Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain

Rocky Mountain National Park

Located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado sits one of the most popular parks in the national park service. With soaring mountains, alpine lakes, and scenic drives, Rocky Mountain National Park is a joy to explore.

This is one of the best US national parks to go hiking. Towering mountain peaks, alpine lakes and waterfalls, and trails that cross the Continental Divide create world-class hiking experiences. 

Rocky Mountain National Park also offers a lot to do for those who aren’t big fans of hiking. Drive one of the highest roads in the USA, spot wildlife, walk the easier trails around scenic lakes and waterfalls, and be amazed at the beauty here.

Founded: January 26, 1915

Annual Visitors: 4.1 million in 2023, making it the 5th most visited park this year

Size: 270,000 acres

Location: Colorado

Entrance Fee: $25 per vehicle, valid for 1 day. $35 for a weekly pass.

Notable Fact: In 1976, UNESCO designated this park as one of the world’s first Biosphere Reserves.

Hiking to Dream Lake

Top Experiences in Rocky Mountain National Park

Bear Lake. Bear Lake is one of the most popular places to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a short, easy stroll around the lake, making it a great hike to do for all ages and ability levels.

Drive Trail Ridge Road. This is the highest paved through road, not only in Colorado, but also in the entire US national park system. It reaches its highest point at 12,183 feet and along the way, there is a good chance that you will spot bighorn sheep and elk.

Forest Canyon Overlook. This is one of the best overlooks located along Trail Ridge Road. At this viewpoint, you will be standing at 11,716 feet and have panoramic views of Longs Peak, Stones Peak, Hayden Gorge, and Gorge Lakes.

Go Hiking. There is no better way to experience Rocky Mountain National Park than from a hiking trail. With 355 miles of hiking trails, there are plenty to choose from. We list the top hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park later in this guide.

Visit Alberta Falls. This is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit in the park. To get here, it is a 1.7-mile hike that takes an hour or two.

Drive Old Fall River Road. This one-way, gravel road is 11 miles long and it takes about one hour to drive it. It’s a beautiful, off-the-beaten-path scenic drive and along the way, you can also visit Chasm Falls.

Moraine Park. Moraine Park is one of the best places in Rocky Mountain National Park to see wildlife. Herds of elk can be found grazing in this valley.

Holzwarth Historic Site. In 1917, John Holzwarth and his family, immigrants from Germany, built a small cabin on this site. Visitors to the park can tour the property to learn more about the life of Colorado homesteaders.

Go Mountaineering. With numerous peaks over 12,000 feet, 20 of these which sit above 13,000 feet, this park attracts climbers from around the world. Activities range from bouldering to easy climbs to multi-day climbs up vertical cliffs. In the winter months, ice climbing is an option.

Go Cross-Country Skiing. From December through May, when much of the park is covered in snow, you can explore the park by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.

Best Hikes in RMNP

Ultimate Guide to Sky Pond: Trail Stats, Photos & Helpful Tips

Sky Pond is one of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park for good reason. This hike has a little bit of everything…waterfalls, alpine lakes, high mountain views, and fun river and stream crossings. To get to Sky Pond, you will rock scramble up a waterfall, which can be refreshing when the weather is […]

How to Hike Chasm Lake: Helpful Tips, Hiking Stats & Photos

Chasm Lake is one of the most spectacular lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. For the first part of the hike, you will walk the same trail as hikers on their way to Longs Peak, the highest point in the park. Once the trail splits, the hike gets a little easier and you are treated […]

How to Hike the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge, RMNP

The Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge is a wonderful, short, easy hike to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. For the entire hike, you are walking along the alpine tundra with unobstructed views of Longs Peak and Forest Canyon. If you are looking for an easy hike with spectacular views of Rocky Mountain Park, put […]

How to Hike the Continental Divide Trail to Mt Ida, RMNP

While hiking to Mt Ida, you really feel like you are walking on top of the world. For much of this hike you walk along the Continental Divide, so you have panoramic views across the park. It gets even better once you reach the summit of Mt Ida. From here, at an elevation of 12,899 […]

How to Hike to Gem Lake, RMNP (Trail Stats, Photos & Helpful Tips)

Gem Lake is a short but strenuous hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only do you get to visit a pretty lake but you also get sweeping views of Estes Park with Longs Peak in the distance. If you are looking for a short, family-friendly hike, and don’t mind a bit of a stair […]

Complete Guide to the Twin Sisters Peak Trail, RMNP

The Twin Sisters Peak trail, which crosses between Rocky Mountain National Park and the Roosevelt National Forest, offers 360° views from the top of the Twin Sisters Peaks. Since this hike is on the far eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, you get a panoramic view of the national park, with Longs Peak and […]

How to Hike Deer Mountain, RMNP | Helpful Tips, Trail Stats, Photos

Deer Mountain is one of the easier hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park that offers high mountain views. To get to the peak, it’s an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. You will get occasional glimpses of Longs Peak early on during the hike, but for the most part, you will have to […]

How to Hike Bear Lake to Odessa Lake and Fern Lake, RMNP

The hike to Odessa Lake and onward to Fern Lake is a relatively low-traffic trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Its nearby neighbors of Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Dream Lake get a lot more visitors, so if you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this […]

How Many Days Should You Spend in RMNP?

When To Visit Rocky Mountain National Park

If you want full access to the park, which includes driving Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, plan your visit for the summer and early fall, when these roads are typically open.

The summer months are the busiest months to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, but with warm temperatures and great weather, this is also one of the best times to go hiking.

Crowds can linger into autumn, as the leaves change color and pleasant weather continues to attract hikers.

Once the snow arrives, usually by mid to late autumn, crowds begin to diminish. Temperatures are low in the winter, but so are the crowds. This is a great time to explore Rocky Mountain National Park crowd-free and try out snowshoeing.

In the spring, warmer temperatures melt the snow and visitation picks up. Snow can linger on the higher trails into July, depending on snowfall levels for that year.

Rocky Mountain National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in FebruaryJuneSeptember, and October.

10 Best National Parks to Visit in February 2024 (USA)

Which are the best US national parks to visit in February? The answer to that question depends on whether or not you prefer a warm destination or if you want to explore a winter wonderland. Most of the parks on this list have you escaping the cold, wintry weather, with the exception of one beautiful […]

15 Best National Parks to Visit in June 2024 (USA)

The list of US national parks to visit in June is wonderfully long and diverse. Visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, go hiking in the Rocky Mountains, spend some time in the tranquil forests in Olympic and Sequoia National Parks, and explore one of the most underrated US national parks, Wrangell-St. Elias. About […]

12 Best National Parks to Visit in September 2024 (USA)

September is one of the best months of the year to visit the national parks. The weather is fantastic across much of the USA, the busy summer season is coming to an end, and, in some parks, you can see the first of the fall colors. In this guide, we list 12 of the best […]

13 Best National Parks to Visit in October 2024 (USA)

In October, fall colors sweep across much of the United States. The majority of the parks that you will see on this list are parks that are ablaze in fall colors. Some of these are obvious picks, such as Acadia and Shenandoah, but a few may surprise you. In this guide, we list 13 beautiful […]

Timed Entry Permit

To visit Rocky Mountain National Park from May 24 to October 20, 2024, you will need to reserve a permit in advance.

This has been implemented to limit crowds at the busiest sections of the park during the peak visitation season (the summer months). If you do not have a reservation, you will not be allowed to enter the park.

Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. Each daily reservation costs $2 per vehicle, which is in addition to the $25 daily entrance fee or $35 weekly entrance fee per vehicle. Learn more on the official National Park Service website. Or visit recreation.gov to make your reservation.

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