The Canadian Rockies include the Mackenzie and Selwyn mountains of the Yukon and Northwest Territories (sometimes called the Arctic Rockies) and the ranges of western Alberta and eastern British Columbia. The Northern Rockies include the Lewis and Bitterroot ranges of western Montana and northeastern Idaho.

This structural depression, known as the Rocky Mountain Geosyncline, eventually extended from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico and became a continuous seaway during the Cretaceous Period (about 145 to 66 million years ago).

The western margin of the Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies is marked by the Rocky Mountain Trench, a graben (downfaulted, straight, flat-bottomed valley) up to 3,000 feet (900 metres) deep and several miles wide that has been glaciated and partially filled with deposits from glacial meltwaters.

It includes the large Athabasca Glacier, which is nearly five miles long and about a mile wide. Glaciers in this ice field, while continuing to move, are thinning and retreating.

The Middle Rockies include the Bighorn and Wind River ranges in Wyoming, the Wasatch Range of southeastern Idaho and northern Utah, and the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah. the Absaroka Range, extending from northwestern Wyoming into Montana, serves as a link between the Northern and Middle Rockies.

Mountain building there resulted from compressional folding and high-angle faulting, except for the low-angle thrust-faulting in southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho. The granitic core of the anticlinal mountains often has been upfaulted, and many ranges are flanked by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (e.g., shales, siltstones, and sandstones) that have been eroded into hogback ridges.

Most mountain building in the Middle Rockies occurred during the Laramide Orogeny, but the mountains of the spectacular Teton Range attained their height less than 10 million years ago by moving more than 20,000 vertical feet relative to the floor of Jackson Hole along an east-dipping fault. The Bighorn, Wind River, and Uinta ranges all form sharp ridge lines that rise above surrounding basins.

These glaciers, however, are retreating fairly rapidly. Geologic events in the Middle Rockies strongly influenced the direction of stream courses.

This phenomenon resulted from superposition of the streams. The stream courses were initially established in the late Miocene Epoch (about 11.6 to 5.3 million years ago), when the basins were largely filled by deposits of Neogene and Paleogene age (i.e., about 2.6 to 66 million years old) that locally extended across lower segments of mountain axes.

The Yellowstone-Absaroka region of northwestern Wyoming is a distinctive subdivision of the Middle Rockies. A large magma chamber beneath the area has filled several times and caused the surface to bulge, only to then empty in a series of volcanic eruptions of basaltic and rhyolitic lava and ash.

The magma chamber is currently filling again, and the land surface in Yellowstone is rising or tilting a slight amount each year. The Southern Rockies include the Front Range and the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountains along the eastern slope and the Park, Gore, and Sawatch ranges and the San Juan Mountains along the western slope.

The Southern Rockies extend northward into southern Wyoming in three prongs: the Laramie and Medicine Bow mountains and the Sierra Madre. Only about 5,000 feet of sediment accumulated during middle Mesozoic times (about 200 to 150 million years ago) in the region now occupied by the Southern Rockies.

Some 10,000 vertical feet of the sedimentary rocks were then eroded. otherwise the Front Range would be approximately twice its present height.

The ranges of the Southern Rockies are higher than those of the Middle or Northern Rockies, with many peaks exceeding elevations of 14,000 feet. Colorado has 53 peaks over this elevation, the highest being Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range, which at 14,433 feet (4,399 metres) is the highest point in the Rockies.

River valleys have been deepened in the past two million years, first from the direct action of glacier ice and subsequently by glacial meltwaters. Looping, knife-edged moraines occur in most valleys, marking the downslope extent of past glaciations.

The uplifts in the Colorado Plateau are not as great as those elsewhere in the Rockies, and therefore less erosion has occurred. Precambrian rocks have been exposed only in the deepest canyons, such as the Grand Canyon.

The horizontal sedimentary rocks have been dissected by the Green and Colorado rivers and their tributaries into a network of deep canyons. Some of these canyons are deeply entrenched meanders, such as the dramatic Goosenecks section of the San Juan River near Mexican Hat, Utah, where erosion through the canyon walls separating opposite sides of a meandering river loop has created a natural bridge.

The canyon is up to 6,600 feet (2,000 metres) deep and exposes a remarkable sequence of sedimentary rocks. Weak rock types, such as shale and softer sandstone layers, form low-sloping benches, while more resistant rock types, such as limestone and harder sandstone layers, comprise cliff-forming units.

The headward erosion of streams into the plateau surface eventually isolates sections of the plateau into mesas, buttes, monuments, and spires. Bedrock that has been fractured into series of parallel joints can weather into high rock walls known as fins.

The same weathering processes on cliffs can create niches, which have been exploited by cliff-dwelling Native American cultures in the past. Four mountain groups—the La Sal, Henry, Abajo, and Carrizo—are notable.

These domes are called laccoliths, and each of these mountain massifs is made up of a group of laccoliths.

The geology of the Rocky Mountains is that of a discontinuous series of mountain ranges with distinct geological origins. Collectively these make up the Rocky Mountains, a mountain system that stretches from Northern British Columbia through central New Mexico and which is part of the great mountain system known as the North American Cordillera.

The rocky cores of the mountain ranges are, in most places, formed of pieces of continental crust that are over one billion years old. In the south, an older mountain range was formed 300 million years ago, then eroded away.

The Rocky Mountains took shape during an intense period of plate tectonic activity that resulted in much of the rugged landscape of the western North America. The Laramide orogeny, about 80–55 million years ago, was the last of the three episodes and was responsible for raising the Rocky Mountains.

The rocks in the Rocky Mountains were formed before the mountains were raised by tectonic forces. The oldest rock is Precambrian Wyoming craton that forms the core of the North American continent.

The Wyoming Craton mainly consists of two rock units: granitoid plutons (2.8–2.55 Ga) and gneiss and migmatite. The granitoid rocks are mainly potassic granite and were derived principally from reworked older (3.1–2.8 Ga) gneiss.

During the Paleoproterozoic, island-arc terrane associated with the Colorado orogeny accreted to the Wyoming Craton along the Cheyenne belt, a 500-km-wide belt of Proterozoic rocks named for Cheyenne, Wyoming. As a result of the collision, older, Archean rocks of the Wyoming craton were intensely deformed and metamorphosed for at least 75 km inboard from the suture, which is marked today by the Laramie Mountains.

In the Paleoproterozoic, terranes also accumulated on the west side of the Wyoming Craton, forming the Selway terrane in Idaho.

Both the anorthosite and granite transect the Cheyenne belt in the Laramide Mountains, and intrude crystalline rocks of the Wyoming province. These intrusions comprise the northernmost segment of a wide belt of 1.4 Ga granitic intrusions that occur throughout the Colorado orogen.

The breakup of the Rodinia supercontinent produced rifts between 900 million and 600 million years ago in the Neoproterozoic. These deep extensional basement faults filled with sediments, such as the Uinta rift basin and were reactivated more recently in Earth history by orogenies.

Twelve to 24 kilometers of basement rock eroded away.

In the southern Rocky Mountains, near present-day Colorado and New Mexico, the Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks were disturbed by mountain building approximately 300 Ma, during the Pennsylvanian. This mountain building produced the Ancestral Rocky Mountains.

They consisted largely of Precambrian metamorphic rock, forced upward through layers of the limestone laid down in the shallow sea. The mountains eroded throughout the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic, leaving extensive deposits of sedimentary rock.

Mesozoic deposition in the Rockies occurred in a mix of marine, transitional, and continental environments as local relative sea levels changed. By the close of the Mesozoic, 10,000 to 15,000 feet (3000 to 4500 m) of sediment accumulated in 15 recognized formations.

Terranes started to collide with the western edge of North America in the Mississippian age (approximately 350 million years ago), causing the Antler orogeny. During the last half of the Mesozoic Era, much of today’s California, British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington were added to North America.

Slivers of continental crust, carried along by subducting ocean plates, were swept into the subduction zone and scraped onto North America’s western edge.

Some are ancient island arcs, similar to Japan, Indonesia and the Aleutians. others are fragments of oceanic crust obducted onto the continental margin while others represent small isolated mid-oceanic islands.

Magma generated above the subducting slab rose into the North American continental crust about 200 to 300 miles (300 to 500 km) inland. Great arc-shaped volcanic mountain ranges, known as the Sierran Arc, grew as lava and ash spewed out of dozens of individual volcanoes.

For 270 million years, the effects of plate collisions were focused very near the edge of the North American plate boundary, far to the west of the Rocky Mountain region. It was not until 80 MA that these effects began to reach the Rockies.

The current Rocky Mountains were raised in the Laramide orogeny from between 80 and 55 Ma. For the Canadian Rockies, the mountain building is analogous to a rug being pushed on a hardwood floor: : 78 the rug bunches up and forms wrinkles (mountains).

: 78. Farther south, the growth of the Rocky Mountains in the United States is a geological puzzle.

Geologists continue to gather evidence to explain the rise of the Rockies so much farther inland. the answer most likely lies with the unusual subduction of the Farallon plate, or possibly due to the subduction of an oceanic plateau.

At a typical subduction zone, an oceanic plate typically sinks at a fairly steep angle, and a volcanic arc grows above the subducting plate. During the growth of the Rocky Mountains, the angle of the subducting plate may have been significantly flattened, moving the focus of melting and mountain building much farther inland than is normally expected.

Tremendous thrusts piled sheets of crust on top of each other, building the extraordinarily broad, high Rocky Mountain range.

Such sedimentary remnants were often tilted at steep angles along the flanks of the modern range. they are now visible in many places throughout the Rockies, and are prominently shown along the Dakota Hogback, an early Cretaceous sandstone formation that runs along the eastern flank of the modern Rockies.

Immediately after the Laramide orogeny, the Rockies were like Tibet: a high plateau, probably 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) above sea level. In the last 60 million years, erosion stripped away the high rocks, revealing the ancestral rocks beneath, and forming the current landscape of the Rockies.

Multiple periods of glaciation occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 million–12,000 years ago), finally receding in the Holocene Epoch (fewer than 11,000 years ago). The ice ages left their mark on the Rockies, forming extensive glacial landforms, such as U-shaped valleys and cirques.

Ninety percent of Yellowstone National Park was covered by ice during the Pinedale Glaciation. The little ice age was a period of glacial advance that lasted a few centuries from about 1550 to 1860.

All of the geological processes, above, have left a complex set of rocks exposed at the surface. For example, in the Rockies of Colorado, there is extensive granite and gneiss dating back to the Ancestral Rockies.

The Rocky Mountains, the Rockies for short, divide the western United States of America from the Great Plains.

The land is great for outdoor life, such as skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and road and mountain biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, horseback riding, and white water rafting in the summer.

The Canadian Rockies are located in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia north of the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho and Montana.

Generally speaking this area is rather rural and besides Denver, most places on this list might stretch your definition of “city”, especially if you are used to the cities on either coast, Europe or East Asia.

Ranging over 3,000 mi (4828 km) from British Columbia to New Mexico, and reach as high as 14,440 ft (4,401 m) above sea level (Mt Elbert in Colorado). For the past four centuries, visitors have come to encounter from the long flat plains in the east to the shocking and iconic wall of the Front Range just east of the continental divide—the Cheyenne aptly called the mountains, “Rock on the Horizon.”.

This is one hour earlier than the rest of the region.

The 1804-06 Lewis and Clark expedition charted the northern Rockies, and paved the way for the Oregon Trail from the 1840s and onwards, marking the beginning of the Wild West era.

The largest and most popular entry point into the region is Denver International Airport (DEN IATA), which is one of North America’s principal flight hubs and serves as a hub or focus city for Frontier, Southwest and United. Domestic flights to the other major cities in the region, like Cheyenne, Boise, Billings, or Jackson, should be easy to find from any American hub airport.

Amtrak has two daily routes that run through the Rocky Mountains. While trains can be more expensive than flying and only marginally faster than buses, these routes offer breathtaking views that you are unlikely to get elsewhere as well as perks such as more legroom or a couchette to sleep in.

Route 25 is the major north-south highway, leading up from New Mexico, while I-70, I-80, and I-90/94 are the major east-west highways. Be aware that passes do get closed due to inclement weather (snow) in winter months, in particular I-70 is prone to this.

Getting around the Rocky Mountains can be tough. Mountain passes freeze in the winter, as you might expect, and many roads are risky, if not impassable under heavy snow.

Flying is often a very good alternative in the winter, since Denver airport offers flights straight to ski slopes off in the mountains, as well as to virtually all the cities in the region.

Some of the most spectacular drives in the country are located here among the high mountains and endless wilderness. It can also be the only way to get to destinations off the beaten path, since, as you might expect, there’s not a lot of public transportation in this vast and lightly populated section of the country.

While the region very much grew around the railroad, today rail travel is even sparser than in the rest of the US. That said, the Denver area has a decent commuter rail / light rail system and there is the Winter Park Express during the skiing season right to the slopes of Winter Park (Colorado).

The sights here are not urban in the slightest. With the exception of Denver, there are no large cities.

Colorado boasts the highest overall elevation in the USA. Come here to admire the wildlife and spectacular vistas in the National Parks.

Black and Grizzly bears, wild cats, and buffalo are also found in the region.

Many old gold mine towns have transformed themselves into a tourist economy destination, with tours leading right down into old gold mines. The cowboy towns remain, however, and that way of life has not yet died out.

In addition, regional cultures including the indigenous Hispanic and American Indian populations, add long and proud heritages to the mix.

There’s wonderful hiking just about everywhere, from the ravines in the plains in the east, to canyons in the west, to the high mountain trails along the Rocky Mountains spine. Trails are managed by the National Park service, State Park services, and National Forest and Grasslands services.

Outside of the National Parks, it’s not even regulated—you can just drive into any national forest and pitch a tent wherever your fancy. Hunting and fishing is regulated heavily by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to protect local fauna from overhunting, but the activities are widely practiced, and you’ll have some beautiful areas in which to enjoy them.

The biggest draws to the region is the fantastic downhill winter sports. Ski resorts like Aspen and Vail rank among the world’s finest, and are priced accordingly.

The ski season in the Rockies starts early in the late Fall, and lasts long until the late Spring. The snow quality is magnificent, and the weather usually surprises with how warm it can be.

Sporting events are not quite so widely available as you would find in other parts of the country (simply because there are fewer big cities here), but Denver makes up for that, with a lively sports culture, and one great football team, the Denver Broncos.

You can find great food in the Rocky Mountains if you know where to look for it. Given the vastness of the region, fine dining is generally concentrated in urban areas like Denver, college towns like Laramie or Boulder, the fine old lodges in the most popular National Parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, as well as the end-destination ski resorts like Jackson Hole, Aspen, Telluride and Vail.

Throughout the countryside, you’ll be pretty much limited to small places with plenty of character, but also the same old dishes — hamburgers and steak are staples here. It is, however, a very good place to add elk and bison to the list of animals you have consumed.

Drinking, on the other hand, is a time honored activity in the Rockies, and it is done well. Colorado in particular is home to an enormous quantity of microbreweries, and you’ll never be in want of good local beer throughout the region.

You’re very unlikely to be the victim of crime in the Rockies, but you do need to be vigilant about safety in the wilderness. Don’t get too close to buffalo, who will charge your car if provoked (and the bulls could smash a car in two if they wanted).

The cold in the winter is the deadliest force around—-make certain that someone else knows where you are when you venture out, and when you plan to return. Always research the conditions in advance, and prepare for them adequately.

Lightning is the number one killer at high altitudes, and high country weather can change in less than 10 minutes.

Respect private property. If the sign reads no trespassing, it means no trespassing.

The Rockies don’t stop here, and there’s an extraordinary wealth of high mountain trekking opportunities just west in Utah. And to the north are the beautiful Canadian Rockies.

If you’re looking for more National Parks, but with a change of pace, head south into the Southwest for iconic red rock and desert parks.

Rocky Mountains.

citation.

Cool Fact 1) The Rocky Mountains, commonly known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range in western North America. 2) The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,830 km) from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States.

4) The Rocky Mountains are commonly defined as stretching from the Laird River in British Columbia south to the Rio Grande in New Mexico.

6) Highest point: Mount Elbert. 7) Passes: Independence Pass, Loveland Pass, South Pass, More.

Mount Robson.

citation:.

Cool Fact 1) Mount Robson is the most prominent mountain in North America’s Rocky Mountain range. it is also the highest point in the Canadian Rockies.

3) Mountain Range Rainbow Range (Canadian Rockies). 4) Elevation 3,954 m (12,972 ft).

6) 868 sq miles (2,249 km²)Mount Robson Provincial Park, Area.

The Rocky Mountains are some of the most distinctive mountain ranges in the United States. This expansive range is beautiful, huge, and one of the defining features of all land west of the Mississippi.

Let’s explore a bit more about this wonderful range and where the Rocky Mountains start and end. Beginning in the far north of Canada and ending in New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains measure 3,000 miles long.

The Rocky Mountains start in the northernmost part of western Canada and end in New Mexico in the southwestern United States. When people think of North American mountain ranges, two usually come to mind.

Although the two are both well known, the Rockies are significantly larger, taller, and longer than the Appalachians. The total length of the Rockies measures 3,000 miles in a straight line, with the average width of the range measuring 400 miles.

The southern terminus is located near the Albuquerque region, close to the Rio Grande Basin. The Rockies are a part of a large group of related mountains known as the North American Cordillera.

The Rockies formed around 50-80 million years ago. ©Pat Tr/Shutterstock.com.

Ranges that have been around for a long time are eroded and rounded (like the Appalachians). The modern-day Rockies formed around 50 to 80 million years ago during a geologic period known as the Laramide orogeny.

The Rockies were formed when a few plates began to slide under the large North American plate, causing the range to push up from the earth. Although the range has been around for longer than the human species has, humans have been living in the range for quite some time.

Denali is the tallest mountain in all of North America. ©iStock.com/SteveAllenPhoto.

There are three major ranges in the US, including the Rockies, the Appalachians, and the Sierra Nevadas. Of the three, the Rockies are the longest by quite a bit.

The tallest (non-major) mountain range in the United States is the Alaska Range, home to Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. The highest point in the Rockies is listed as 14,440 feet and is located on Mount Elbert in Colorado.

Each of the three tallest peaks is located within a smaller “subrange” within the Rockies known as the Sawatch Range. Additionally, all three of the peaks are found within Colorado, the state with 78 of the tallest 100 peaks in the country.

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. ©Vixit/Shutterstock.com.

The tallest mountain range in the world is the Himilayan Mountains. The famous peak of the Himalayas is Mount Everest, measuring 29,031.7 feet, nearly double that of the tallest peaks of the lower 48.

The longest mountain range in the world is only a short trip to the south of the Rockies. Located along the western coast of South America, the Andes is the longest mountain range in the entire world.

Additionally, the Andes are the second-tallest range in the world (with the Himalayas being number one). The Rockies are the second-longest range in the world.

Despite their 50 to 80 million years, the Rockies are actually among the newest ranges in the world. Currently, the oldest mountain range in the world is the Makhonjwa Mountains in South Africa, with some rocks dating to around 3.6 billion years ago.

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Rocky Mountains.

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The Rocky Mountains is the largest mountain system in North America. It spans several states in the United States, including much of Colorado.

Its eastern edge rises above the High Plains, beginning with the Front Range and rise high above the clouds towards the west. Discover more about the Rocky Mountains in Colorado with our guide below.

into the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, & Arizona. Its northern point is located in Canada at the Liard River valley in northern British Columbia, extending to its southern tip at the Albuquerque area adjacent to the Rio Grande Basin.

The angle of reduction was somewhat shallow, which resulted in a vast belt of mountains running through western North America. Further tectonic activity and erosion by glaciers eventually sculpted the Rockies into the striking peaks and valleys we have today.

They are popular tourist destinations for hiking, backpacking, biking, camping, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, skiing, and snowboarding. The Southern Rockies are what make up much of Colorado.

state that lies entirely above 3,000 feet in elevation, the mountain ranges in the Rockies are higher than those of the Middle or Northern Rockies, with 54 peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation. Of the 100 highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains, 78 (including the 30 highest) are located in Colorado.

There are eight sub-ranges within the Southern Rockies that make up Colorado’s mountainous landscape. Each is broken down below with highlights of each specific range.

It spans roughly 180 miles north to south, from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Pueblo, Colorado. From east to west, the Front Range runs approximately 97 miles across.

Its highest point is Grays Peak at 14,278 feet and is also the highest peak along the Continental Divide. Other important peaks within this range include Mount Blue Sky (14,265 feet), Pikes Peak (14,115 feet), and Longs Peak (14,259 feet) in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Highlights. The Front Range contains the major metropolitan areas of Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Fort Collins.

It also contains parts of Arapaho, Routt, Roosevelt, Pike, and Medicine Bow National Forests. The Park Range is located in the northwestern part of the Rockies, forming a somewhat isolated part of the Continental Divide.

Because of its steep rise out of the Yampa River basin, it receives heavy snowfalls throughout the year. In fact, it is the snowiest range in Colorado, getting over 500 inches of snow a year.

Sub-ranges include the Mosquito and Gore ranges, plus the Sierra Madres in Wyoming. The range can be crossed at its southern end by Rabbit Ears Pass (10,000 feet), US 40.

Highlights. The mountain range covers parts of the Pike, Arapaho, Routt, Medicine Bow, and the White River National Forests.

The Mosquito/Ten Mile range is a single range, with the south section of the Continental Divide called the Mosquito Range, and the north section is called the Ten Mile Range. The Mosquito Range is located in central Colorado and it extends approximately 50 miles from Buena Vista in the south to Frisco in the north.

It is home to five official mountains over 14,000 feet in elevation including, Mount Lincoln (14,286 feet), the highest in the range, Quandary Peak (14,271 feet), and mounts Bross (14,178 feet), Democrat (14,155 feet), and Sherman (14,043 feet). The Ten Mile Range begins at the town of Frisco in the north, to the neighboring town of Breckenridge.

Continuing south from Breckenridge, the Tenmile Range finds its terminus at Quandary Peak, the highest point. The distance from the summit of Peak 1 to the summit of Quandary Peak is almost ten miles – hence its name.

This sub-set of the Rockies contains the towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, Fairplay, South Park, Leadville, and Buena Vista. This range is home to some of the state’s top ski resorts including Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe, and Copper ski resorts.

The Gore Range is located in north-central Colorado ad extends roughly 60 miles northwest to southeast forming the southern part of the Park Range, from Rabbit Ears Pass to the Eagle River near Vail. The Colorado River runs through the range at Gore Canyon.

With no summits in the northern half, its southern portion is where beautiful rocky ridges and jagged peaks can be found, although there is no 14er that claims a home here. Mount Powell is the highest summit in the range coming in at 13,586 feet.

The range is traversed at its southern points by I-70 (Vail Pass at 10,662 feet) from Silverthorne to Vail. There is also Trough Road, a 24-mile scenic byway with both paved and unpaved sections.

Most of the range is found within the White River and Arapaho National Forests and large sections are protected by the Eagles Nest Wilderness. Town highlights include Frisco, Vail, Copper Mountain, and Silverthorne, where visitors will find the ski resorts of Copper Mountain and Vail Resorts.

Lying on the western side of the Continental Divide, the range rises almost 9,000 feet above the Roaring Fork Valley within the Gunnison National Forest. There are five official 14ers found in the Elk Range, being Pyramid Peak (14,025 feet), Maroon Peak (14,163 feet), Snowmass Mountain (14,099 feet), Capitol Peak (14,131 feet), and Castle Peak being the highest point in the range at 14,309 feet.

The range is not easily traversed by car (or by foot) with a few backroad passes and trails, including Pearl Pass, Schofield Pass, and Taylor Pass, all of which feature a challenging 4×4 road to cross. State Highway 133 traverse McClure Pass at 8,770 feet and is the only paved pass but also one of the steepest.

While the range consists of many prominent peaks, it is best known for its access to nearby ski areas of Crested Butte and Aspen. Much of the range is located within the White River and Gunnison National Forest, as well as the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and West Elk Wilderness.

The two iconic peaks, Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak both rise above 14,000 feet and are a popular starting point for the famous Four Pass Loop to Crested Butte. The Sawatch Range is found in central Colorado.

The range forms a part of the Continental Divide and contains 15 of the state’s 54 14ers. Its highest point is Mt Elbert at 14,433 feet and is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains.

Popular mountain passes traversing the range include Monarch Pass (11,312 feet), where travelers will find Monarch Ski Resort, plus two other paved passes – Independence (12,095 feet) and Cottonwood Passes (12,126 feet). Highlights.

It is home to the San Isabel and the White River National Forests. Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake are popular recreation areas, along with activities along the Arkansas River.

It runs southwest for roughly 150 miles from Ouray to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Spanning, nearly 500,000 acres, the Sann Juans are the largest mountain range in Colorado.

It is traversed by Wolf Creek Pass at 10,850 feet, Red Mountain Pass at 11,018 feet, and Molas Pass at 10,912 feet. T.

Article Overview: Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park you’ve come to the right place.

Situated in the heart of Colorado’s Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park spans more than 400 square miles of jaw-dropping mountain beauty.

Rocky Mountain embodies every aspect of “epic”.

Let me tell me you, Rocky Mountain National Park lives up to the hype. There is a caveat however.

Due to surging demand RMNP has instituted a timed-entry system.

If you plan to visit during a time between late October to late May, these rules does not apply to you and you may enter the park at your leisure. Always best to double check however prior to visiting in case of rule changes.

Option 1 is called Park Access with Bear Lake Road. This permit gives you the ability to access the very popular Bear Lake Road + the rest of the park.

Option 2 is called Park Access, No Bear Lake Road which, as it says in the name, includes access to everything in the park except for the Bear Lake Road corridor. For more information on the system you can check out the NPS Timed Entry page.

Rocky Mountain is one of the all too few national parks that offers an alternative transportation system. However, the shuttle is currently only doing park and ride along the Bear Lake Corridor and not from the Estes Park visitor Center.

For more information on the Rocky Mountain shuttle system check out the NPS shuttle page. $35 per vehicle.

Cell Service is not bad in the park, but as you get away from more developed areas around mountains and narrow gorges you’ll lose it. Best Guide Book is this one by our absolute favorite National Parks Guides creator of all time.

I recommend flying into Denver and driving into the park through Estes Park. Please note the timed entry system mentioned above.

And, in many cases the animals involved have to be euthanized.

Thankfully, owing to the layout of the park, we’re not talking about Yosemite or Zion level crowds. But in the summer this park is bursting at the seams with tourists and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a campsite or empty parking space.

With the hectic and cramped summer season over and kids back in school visitation to the park tapers off and access becomes much easier. The fall also provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities including elk rutting season which is incredible to watch and listen to at Rocky Mountain.

There are over 400 listed lodging options in the Estes Park but prices are known to soar during Summer. Here’s our favorite lodging option.

The road is 48 miles long and reaches a peak elevation of over 12,000 feet. 11 of the road’s 48 miles are above the tree line at over 11,500 feet high.

This road offers unparalleled, panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains which were are typically only available to the most adventurous backcountry backpackers. While you’re up there I highly recommend you check out the Alpine Visitor Center where the park service has some great exhibits and refreshments.

Situated at an elevation of 11,976 feet the Alpine Ridge Trail is one of the highest trails in North America. Starting at the Alpine Ridge Visitor Center the trail itself is a short, scenic walk amongst the peaks.

The road up to Alpine Ridge is perhaps even more epic than the trail itself boasting one of the highest, if not *the* highest in the contiguous US. Stretching your legs on this trail is a great way to experience the park at it’s high elevations and one of the unique aspects of Rocky Mountain.

This moderate hike starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead and follows Tyndall Creek via the Emerald Lake Trail all the way up to Emerald Lake. The first lake you’ll see is the smallest of the three, Nymph Lake, which is more like a pond.

Finally Emerald Lake appears at the 1.6 mile mark with steep walls all around. In the winter and early Spring this hike is completely buried in feet of snow.

