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The unparalleled beauty of the Rocky Mountains is on full display at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Overview of Rocky Mountain National Park
The song “America the Beautiful” makes reference to “purple mountain majesties”. My two days at Rocky Mountain National Park helped make sense of that line for me.
Rocky Mountain National Park, situated between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, encompasses 414.78 square miles (1,074.28 square kilometers). It contains the headwaters of the Colorado River, and the eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide run directly through the center of the park. Elevations range from from 7,860 to 14,259 feet (2,396 to 4,346 meters), with the highest point at Longs Peak, and 60 mountain peaks over 12,000 feet. You’ll also find about 450 miles (724 kilometers) of rivers and streams, 350 miles (563 kilometers) of trails, and 150 lakes.
Rocky Mountain National Park is rich in wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep, moose, mule deer, black bears, coyotes, foxes, cougars, and bobcats. Wolves, grizzly bears, and bison were extirpated from the area by the early 1900s.
History of Rocky Mountain National Park
Humans have been visiting the area that now makes up the park for at least 11,000 years. The Utes hunted in the area between the 11th and 13th centuries, the Apache in the 16th century, while the Northern Arapaho settled there in the 19th century. French fur trappers visited in the late 18th century followed by American fur trappers in the early 19th century.
Stephen Harriman Long (1784–1864) led the first expedition in the area in 1819, and on June 30, 1820, identified Longs Peak, which appeared on maps by 1825. Writer and mountain man Rufus Sage (1817–1893) is believed to be the first non-Native to enter Estes Park in September 1843, spending a month hunting in the area.
Estes Park became a tourist town in the 1870s, drawing visitors to the area for hunting, fishing, and scenery. Mining, ranching, and timber operations began around the same time. With an increase in tourism, several groups pushed to establish a national park to preserve the area natural beauty. Prominent leaders included Enos Mills (1870–1922) of Estes Park, James Grafton Rogers (1883–1971) of Denver, and J. Horace McFarland (1859–1948) of Pennsylvania.
After several years of hard work, they finally succeeded in 1915. The bill to establish the park passed Congress, and President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law on January 26 of that year. The park has expanded over the years.
Trail Ridge Road was built between 1929 and 1938, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) undertook several building projects during the Great Depression.
Planning Your Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park
The park makes an easy day trip from Denver or Boulder but to get the full effect of it, you should stay at least a few days. A drive down Trail Ridge Road or hiking in the vast wilderness of the park is an unforgettable experience.
Before getting into some of the trails and highlights of the park, here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip. Check the official website for more info:
Entrance Fees to Rocky Mountain National Park
The entrance fee to Rocky Mountain National Park varies depending on your mode of transportation. Prices are current as of February 2026:
- For private vehicles, it’s $35 for a 7-day pass and $30 for a 1-day pass.
- For motorcycles, it’s $30 for a 7-day pass and $25 for a 1-day pass. This admits up to two motorcycles with up to four total passengers.
- For visitors entering on bicycle or on foot, it’s $20 for a 7-day pass and $15 for a one-day pass. This applies to adults only — kids under 16 don’t pay an entrance fee.
- Non-US residents age 16+ must pay an additional $100 per-person fee IN ADDITION to the standard entrance fee, unless entering with a non-resident annual pass.
- Holders of any interagency pass are covered for one vehicle, up to two motorcycles, or up to four per-person fees.
The park is open year-round. Timed entry passes are required if visiting between late May and early October (as of February 2026).
- Standard timed entry reservations provide access to all areas of the park except the Bear Lake Road corridor. They’re required between the hours of 9am and 2pm daily. If you enter outside those hours, you don’t need a reservation.
- Timed entry + Bear Lake Road reservations provide access to the entire park. They’re required between the hours of 5am and 6pm daily. If you enter outside those hours, you don’t need a reservation.
Visitor Centers at Rocky Mountain National Park
There are five visitor centers and an information station in the park where you can get information on current conditions and ranger-guided programs. You can also learn about the geology and wildlife of the park .
