9 miles, strenuous, 4 to 6 hours. 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. Also, if Longs Peak is on your list, watch the weather report for your visit. Hi Julie! With one day, I recommend going on a hike, starting at Bear Lake, and driving Trail Ridge Road (its awesome!). But even with a week here, there are still a lot of hikes left on our to-do list. The best places to have your questions answered is at one of the park visitor centers. For reference, my family will be traveling to all the Colorado national parks in late July for around two weeks. Moraine Park Museum has interactive geology exhibits. If driving Trail Ridge Road or Old Fall River Road is on the top of your list and you have limited time, you may want to enter the park via the Fall River Entrance on the parks east side. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. If you are an avid hiker, plan on spending at least three to five days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Should I spend my time on the east side or the west side of the park? Bear Lake Road runs into the heart of the park. Located on Highway 34, the gateway to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, the Quality Inn & Suites Loveland hotel is the perfect resting point for vacationing travelers. Alberta Falls: 2 miles, easy, 1 to 1.5 hours. Get updates on trail closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website. But one afternoon, they went until dinner, off and on. Park Access +:This permit gives you access to everything in Rocky Mountain National Park. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. We still had some snow in a few spots at the higher elevations. Rocky Mountains National Park June 2023 Dec 05, 2022. Mills Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. More about Trail Ridge Road's Season. We are going to put RMNP last so we have time to get used to the altitude, because we are from the East Coast. Look for that option at the intersection next to McDonald's on the east side of Estes Park. or are there better/rewarding hikes that i can sub in instead of the above listed ones? For now, the forecast does call for afternoon thunderstorms from what i can see on weather.com, It depends. This road will lead you all the way up to the Alpine Visitor Center and across the Continental Divide to Grand Lake. Yes, I know, I said no hiking today, but I couldnt resist adding this one in. Plenty of room, good WiFi, nice furnishings, and beautiful views from our balcony. The Mummy Mountain Range, Lumpy Ridge, and several hiking trails sit to the north of Trail Ridge Road. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For a full list of our Rocky Mountain National Park articles, plus important planning tips, check out our Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide. 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). Clicking on the photos on this page will open up a larger version. This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. With towering mountain peaks, alpine lakes and waterfalls, and the opportunity to hike along the Continental Divide, this park offers world-class hiking experiences. Along the way, there is a good chance that you will spot bighorn sheep and elk. This road opened in 1920 at it was the first road that led into Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. Autumn ushers in cooler days, smaller crowds, golden aspen and elk bugling. The Mummy Mountain Range, Lumpy Ridge, and several . This is our favorite hike in RMNP. Important Things to Know Before You Plan Your Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, When to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. The longer and harder the hike, the earlier you will have to start. Some visitors complain of noise and hot temperatures in the summer (there is no air conditioning). However, if Longs Peak is on your list, I recommend waiting one more day if you come from sea level. Have fun in RMNP! The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. You spend very little time below the tree line, so the views are incredible for most of the hike. On the way you'll pass the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on your right. Learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect day in Rocky Mountain National Park! I climbed 3 different volcanoes in 3days and it was lovely. And for FREE checklist of the US National Parks, take a look at our article US National Parks List. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Cheers, Julie. Trail Type: Out-and-back. If you do not have a reservation, you will not be allowed to enter the park. Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Forum, Best entrance to rocky mountain national park, Re: Best entrance to rocky mountain national park. On day two, as you are still acclimating to the altitude, I recommend one of these hikes: Deer Mountain. 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. Learn more on the official National Park Service website. Forest Canyon Overlook | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Rainbow Curve Overlook | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. You'll need to be prepared to pull over regularly to let cars pass that are coming the other way. Is RMNP a good place to visit for the elderly or those with limited mobility? 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. Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful place so we hope you have a wonderful time here. The Aspire rooms are higher-end, modernly decorated rooms but many people state that they are overpriced for what you get. Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado From May 25 through Oct. 22, you'll need what Rocky Mountain National Park calls a timed entry permit , aka a reservation, depending on what time of day . Grand Lake's bustling little downtown with its charming historic boardwalk is right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park's West Entrance. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. When the parking areas in Wild Basin are full, usually by 9am in the summer, vehicles will be turned away. $70. You will hike past Alberta Falls, wind around lovely Mills Lake, and end at Black Lake. 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 ). So, after Labor Day, you might have some of both (snow and crowds). If you have five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park (lucky you! This station, which is one mile west of the park's headquarters and Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, usually receives the highest volume of visitors. View from Mount Ida | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Answer (1 of 2): All of them them! This area is home to various trails, lakes, and wildlife. The park is much less crowded at this time, but Trail Ridge Road is not open and many, if not all, of the hiking trails can be snow covered. The Beaver Meadows Entrance was remodeled . Cheers, Julie. Plan on being at the trailhead by 7am (or earlier) if you want to park at the trailhead itself. However, this property gets rave reviews. 80517. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. 6. I recommend staying at The Residences. There will be people. See five lakes in one hike. When you visit Rocky Mountain National Park, you have several choices of which entry point to use. There are many things to do here. If you are planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. So, keep your fingers crossed for clear skies! 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. Cheers, Julie. Take a 0.4-mile detour to Lake Haiyaha for an added bonus. ), you can spend the mornings hiking and the afternoons relaxing in Estes Park or wherever you might be staying. Travelers favorites include #1 Trail Ridge Road, #2 Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and more. Ive lived down the hill and explored RMNP a lot for 44 years. Turn around and look for the trailhead on your left. Emerald and Dream Lakes are great but crowded. All passes are available at all park entrance stations. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of the most popular attractions in Colorado, drawing 4.5 million annual visitors to its 415 square miles of mountain beauty. The best entrance for Rocky Mountain National Park is Beaver Meadows Entrance or Fall River Entrance. There are two ticket types: Park Access + and Park Access. 4. 7.6 Good 275 reviews. 9. By fv1989. This is one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. Sky Pond. This short, strenuous hike offers sweeping views over Estes Park and out to Longs Peak and it ends at a very pretty alpine lake. This entrance gives you access to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake. Duration. Most people will be acclimated by this point, which means that you can hike almost any trail in the park. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. RMNP in February Dec 18, 2022. Approaching Moraine Park, the road winds through large open meadows where the elk love to congregate. This entrance station has three entry booths which helps traffic to enter more quickly; however, this also tends to be the busiest entrance station. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. We have visited Rocky Mountain National Park several times in the past. Visiting RMNP from Breckenridge regardless of which entrance you use is not ideal. 10. Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road, not only in Colorado, but also in the entire US national park system. Never been to park at all. This property is located west of Estes Park on Fall River Road, so you will have a longer drive to get into the heart of the park. This hike adds on Lake Haiyaha, another very pretty alpine lake. And if you hike fast, you should have no problem getting to all 3 lakes on Tuesday afternoon. Follow the three day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. Because the Wild Basin Entrance is about a 30-minute drive south of Estes Park on the parks east side, most of the parks visitors never even see the Wild Basin area. You can stay in a cozy cabin with a river view or a well-decorated suite. The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Wondering if there are differences between entering park through entrances by Estes park or better to enter park through grand lake? This is the best Timed Entry Permit for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road, recreate on the west side of the park, as well as access Longs Peak, Lily Lake, East Inlet, Wild Basin, and all other outlying areas of RMNP. If you are an avid hiker, I recommend spending five or more days in Rocky Mountain National Park. At an elevation of over 14,000 feet, guests will be in awe of the breathtaking craggy peaks and lush valleys. Dream Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Rocky Mountain National Park operates on a timed permit entry system during the summer (May to October), and entry to the park during every season requires a $30 vehicle entrance pass. I recommend hiking Longs Peak on the day with the clearest weather. The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. If you end at RMNP, you should not have any issues with altitude sickness, unless you hike Longs Peak on your first day here (but even that would be highly unlikely). If you plan to do a lot of hiking and drive Trail Ridge Road, plan on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park between Memorial Day and mid-October. Its a very short hike (just over a half-mile round trip), but it will literally take your breath away. Learn more here. Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. Ty in advance for your help as usual ! Three Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Four Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Five or More Days in Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary.