STEP THREE: Make Your Can’t-Miss List
>> What should I do while I’m here? <<
You made it to Step Three! Up until now, the steps have been pretty simple….but it’s time to dig into the nitty-gritty of trip planning.
Your task now is to decide what you want to see while you are in Rocky Mountain. This will likely involve several hours of planning and research.
Or…if you’d like to bypass this step, take a look at this Rocky Mountain Itinerary. I’ve already done all the hard work for you!
Now it’s time to get out your notes and laptop and get ready to research.
First, make a list of the things you absolutely don’t want to miss while you are in Rocky Mountain.
These are the big points of interest that initially piqued your interest in taking a trip to the park.
You may find the official NPS website and the Dirt In My Shoes Ultimate Guide to Rocky Mountain helpful for finding the can’t-miss spots.
If it’s your first time here, your list will probably include places like Bear Lake, the Trail Ridge Road, and Alberta Falls.
This list might also include wildlife viewing spots, activities you’d like to take part in, or restaurants you’re dying to try depending on your personal interests and priorities.
Second, make a list of things that would be nice to do or see if you’re able to fit them in.
Maybe you’re excited about the west side of the park, but you’re not sure if you’ll be able to spend much time in that area. Put those activities on this list.
Maybe you want to hike the some of the park’s longer trails, but you’re not sure if you’ll have time to do them. Put those hikes on this list.
Third, use the lists you made to group the activities together by region.
Take a look at the Rocky Mountain map and organize the things you want to do based on where they are located within the park.
For example, a few of the main regions in Rocky Mountain are Bear Lake and the Trail Ridge Road. Referring to this list of things you can’t miss, I’d lump Alberta Falls, Emerald Lake, and Bear Lake under the Bear Lake area. The Trail Ridge Road area would include the Forest Canyon Overlook and the Tundra Communities Trail….and so on.
It actually is possible to have a disastrous time in Rocky Mountain, which is why this step is so important to complete. Rocky is definitely not a place you just want to show up to without a good plan.
Don’t forget that I’ve already created a spectacular plan for you if you need some help completing this step.
It’s much easier to move forward with planning if you have a list of must-see’s organized together by region….and it sure will come in handy over the next two steps as we wrap up your Rocky Mountain plan.
That’s it for Step Three! Now on to Step Four, where you’ll learn all about the entrances and towns that surround the park.
Click NEXT to plan out your lodging.
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