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, the park headquarters, is just outside the Beaver Meadows entrance. It’s open year-round. You can watch the park movie and shop at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store.
- The Fall River Visitor Center is just before the Fall River entrance. It’s open year-round and features a Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store.
- Alpine Visitor Center, on Trail Ridge Road, is open during summer only. You can buy snacks and drinks there.
- The Kawuneeche Visitor Center, just outside the Grand Lake entrance, is open daily in summer and Wednesday through Sunday in winter. If features a gift shop and theatre.
- The Moraine Park Discovery Center is open during summer only. It has a gift shop along with historical and interpretive exhibits.
- The Sheep Lakes Information Station is open daily from mid-May to mid-August, while the parking lot and viewing area are open 24/7 year-round.
Campgrounds at Rocky Mountain National Park
You’ll find five developed campgrounds inside the park. All five are open during the summer while Moraine Park is open year-round. Outside the park, there’s plenty of lodging available in Estes Park and Grand Lake. Prices are current as of April 2025:
- Moraine Park Campground is near the Beaver Meadows entrance. There are 244 total sites, including 155 tent sites and 88 RV sites. It costs $35 per night for a standard campsite and $55 for a site with electric hookups. Reservations are required during the summer and it’s first-come, first-served during the winter.
- Glacier Basin Campground has 150 total sites, including 73 tent-only sites. Individual sites are $35 a night. Reservations are required.
- Longs Peak Campground has 26 tent-only sites at $30 per night. It’s open June through early September on a first-come, first-served basis. You have to pay for your site using the Recreation.gov App. There are no flushable toilets and you’ll have to bring your own drinkable water.
- Timber Creek Campground has 30 tent-only sites at $35 per night. Reservations are required.
- Aspenglen Campground has 52 sites at $30 per night, and reservations are required.
Moraine Park Campground
We stayed at Moraine Park Campground because it was located near most of the natural attractions we planned to see. We were happy with the facilities — the bathrooms were heated and kept clean, there was water near our tent site, and ice and firewood were available near the entrance. Bear boxes are provided but rangers also told us it’s possible to leave all food and cosmetics inside cars.
Bear Lake Road Shuttles
From late May through mid-October, shuttle buses run along Bear Lake Road, allowing for easy access to all the destinations and hiking trails.
- The Bear Lake Shuttle runs between the Park & Ride and Bear Lake, stopping at the Bierstadt Lake and Glacier Gorge Trailheads. Buses leave every 10–15 minutes from 6:30am and 7:30pm.
- The Moraine Park Shuttle runs between the Park & Ride and the Fern Lake Bus Stop, with stops at Sprague Lake, Glacier Basin and Moraine Park Campgrounds, Hollowell Park, Tuxedo Park, and the Cub Lake Trailhead.
- The Hiker Shuttle provides service from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride roughly every 30 minutes throughout the day. If you’re staying in Estes Park, this is a good option. Reservations cost $2 (as of February 2026), with up to four tickets per reservation. Tickets are not available in person and must be booked online. The shuttle runs daily from late May through August, and Saturdays and Sundays only from September through mid-October.
Activities at Rocky Mountain National Park
There’s an endless list of things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park. Fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, picnicking, horseback riding, wilderness overnight backpacking, wildlife viewing, snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing, and sledding are among the activities.
Weather at Rocky Mountain National Park
It’s good to expect the unexpected as far as weather. At the lower elevations we got by without a jacket but once we got up to the higher elevations along Trail Ridge Road, it got very cold and windy.
Also, be aware of the possibility of lightning. Lightning strikes are common from June through September. If you hear thunder or see lightning, take shelter indoors or in your car. High-risk areas include high terrain, near tall trees and objects, on the windward side of mountains, and on open water or near the water’s edge.
Lily Lake
If you’re driving in from Denver on the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, Lily Lake might be your first experience with Rocky Mountain National Park. This small, peaceful mountain lake on the east edge of the park has a couple of short trails and gorgeous scenery. The accessible Lily Lake Trail follows the perimeter of the lake for 0.9 miles (1.45 kilometers), while the 1.1-mile (1.77 kilometer) Lily Ridge Trail goes on a ridge above the lake for better views.
