miles, moderate): Sweeping Estes Park views without huge altitude.
Sky Pond via The Loch and Timberline Falls (9.5 miles, strenuous): Waterfalls, cirques, big drama.
Alberta Falls (1.6 miles, easy): Family-friendly splash of alpine energy.
Places to Stay
Pick your side and style. Estes Park offers a variety of walkable restaurants and accommodations. Grand Lake is quieter and closer to moose country.
In park: Moraine Park Campground, Timber Creek on the west; backcountry sites by permit.
Estes Park: The Stanley Hotel for spooky history, Bird & Jim is nearby for dinner.
Grand Lake: Historic lodges with lake views.
Places to Eat
Plan breakfasts and dinners with reservations during leaf-peeping season.
Estes Park: Bird & Jim, Smokin' Dave's BBQ, Kind Coffee for pre-trail caffeine.
Grand Lake: Sagebrush BBQ, Cy's Deli, lakeside patios in summer.