To get the above photo of Emerald Lake I scrambled up the right side of the canyon to a high vantage after reaching the trail’s end. I do not recommend doing this as the rock is loose and the terrain is dangerous.

While that turned out to not be the case, it is almost guaranteed you will catch a glimpse of this majestic animal in the park. In the fall, you can witness and hear the park’s elk population perform their famous bugling calls during rutting season.

If you’ve got a wildlife lover in your party then elk spotting is a must on your list of things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake is one of my favorite places in the park to see a sunrise and one of the most popular things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The way the first light of the day hits Flat Top Mountain and moves down towards Bear Lake is breathtaking.

Once at the lake it may take a little time to find the perfect spot to soak it all in. Even if you don’t make it for sunrise, Bear Lake is a great addition to your list of things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park but be prepared for crowds later in the day.

The Bear Lake Hike is one of the most popular hikes in the park and very accessible. The trail features magnificent views of Flattop Mountain as well as the surrounding peaks.

From there hikers can take a leisurely.7 mile stroll around Bear Lake.

Bear Lake makes for a great and easy snowshoe trail in Rocky Mountain for the whole family. Alberta Falls is one of the easy, popular things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park.

To access the trail hikers must use the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead. The hike itself is relatively easy but follows uneven terrain and rock so take caution with small children and older folks.

The Alberta Falls Trail, like many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, follows a creek (in this case, Glacier Creek).

One of the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park is spend a night under the stars. The park is home to some wonderful campgrounds and as such, camping is one of my favorite things to do here.

In the fall, during elk rutting season, campers are routinely serenaded by the wild bugle calls of the elk. You can also here coyote howls as well making for a truly unique and memorable experience.

Odessa & Fern Lakes are two beautiful high alpine lakes located within Rocky Mountain National Park and on many folks list of favorite things to do. The hike to Odessa Lake & Fern Lake is a moderate to difficult hike in Rocky Mountain National Park ascending more than 1400 feet of elevation gain over 7.5 miles.

The trail itself is quite scenic with access to fishing in the lakes and sees a lot less traffic. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds on busier days then add this hike.

Post Summary: The Best Rocky Mountain Road Trip Route And Detailed Day-By-Day Itinerary. Road tripppp.

Chances are, you’ve heard of the Pacific Coast road trip, the ultimate Southwest road trip, or even just an incredible weekend trip down the 101 on an Oregon Coast itinerary. But what if you can’t make it all the way out west.

The Rocky Mountains. This massive mountain range stretches more than 3,000 miles from New Mexico all the way north to the most north part of British Columbia, Canada.

If you’re craving a good road trip, this post is exactly what you’re looking for. Packed out with 6-7 national park visits (you heard that right.

In this post, we’re breaking down each day of your adventure, and what you can do to make the most of those epic miles on the road. We’re also sharing some tips on extending your trip into Canada for even more attractions and beauty.

Let’s get started.

All opinions and ideas are completely our own. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for camera gear and equipment suggestions for the road.

So what exactly does a Rocky Mountain Road trip cover. Well, the Rockies is a mountain range that spans from its southern tip of New Mexico all the way north to Western British Columbia in Canada.

We wanted to create a route that toured the most popular national parks and iconic locations in the Rocky Mountains and experience it all in the span of one epic road trip.

A Rocky Mountain road trip can be perfectly catered to anything from a luxury trip to even a dirtbagging one. Lucky for you, we’ve got blog posts for both kinds of adventures.

Roughing It:. Exploring In Comfort:

Here, there are endless opportunities for hiking and exploring, and even more options for unique restaurants and shopping. Things To Do Around Boulder:

You can drive right to Estes Park from Denver, Colorado to get your road trip adventures started right away.

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in North Central Colorado and is full of amazing hikes, wildlife viewing opportunities, and gorgeous mountain views. It’s no wonder this park is one of the most popular places to elope in the US.

If you want to stay in the park, Estes Park is a great place to find hotels, cabins and other accommodations. If you dare, you can stay in the Stanley Hotel, which was the inspiration for Stephen King’s book The Shining.

Spooky cribs aside, this park has a little bit of everything. From lush valleys to unforgiving tundra, you can really cater your Rocky Mountain road trip to exactly your outdoor preferences.

Some highlights of the Rocky Mountain National Park include: Looking to escape the crowds.

Ask around at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center to inquire about recent wildlife spottings. Now is the time to head over to your next destination in the Rockies.

Below we’ve included two options to get from Colorado to Wyoming. The choice is up to you.

Most Scenic Route: (8-10 hours) – Have lots of time to spare. Drive through the Rocky Mountain tundra (aka Trail Ridge Road) and stop at the Alpine Visitors Center for incredible views and short hikes.

After a quick bout on I-80 in Wyoming, drive north on Highway 287 from Rawlins. This route will give you a grand welcome of the Tetons and allow you to drive down the 40 miles mountain range on Highway 191 on your way to Jackson, Wyoming.

Stop for lunch in Laramie, Wyoming and continue on I-80 west. Grab some dinner in Rock Springs, Wyoming and continue north on Highway 191.

Long road trips call for lots of entertainment. Here are some things to consider when having these long stints in the car:

The highest peak is the Grand Teton, sitting at 13,770 feet tall and it’s part of a fault-block range spanning 40 miles long. The best part.

Just make sure to keep your eyes on the road.

Camp at the iconic Jenny Lake Campground for tons of nearby outdoor activities and lake access. Open year-round, the Grand Tetons have something new each season.

Curious what it’s like in winter. Read about things to do in Grand Teton National Park during winter.

Spring and summer bring lush meadows and amazing alpine lake hikes. Fall and winter and definitely cooler in temperature, and provide some amazing colors and wildlife sightings in the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, WY.