Bear Lake Road
On the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park is the popular Bear Lake Road. Along the 9.2-mile (14.8 kilometer) road you’ll find Sprague Lake and Bear Lake as well as several trailheads. Both lakes have short trails around them and great for wildlife viewing.
To make your trip hassle-free, I recommend taking advantage of the free shuttle service that runs along Bear Lake Road during the summer. It stops at all the attractions, trailheads, and campgrounds.
Tuxedo Park Picnic Area
After passing the Moraine Park Campground and Moraine Park Discovery Center, the first stop along Bear Lake Road is the Tuxedo Park Picnic Area. It’s a shaded picnic area next to a stream. You can also go fishing and access a short trail.
Hollowell Park
You can turn down another road that leads to Hollowell Park, where you’ll find a picnic area and a short easy trail that leaves from the parking lot.
Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake, past the Glacier Basin Campground, is named after Abner Sprague (1850–1943), who homesteaded there in 1874. In 1910, he and his wife Alberta opened a lodge for fishing, hunting, and dude ranching. When the area became part of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915, the lodge continued to serve guests as the Sprague Hotel. The lodge stood near today’s parking lot and operated until 1940.
The shallow lake has a 0.7-mile (1.1 kilometer) trail around it and offers opportunities for fishing. There are also great views of the some of the park’s peaks in the background.
I had an incredible up-close and personal encounter with some elk that crossed my path while I was walking around the lake. I was able to capture a few photos of the special moment.
Bierstadt Lake Trailhead
The Bierstadt Lake Trail is a 2.8-mile round-trip trail that starts a short drive after Sprague Lake. It leads to scenic Bierstadt Lake, which is named after artist Albert Bierstadt, who admired the lake in the 1870s. There are several other trails that lead to the lake, including from Bear Lake, Hollowell Park, and the Park & Ride at the Glacier Basin Campground parking lot.
Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead
At the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead, you can access several different destinations. Distances are listed one-way:
- Alberta Falls, 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 160 feet (49 meters)
- Mills Lake, 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 750 feet (229 meters)
- Black Lake, 5 miles (8 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 1,430 feet (436 meters)
- The Loch, 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 990 feet (302 meters)
- Sky Pond, 4.9 miles (7.8 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 1,710 feet (521 meters)
- Andrews Glacier, 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 2,510 feet (765 meters)
Bear Lake
Bear Lake, at the end of the road, sits at an elevation of 9,475 feet (2,888 meters). A ½-mile (800 meter) trail leads around the lake. Some accessible parts near the trailhead take you to excellent viewpoints.
You can access several attractions from the trailhead at Bear Lake. Distances are listed one-way:
- Nymph Lake, ½ mile (800 meters) with an elevation gain of 225 feet (69 meters)
- Dream Lake, 1.1 miles (2.7 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 425 feet (130 meters)
- Emerald Lake, 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 605 feet (184 meters)
- Lake Haiyaha, 2.1 miles (3.4 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 745 feet (227 meters)
- Bierstadt Lake, 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 255 feet (78 meters)
- Lake Helene, 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 1,215 feet (370 meters)
- Odessa Lake, 4.1 miles (6.6 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 1,215 feet (370 meters)
- Flattop Mountain, 4.4 miles (7 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 2,849 feet (868 meters)
Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road is a major highlight of Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the great scenic roads in the United States. This National Scenic Byway covers 48 miles of US 34 between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, reaching a high point of 12,183 feet.
The road is open during summer. It’s closed westbound at Many Parks Curve and eastbound at the Colorado River Trailhead, usually from after Labor Day to around Memorial Day.
The change in scenery is dramatic, going from pine forests to barren tundra and back to forests. With several places to stop and admire the scenery along the way, Trail Ridge Road is an excellent way to spend at least a full day in the park.
