The parking lot at the end of Bear Lake Road is large but from here, you have access to numerous popular trails in RMNP, so it also fills fast. Between the end of May through early October, you must reserve a permit to visit the park. Plus, this is a lesser known hike, so the trail gets a lower number of hikers than other hikes on this list. I hope you have a great time! It is located at 9,500 feet in a pine forest. If you are planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, this is a great place to start. Put your higher hikes in the second half of your RMNP visit and you should be fine. This route will lead you up past the Stanley Hotel. And bring a camera , its a beautiful park! To the north of the Beaver Meadows area, located on highway 34 approximately four miles west of Estes Park, is the Fall River Entrance Station. Timed Entry Ticket: Park Access (excludes Bear Lake Road Corridor) is sufficient unless you choose to hike to Fern and Odessa Lakes. From Loveland it's 30 miles (48 km) and 45 minutes by car to get to Estes Park. You can also see more travel itineraries on our Travel Itineraries page and our National Park Itineraries. Thank you! There are two options and option #1 (Bear Lake Road and the rest the park) is the best option since it gives you access to the entire park. Explore the exhibits at the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park Service. 9.8 miles, strenuous, 4.5 to 6.5 hours. From the summit you have a great view over Moraine Park and Longs Peak. Loch Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park, located in northern Colorado, encompasses an area of 416 square miles (265,769 acres). RMNP in February Dec 18, 2022. Keep your fingers crossed for clear afternoon skies. The Park's 415 square miles encompass a variety of alpine terrain, with at least 60 mountains exceeding 12,000 ft. Thats a great question! 1000 US Hwy 36, Estes Park, CO, 80517. This station is .25 miles north of the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley. Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. 94 within 3 miles. This is a well-rounded, well-written, and nicely illustrated summary for newbies. Youll be glad you did. , Tombstone Ridge | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. You wont find major grocery stores here, although you can drive 25 minutes to Granby and shop at the enormous City Market. Location: north-central Colorado. The Aspire rooms are higher-end, modernly decorated rooms but many people state that they are overpriced for what you get. The Loch. 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. Cheers, Julie. Since you will know your exact dates, I recommend making your reservations on July 1 so you get the permits for each day you will be in RMNP. In the winter months, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing top the list. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. Do we have others using the trails even in the mornings? You can stay in a cozy cabin with a river view or a well-decorated suite. See what else made the list! It may sound counterintuitive, but if you really want to see Rocky Mountain National Park hassle-free, leave your car behind. The Inn on Fall River & Fall River Cabins. Hike to one of the most popular waterfalls in RMNP. Our website uses cookies. Do you think August is a good time to visit RMNP? Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved continuous road in the United States, cuts through the park from the east to the west. Learn more on the official National Park Service website. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Bear Lake Corridor is one of the most popular areas in Rocky Mountain National Park for first-time visitors. Entrance tickets and fees. There is also a shuttle bus that runs from Denver International Airport straight to Estes Park. Youre itinerary is great, thanks for this! Inside the park, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy offers year-round seminars, guided fly-fishing, naturalist tours, hiking and photography classes. USA TRAVEL INSPIRATION:For more great ideas on where to go in the United States, check out our article Best USA Road Trips, which has 18 sample itineraries for your next big adventure. On the way you'll pass the Kawuneeche Visitor Center on your right. These are the only official entry stations into the park. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the other side of this entrance station you enter the meadows of the Kawuneeche Valley. 700 feet (213 m) elevation gain. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on Trail Ridge Road. How long does it take to drive Trail Ridge Road? 1000 US Hwy 36 Combine two of the above hikes into one great experience. I recommend wearing waterproof hiking shoes or boots (not running or walking shoes) so that you have good traction. Turn west onto Highway 84 (Wild Basin Road) and follow it for 0.4 miles to the Wild Basin entrance station. 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. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. After the trail split, the hike gets easier and the views of Longs Peak and the alpine landscape is jaw-dropping. Rocky Mountain National Park offers plenty of contrast from one season to the next. As one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Alberta Falls Trail is a must on any itinerary. Ah one for each day, got it Ty !! Bodies of Water. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. If you are looking for a relatively uncrowded trail with the chance to visit multiple alpine lakes, this is a nice hike to consider. Estes Park There are four main entrance stations to Rocky Mountain National Park. Get updates on trail closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website. For every hike that we list, you do not need an SUV or non-standard vehicle. I think its a good idea to have a basic plan of what you want to do while at RMNP but be flexible. Emerald Lake. The views from the overlooks are stunning. The best time for this Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary is from Memorial Day through mid-October, when Trail Ridge Road is open. 11 miles of this road is located in the alpine tundra, which is above the treeline. In order to see and do everything we list in this itinerary, plan on visiting the park when everything is open. If you have any questions about planning your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. Just be aware that this is also the busiest time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Aspenglen, Moraine Park, and Glacier Basin are the most popular campgrounds and these get reserved well in advance. Best nearby. But this is a strenuous hike and longer than your 8 mile cut-off. For example, if you hike Deer Mountain at 6 am, you do not need a permit. 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. 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 . Trailhead: Glacier Gorge (40.31053, -105.64033) Why we love it: This quiet winter hike avoids the Bear Lake throngs while still delivering the same stop-in-your-tracks alpine viewsincluding Longs Peakfor hardy snowshoers. Longs Peak, at 14,259 feet, is the only fourteener in the park. l plan on 7 days there. The last stretch to Wild Basin is a narrow, gravel road that becomes one lane in places, so it is not appropriate to bring your RV. To reserve a campsite at Elk Meadow Lodge & RV Park, call (970) 586-5342. 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. Cascade Cottages & Colorado Cottages. Driving distance from Denver: 1-2 hours. To see fall colors and the elk mating season, plan your visit from mid-September through mid-October. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. This family friendly hike is a great intro to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. They will ask to see your park pass and ID or offer you the opportunity to purchase one. Trail Ridge Road winds high into the Rockies, taking visitors into the treeless tundra. 9. Rocky Mountain National Park Fees. In the southeast corner of the park there is an entrance to the Wild Basin area. Rocky Mountain high means snow, ice, and thin air - in exchange for jaw-dropping beauty. How much is the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. Head to Grand Lake, a quaint, historic town surrounded on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park. What do you think about Deer Mtn, Mills Lake and Loch Vale [sp?]. Answer (1 of 2): All of them them! Timed Entry Ticket: You will need a Bear Lake Road Corridor + Full Park Access permit (Park Access +) if you plan to hike Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, or Mills and Black Lake. But it looks like you have some free time on Thursday and Friday afternoon in case an afternoon gets rained out earlier in the week. photo by Ladona Stork. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular natural parks featuring 76 mountains each over 10 thousand feet high. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: You can learn more about all of these hikes on our post, For full details on how to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, read our post, Two Day Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. 15 great hikes to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. [The vibe of Estes Park is very wild west mountain-like] [We passed at least 4 Saltwater Taffy shops on our way up the main street] [The Historic Park Theater] Estes Park is definitely worth checking out if you go through the Beaver Meadows entrance like we did. When does Trail Ridge Road close in the fall? 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 !!). Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. We have visited Rocky Mountain National Park several times in the past. Mills and Black Lake. I highly recommend this particular residence. Most of this hike is over 11,000 feet, in the alpine tundra, so its best to save this hike for when you are acclimated to the altitude. Cheers, Julie. We stayed in a 3-bedroom house, #402, and it was perfect. 3.4 miles, moderate, 2 to 3 hours. The road is well-graded and suitable for standard cars. miles of dramatic beauty, high rugged mountains, sparkling lakes, 350 miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. Kawuneeche Entrance. If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. If you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, it will be a busy day. From the Alpine Visitor Center, drive Alpine Ridge Road back to Estes Park. You spend very little time below the tree line, so the views are incredible for most of the hike. The Fall River entrance is 4 miles from Estes Park a wonderful little mountain town. 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. Emerald Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. About this Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Rocky Mountain National Park. How likely is someone to get altitude sickness at RMNP? Miles of trails: More than 355 miles along about 160 trails. 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). Rocky Mountain National Park is a special place any season, but fall brings out the best in the park. 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. 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). Take your pick from one, two, three, and four bedroom houses that come equipped with a full kitchen. 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 you are an avid hiker, dont miss the Gunnison Route, a trail that takes you from the rim to the Gunnison River. In a normal year, Rocky Mountain National Park attracts well over 4 million visitors to its 415 square miles that are home to 147 lakes, dozens of different mammals (bear, moose and bighorn sheep among them), 355 miles of hiking trails and the Continental Divide. The best places to have your questions answered is at one of the park visitor centers. Note: You do not need a 44 for this drive. This hiker shuttle take visitors to some of the most popular trails along Bear Lake Road. Sky Pond. If you are coming from sea level, you will feel the effects of the altitude as soon as you do anything strenuous. All offer bookstores and much printed information to supplement the knowledgeable staff. Quantity. The price for one way is just $55, but you can also book a round-trip shuttle for $95. The Kawuneeche entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located 2 miles north of Grand Lake on highway 34.