Best Viewpoints In Grand Teton National Park: Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the United States, established on March 1st, 1872.

While the vast majority of the park is located in Wyoming (96%), there are a few sections in Montana (3%), and Idaho (1%), but the main attractions are located in Wyoming. Yellowstone is known for its unique geothermal activity, with some of the biggest attractions being geysers like Old Faithful, The Grand Prismatic and The Upper Geyser Basin.

There is a LEGAL way to soak in Yellowstone’s geothermal pools, and you can do it along the Boiling River.

Yellowstone is regarded as one of the United States’ most protected wildlife areas, with bison, elk, grizzly bears, and wolves (among so many other species. ) roaming wild in the park.

Make sure to bring a zoom lens and spot them from far away too. We like to use our Canon 100-400mm f/4.5 lens for maximum versatility.

Most Iconic Attractions In Yellowstone National Park: Read More: 31+ Amazing Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park (Itinerary + Map.

Now is the time to leave beautiful Wyoming and head over to the wild mountains of Montana.

Glacier Eastbound Highlights: Tired and broke on the road.

Not only is it unsafe for you, but dangerous for everyone else on the road as well.

There are endless stunning mountain views, crystal clear lakes, and tons of hikes in Glacier National Park to keep you busy.

Even better if you can extend your stay into a 7-day trip to Glacier. (We’ve got a downloadable itinerary for you here.

Summer is when the iconic Going-To-The-Sun Road is open, which is a 50-mile drive that connects East and West Glacier. Along the way, you can discover beautiful trails, alpine lakes, and hidden waterfalls.

Most Photogenic Places In Glacier National Park: Stay at nearby hotels in Kalispell, Montana for easy access to Glacier National Park.

It doesn’t have to. Consider driving north to see more of the Canadian side of this amazing and beautiful range.

Have a lot more time. Here’s the complete list on Parks in the Canadian Rockies.

Kalispell, Montana to Banff will bring you through the Canadian border, through little ski towns and into hot springs of British Columbia. You’ll drive north on the west side of the Rockies, and finally, make your way into the mountains to Banff.

Things To See Between Kalispell and Banff: Do you have bear spray.

You can’t bring it across the US-Canada border so unfortunately, you’ll have to leave it behind. Try donating it to a local Forest Ranger Station to let the volunteers and staff use them when maintaining the trails.

With gorgeous mountains, abundant wildlife, and lots of outdoor activities, there’s a little something for everyone. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Banff during the summer.

Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road, not only in Colorado, but also in the entire US national park system. For 48 miles, this road runs from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west.

It reaches its highest point at 12,183 feet. Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass.

Along the way, there is a good chance that you will spot bighorn sheep and elk. The views from the overlooks are stunning.

And you can also visit the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the USA.

Alpine Ridge Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Road | Best Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park. Important: Trail Ridge Road is typically open from Memorial Day through mid-October.

Get updated road conditions on the National Park Service website.

Make sure you bring extra layers, even during the summer months. On an early morning in July, it was only 34 degrees at the Alpine Visitor Center during our visit.

Tour site types: •State Parks •Federal Parks •Other Features (Click map to hide/show the physiographic province overlay.). The Southern Rocky Mountain province is a mountainous terrain that includes some of the highest peaks in New Mexico (e.g., Wheeler Peak at 13,161 ft.).

The Proterozoic rocks exposed in the cores of these uplifts preserve a remarkable record of the assembly of the North American continent 1.6 to 1.7 billion years ago.

The exhumed remnants of a Late Oligocene to Early Miocene caldera associated with the Latir volcanic field are exposed in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains northeast of Taos. This volcanic activity resulted in molybdenum and other mineralization near Questa.

Rocky Mountain National Park has two main gateway towns: Grand Lake and Estes Park. While both make for a great basecamp, how can you choose whether to stay on the west or east side of RMNP.

These two vacation hubs offer unique experiences. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when deciding:

The downtown area is charming, with a great selection of local restaurants and shops, and views of the surrounding peaks. The buildings all have wood or rustic exteriors, adding to the charm.

Grand Lake feels like an old resort community where people would “summer” at the lake, with rustic cabins tucked into the surrounding forest. The swim beach is a popular spot in the summer.

Estes Park is larger and has a lot more development, which can be good and bad. We have loved Estes Park each time we’ve visited, but it is more commercial than Grand Lake.

The large downtown shopping and dining area has a lot of offerings, with a riverwalk located along the banks of the Big Thompson/Fall River. The first time we visited Estes Park, I kept asking my husband if this was real.

Each time we visit Estes Park, we enjoy the selection of shops and local restaurants. You’ll find a lot to explore.

RMNP is a large park with several entrance stations. Grand Lake is home to the primary western entrance.

When heading into the park, you may encounter more traffic at the Beaver Meadows entrance.

During our recent visits, you could enter in the afternoon without reservations, and a line would form right at that opening time.

Though the small town of Grand Lake can swell with visitors during the day, it is less busy than Estes Park. We also never noticed people waiting at the gates in Grand Lake, like we had on the east side.

Many of the main hikes and well-know sites sit on the eastern side of RMNP. You can tell by this park map where the main attractions are located, and they truly are clustered more on the east.

(More on this in a future post). Reaching the popular east side attractions from the west side involves traversing the Trail Ridge Road.

and reaches an elevation of 12,000 feet. While the road doesn’t have terrifying drop offs or rough switchbacks (in my opinion), it can make some drivers and passengers nervous.

Plus, Trail Ridge Road is a very busy roadway during peak season. If you stay on the west side, plan to spend well over an hour driving to reach the eastern attractions, due to the traffic as much as the length of the drive.

Even if you don’t use Trail Ridge Road to traverse the park, make sure you spend a day doing the full drive, as it is spectacular.