If you decide to travel along the road, expect a lot of traffic and limited parking in some areas — it’s the most popular activity in the entire park. Another thing to expect is some serious temperature changes. We went from short sleeves to sweatshirts in a matter of minutes.
For those who would like to get out of the car and stretch their legs, there are some great trails located at points along the road, along with places to stop with restrooms and picnic tables. Below I’ll explain most of the stops along the road from east to west.
Sheep Lakes
The first stop after the Fall River entrance is Sheep Lakes, where you’ll find the Sheep Lakes Information Station. The glacial lakes, named for the bighorn sheep that come down from the mountains to drink, are a great place for wildlife viewing. It’s an especially popular stop during the elk mating season.
Old Fall River Road
Next is the turn to Old Fall River Road. It opened in 1920 as the first auto route in Rocky Mountain National Park. The mostly gravel, one-way, uphill road runs for 11 miles before rejoining Trail Ridge Road at the Alpine Visitor Center. In addition to great scenery, Old Fall River Road passes trailheads, viewpoints, and the Endovalley Picnic Area. Like Trail Ridge Road, it’s closed during the winter.
West Horseshoe Park Pullout
At the West Horseshoe Park Pullout, there’s a parking lot with great views of Horseshoe Park. You can access the meadow from there as well, but keep in mind it’s often closed from May through October.
Upper Horseshoe Meadow Pullout
From here, you’ll get views of Horseshoe Park from above. It’s a great place to spot wildlife as well as admire the mountains of the Mummy Range.
Deer Ridge Junction
Deer Ridge Junction connects Trail Ridge Road (US 34) with US 36. At the parking lot you can access the Deer Mountain Trail, which is 6.2 miles (9.6 kilometers) round-trip and leads to the summit of Deer Mountain.
Beaver Ponds
At Beaver Ponds, you can take a short 0.2-mile (320 meter) round-trip walk on a boardwalk to a wetland where beaver dams once blocked the stream.
Hidden Valley
A short road off Trail Ridge Road leads to the parking lot for Hidden Valley, where there’s a ½-mile (800 meter) accessible natural trail and some picnic tables.
Many Parks Curve
Our first stop was Many Parks Curve, which offers sweeping views of the green meadows below. It’s called Many Parks Curve, because, first of all it’s located on a curve in the road.
Many Parks refers to the French word “parques”, which means “enclosures”. French-speaking trappers called the meadows “parques”, and as the name implies, you can see many from this point. You can also spot Longs Peak in the distance.
Rainbow Curve
Next is Rainbow Curve, named for the rainbows often seen there after rainstorms. Here, you’re able to see Horseshoe Park and the Mummy Range.
Ute Trailhead — Tombstone Ridge & Timberline Pass
A short drive up the road is the trailhead for the eastern portion of the Ute Trail. It’s an easy 4-mile (7.2 kilometer) round-trip hike to Tombstone Ridge and the Timberline Pass.
Forest Canyon Overlook
Continuing along Trail Ridge Road, you’ll reach the tree line and cross into the tundra. The next stop is Forest Canyon Overlook, where you can take a short trail to the viewpoint at 11,716 feet (3,571 meters).
Forest Canyon was formed by the erosion of a glacier 1,500 feet (457 meters) thick. You’ll also notice the stark contrast between the forest and tundra.
Some unexpected visitors made us stop the car right after leaving Forest Canyon Overlook. A family of bighorn sheep were passing through the area, grazing on the tundra grasses. It created a huge traffic jam and just about everyone stopped to take photos.
Rock Cut
Rock Cut is next. It’s just one of the many points where workers building the road between 1929 and 1933 had to blast through solid rock.
Tundra Communities Trail
It may look like a wasteland, but the tundra landscape is full of life. The 1.2-mile (1.93 kilometer) round-trip Tundra Communities Trail has interpretive panels along the way that explain how living organisms thrive in such harsh conditions. The parking lot and trailhead are just west of Rock Cut.
The trail starts at an elevation of 12,110 feet (3,691 meters) and gains 176 feet (53.6 meters) along the way. About ⅔ of the way through, you’ll see the Mushroom Rocks, formations composed of gneiss and silver plume granite. They were formed by erosion from both water and acids created by the lichens that grow on them. The trail ends at a rock formation, where you’ll turn around and head back to the parking lot.
Across the road from the Tundra Communities Trailhead are excellent views of the forest, an alpine lake, and some glaciers dotting the landscape.
Lava Cliffs
Lava Cliffs are the next stop heading west. Here, dark rock cliffs created by a violent explosion about 28 million years ago stick out from the rest of the scenery. Iceberg Lake is just below. On the other side of the road are views of a meadow and forest
Gore Range Overlook
After passing the highest point on the road at 12,183 feet (3,173 meters), you’ll come to the Gore Range Overlook. The Gore Range is named for Irish aristocrat Sir St. George Gore, 8th Baronet (1811–1878), who passed through on a notorious hunting expedition, led by legendary mountain man Jim Bridger (1804–1881), in 1854. He claimed to have killed to have killed more than 2,000 buffalo, 1,600 elk and deer and 100 bears, leaving the carcasses to rot. 133,000 acres of the Gore Range is complete wilderness set aside by Congress in 1976.
Alpine Visitor Center
The Alpine Visitor Center is roughly at the halfway point of Trail Ridge Road. It’s a good place to stop and catch your breath before continuing the rest of the drive. The visitor center has a seasonal snack bar and gift shop along with a trail and some exhibits. There are also some great views.
The visitor center features exhibits about the geology of the park and different species of wildlife that call Rocky Mountain National Park home. Migration patterns, hibernation, and coping with the harsh weather conditions are covered.
The Ute and later the Apache and Arapaho all settled in what is now Rocky Mountain National Park. You can learn about their stories, their connection to the wilderness, and how they lived off the land.
Alpine Ridge Trail
Just outside of the visitor center is the short Alpine Ridge Trail. It takes you to an elevation of 12,005 feet (3,659 meters) and offers 360° views.
At the top, you’ll see the effects of climate change on the park as explained through an interpretive panel. You’ll also get a great view of the visitor center.
Medicine Bow Curve
Downhill from the Alpine Visitor Center is Medicine Bow Curve. From this hairpin turn, you can see the Medicine Bow National Forest and Wyoming to the north. The Cache la Poudre River flows in the valley below.
Milner Pass
Milner Pass, on the Continental Divide, is at an elevation of 10,759 feet (3,279 meters). It’s named after T.J. Milner, an engineer who surveyed a potential railroad route over the pass that was never built. From there, you can admire the stunning Poudre Lake, which makes for an excellent photo opportunity, and access the lower section of the Ute Trail.
Lake Irene Picnic Area
A bit further down the road is the Lake Irene Picnic Area, where you can enjoy a ½-mile (800 meter) loop around peaceful Lake Irene. Wildflowers grow there during the summer.
Farview Curve
At Farview Curve, at an elevation of 10,120 feet (3,084 meters), you’ll get great views of the Never Summer Mountains and Kawuneeche Valley. The Never Summer Mountains are the only volcanic mountain range in Rocky Mountain National Park. The peaks were named by an expedition sponsored by the Colorado Mountain Club in 1914. Kawuneeche Valley means “valley of the coyote” in the Arapaho language.
Colorado River Trailhead
Heading west, Trail Ridge Road curves down the mountain around tight hairpin turns until it reaches the Colorado River Trailhead. It’s actually a network of trails that lead to various points of interest. A short ½-mile (800 meter) hike takes you to an early stretch of the mighty Colorado River, while hiking 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) gets you to the site of Lulu City, a mining town in the 1880s. You can also reach Grand Ditch and Little Yellowstone. The trailhead features a picnic area.
Timber Lake Trailhead
Across the street is the parking lot for the Timber Lake Trailhead and picnic area. A 4.8-mile (7.7 kilometer) one-way hike with a 2,060-foot (628 meter) elevation gain takes you to picturesque Timber Lake.
Beaver Creek Picnic Area
A bit further up the road is the Beaver Creek Picnic Area. It’s a scenic spot in the Kawuneeche Valley that’s also good for spotting elk.
Beaver Ponds Picnic Area
The Beaver Ponds Picnic Area features tables overlooking two large ponds. It’s good for birdwatching, with local birds such as white crown sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and yellow-rumped warblers often passing through.
Holzwarth Historic Site
The Holzwarth Historic Site is one of the more interesting stops along Trail Ridge Road. The easy ½-mile (800 meter) trail tells an interesting personal story of settlers in the Kawuneeche Valley before it became part of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1975.
The buildings at the site are open for tours daily from 9:30am to 2:30pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day. They’re closed the rest of the year, but you can still see them from the outside.
Fleshuts Cabin
The first part of the trail takes you past a miner’s cabin owned by homesteader Joseph Fleshuts. In 1902, he acquired 160 acres of land with the intent of living on it for at least five years. The cabin was abandoned in 1911 and Fleshuts was never heard from again.
Kawuneeche Valley
The next part of the trail goes through part of the Kawuneeche Valley. From 1929 to 1974, many cabins once part of the Never Summer Ranch once stood there. The cabins hosted guests from all over who came to the ranch to fish, hunt, and go horseback riding. They were part of the Holzwarth Homestead, which you’ll reach at the end of the trail.
The Kawuneeche Valley is a prime moose habitat. Moose were hunted out of the area by the early 1900s, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife reintroduced them in the late 1970s.
Colorado River
Continuing along the trail is a peaceful river. This is the Colorado River, which is born only 10 miles upstream. Looking at the water quietly flowing past makes it hard to believe that this same river flows through much of the incredible parkland in Utah before it cuts through the vast Grand Canyon.
Holzwarth Homestead
At the end of the trail you’ll find the Holzwarth Homestead. In 1917, German immigrants John and Sophie Holzwarth homesteaded this land, originally as ranchers, and in 1920, they built the Holzwarth Trout Lodge.
This vacation ranch consisted of about 11 buildings used as cabins, a taxidermy shop, and an icehouse. The Mama Cabin, built between 1917 and 1921, was where Sophie served up traditional German cuisine fused with western food.
Bowen–Baker Trailhead
The Bowen–Baker Trailhead provides access to the Baker Trail. It ends at Baker Pass, 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometers) one-way, with an elevation gain of 2,389 feet (728 meters). The trail is popular for cross-country skiers in winter, and the trailhead is near good fishing spots on the Colorado River. You’ll also find picnic tables there.
Coyote Valley Trail
The Coyote Valley Trail is a 1-mile (1.8 kilometer) round-trip accessible trail following the Colorado River. There’s also a nice picnic area near the trailhead.
Onahu Creek Trailhead
The Onahu Creek Trail can be done as a day hike on a loop with the Green Mountain and Tonahuto Trails. That would make for a 7.5-mile (12.2 kilometer) hike starting and ending at the trailhead.
Green Mountain Trailhead
When not combined on a loop with the Onahu Creek Trail, the Green Mountain Trail leads 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) one-way to Big Meadows.
Harbison Meadows Picnic Area
The last stop on Trail Ridge Road before the Grand Lake Entrance Station is the Harbison Meadows Picnic Area. Sisters Kitty and Annie Harbison homesteaded there in 1896, running a dairy ranch. Their foster daughter, Mame, sold the land to Rocky Mountain National Park in the 1930s.
Grand Lake Entrance Station
After the Grand Lake Entrance Station, the road continues to the Kawuneeche Visitor Center and into the town of Grand Lake.
East Inlet Trail
The East Inlet Trail is located on the east end of Grand Lake. The trail goes up into the forest for 7.8 miles (12.5 kilometers), with an elevation gain of 1,899 feet (579 meters) until it reaches Spirit Lake.
You can take the beginning of the trail about ¼ mile (400 meters) to Adams Falls, a nice little waterfall in the forest. It’s an easy hike with 79 feet (24 meters) of elevation gain.
