ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
“I have dropped into the very place I have been seeking…
…but in everything it exceeds all my dreams. The scenery is the most glorious I have ever seen, and is above us, around us, at every door.”
— ISABELLA BIRD (FULL ACCOUNT HERE)
Welcome to the Ultimate Rocky Mountain Trip Planning Guide
Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredible collection of some of the tallest and most majestic peaks in the country, embellished with sparkling lakes, rivers, and waterfalls.
Adventure through the fragile tundra wilderness that this park protects and celebrates, and enjoy the many varieties of wildlife and flora that have adapted to this amazing high-elevation landscape. It’s your turn to explore this phenomenal mountain paradise!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN AT-A-GLANCE
Location: Colorado
What It’s Famous For: Tall mountains, roaring waterfalls, and elk!
Highest Elevation You Can Reach by Road: 12,183 feet above sea level (Trail Ridge Road)
Established: January 26, 1915 — this is national park #9
Size: 265,807 acres — not too big and not too small.
Crowd Levels: High, with around 4.4 million visitors each year — this is the 5th busiest national park.
COMMON ROCKY MOUNTAIN TRIP PLANNING QUESTIONS
Where is Rocky Mountain, and how do I get there?
Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the middle of northern Colorado. It’s about 1.5 hours from Denver, CO, and 1 hour from Fort Collins, CO.
I suggest flying into Denver. In this article, I share details about the best airports and roads in the area.
Is Rocky Mountain open year-round?
Rocky Mountain is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to do everything you’re hoping to do.
Learn more about the weather, hours, and common closures that may affect your trip to the park.
How many days should I spend in Rocky Mountain?
You’ll want at least two full days in Rocky Mountain National Park, but if you have three, you’ll get to see a lot more!
See my recommendations for the amount of time to spend in the park, as well as how to split your time between multiple parks.
When is the best time to visit Rocky Mountain?
If you’re just getting started with your Rocky Mountain trip planning but are unsure of the best time to go, I’ve got you covered!
Here are my suggestions if you’re hoping to:
- Beat the crowds: October
- Travel during the summer: June
- See lots of wildlife: September
- Go backpacking: July or August
- Save money: October
- Have a unique adventure: December
This article provides a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect in Rocky — including information on weather, closures, crowds, and which points of interest will be open.
THINGS TO DO IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit
- Trail Ridge Road
- Emerald Lake
- Tundra Communities Trail
- Alberta Falls
- Forest Canyon Overlook
- Chasm Falls
- Holzwarth Historic Site
- Bierstadt Lake
- Alpine Visitor Center
- Coyote Valley Nature Trail
- Bear Lake
- Adams Falls
This popular article outlines each can’t-miss spot in Rocky Mountain in great detail. You’ll learn about the critical things you need to know about each stop, and driving directions are included.
The Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain:
IF YOU LOVE RANGER PROGRAMS
- Wildlife talks
- Evening campfire programs
- Holzwarth Historic Site
IN WINTER
- Snowshoeing
- Sledding
- Cross-country skiing
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HIKE
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Peak to Peak
IN A WHEELCHAIR
- Sprague Lake Trail
- Scenic drives
- Coyote Valley Trail
This massive list of things to do in Rocky Mountain will cover the travel needs of your entire group.
In addition to the items mentioned above, this post also includes high adventure activities, things to do with a dog, biking, things to do with kids, best hikes, and more. There’s something for everyone!
The Best Easy Hikes
Looking for good beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, or wheelchair-friendly trail options? This list details the best easy hikes in Rocky Mountain.
Dog-friendly Activities
Learn about all the places you can bring your dog in and around Rocky Mountain.
Emerald Lake Trail Guide
The Emerald Lake Trail takes you to three gorgeous alpine lakes in a short amount of time! Plus, you’ll have fantastic views of Longs Peak along the way.
Bear Safety 101
Rocky Mountain is bear country, so be sure to read up on best practices for avoiding bears, reacting to bears, and using bear spray!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ITINERARY
Do you LOVE to have a plan while traveling?
You’ve probably been spending a lot of time and money to make your trip possible. But don’t forget about the most important part — the day-to-day details!
When you get to Rocky Mountain, will you have all the information you need to confidently navigate around the park and avoid the crowds?
This hour-by-hour itinerary will make sure you see the best of the park — no more research needed!
LODGING IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Where Should I Stay?
This article provides information on the gateway towns and lodging options in the Rocky Mountain area.
All About Camping
Learn all about the campgrounds in Rocky Mountain and how to snag a site.
GETTING AROUND ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Cars
You can drive to all viewpoint and trailhead parking areas with your own car, but be advised that traffic jams are common! If you’d like some help planning your day so that you can get parking without having to circle parking lots, take a look at this itinerary.
Rocky Mountain does provide a free park shuttle in the busy Bear Lake area of the park. If you don’t want to drive your own vehicle to Bear Lake, you can catch the shuttle instead.
Oversized Vehicles
Rocky Mountain has narrow roads and small parking lots, so if you are in an oversized vehicle, you will often have a difficult time finding parking. In the middle of the day, it may be nearly impossible to find parking with a big vehicle, so definitely pack your patience!
The only road that is fully closed to RVs is the Old Fall River Road. You can drive an RV up and over the Trail Ridge Road if you are experienced in driving winding mountain roads.
I suggest taking the free park shuttle to access the Bear Lake Road if you’re in a large vehicle.
Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Rocky Mountain Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Thanks for using the Ultimate Rocky Mountain Trip Planning Guide
You may also be interested in one of these nearby national parks:
Yellowstone National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Disclosure: This Rocky Mountain Trip Planning Guide may contain affiliate links, which means that (at no extra cost to you) I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase. I don’t recommend anything that I don’t personally love and use myself! Thanks for your support. — Ash