You’re also more likely to see larger elk herds. Despite our many visits to the mountains, I had never seen any moose until we stayed at River Run and drove in and out of the west gate.

You may also spot them in the town of Grand Lake on occasion. So, if spotting moose is on your bucket list, the west side wins this battle.

We have not camped inside of RMNP, so I can’t particularly comment on the campgrounds IN the park. The parks inside RMNP do not have electric hookups, so that has been a no-go for us so far.

Estes Park definitely has more private campground options, with a KOA, Jellystone, and several non-chain campgrounds. None has over-the-top great reviews, with each having some major benefits and drawbacks (some don’t have great customer service, others don’t have cell signals, some are very tightly packed).

During our 2020 visit, we stayed at Mary’s Lake Campground, which is a public option with hookups. It was a great basecamp for us (check out my review on The RV Atlas).

The Winding River Resort is right outside the park gates, and it is beautiful. It feels like a public campground, but it has private-park amenities, with some sites offering hookups and lots of fun onsite activities.

Further from the park gate is River Run RV Resort, which is a wonderful resort-style option (full review here) that is great for families. It’s more of a drive to the park gates, so it may not be best if you plan to drive in and out of RMNP a lot.

Obviously, both sides are remarkably beautiful, but I had been afraid to stay on the west side because I had heard it had been more ravaged by the pine beetle infestation, which destroys the pine trees. By the time of our 2021 trip, I would say some swaths of pines were hit hard in various areas of the park, not necessarily just on the west.

As you head into RMNP from Grand Lake, you will go through areas destroyed by the fire. It’s sad and eerie, but you soon move into healthy areas of the park, and they are truly spectacular.

If you plan to spend several days touring RMNP, you might prefer Estes Park as a base. It does offer easier access to the main areas of the park, and it has a lot of options.

If you stay on the west side, you have a long drive to reach those. However, I think the campgrounds on the western side are better and probably easier to book.

If you want the best of both worlds, divide your trip and stay on both sides. If you do this, you *can* tow across Trail Ridge Road, but you might not love the experience, as there are some areas that would be white-knuckle with a trailer or large motorhome, plus you can experience high winds and winter precip.

Or, for the best of both worlds, return to the Rockies again and again like we have done, so you can fully experience all sides of the park.

The Rocky Mountain Front is a somewhat unified geologic and ecosystem area in North America where the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains meet the plains. In 1983, the Bureau of Land Management called the Rocky Mountain Front “a nationally significant area because of its high wildlife, recreation, and scenic values”.

Although the Rocky Mountain Front is clearly distinct from both plains and mountains, in places like the Wyoming Basin, Montana, and New Mexico it is more ambiguous. One definition of the front is that it is a “transition zone between the Rocky Mountains and the mixed grass prairie..

By one estimate there are more than 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km2) of Rocky Mountain Front land in Montana and Canada.

Warm air masses moving from the Gulf of Mexico are blocked by the front from moving west, causing hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other kinds of violent weather which then move east. “Tornado Alley”, that part of the Great Plains where tornadoes are most frequent, is a direct outcome of the front’s effect on weather.

In Alberta, the Rocky Mountain Front is about 12 to 19 miles (19 to 31 km) wide.

As of 2013, about 60 percent of all Canadian coal reserves are believed to be beneath the front in Alberta. Natural gas is also very plentiful.

The Pincher Creek Gas Field can produce up to 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, and in the 1960s Shell Oil built a second sweetening plant near Waterton Lakes National Park.

Development along the front is somewhat limited. In the 1940s, planners considered building the Alaska Highway along the Rocky Mountain Front in British Columbia and Alberta but ultimately decided on a coastal route.

The Rocky Mountain Front in Montana from the Canada–US border south to about Helena is heavily deformed by faulting, folding, and overthrusting. During the Sevier orogeny mountain-building event about 115 and 55 million years ago, what is known as the Cordilleran foreland thrust-and-fold event occurred along the east side of the Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana.

Instead, it cuts west above Three Forks continues south—crossing the Snake River Plain and skirting the west side of the Colorado Plateau before cutting west again to enter California. Although most of this mountain-building has since been obliterated by additional orogeny and volcanic activity, most of it still exists in northwestern Montana.

Much of this part of the front, including the Lewis Range and Livingston Range, has suffered heavy glaciation.

But professors Tony Prato and Dan Fagre define the front in Montana as being 50 miles (80 km) wide and 200 miles (320 km) long.

The spectacular scenery also led to the creation of a number of guest ranches in the area, and some of the state’s best-known guest ranches are near Choteau and Augusta.

The front forms the eastern boundary of what is called the “Crown of the Continent Ecosystem”. This area of Montana is prime habitat for wildlife, including the black bear, cougar, deer, elk, grizzly bear, lynx, moose, wolf, and wolverine.

Extensive numbers of prairie rattlesnake are also found there.

By the early 2000s, there were estimates of as much as 2.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas below the front in Montana, although only 200 billion cubic feet was available on leasable land. By 2003, much of the Rocky Mountain Front in the state consisted of land owned by the U.S.

By one count, BLM alone managed 13,000 acres (53 km2) of land on the Rocky Mountain Front in the state. Beginning in 2001, petroleum exploration was banned for a six-year period on Forest Service land in the front.

Conservationists have actively worked to protect the region from energy exploration.

(The other is northwest Montana, as noted above.). The Rocky Mountain Front in Wyoming is believed to have extensive oil and natural gas reserves.

This led to extensive litigation and changes in federal land use regulations.

Peaks within the front include Pikes Peak, Mount Blue Sky, and Longs Peak. Just east of the Rocky Mountain Front is the Colorado Piedmont, and within the Piedmont is the most heavily urbanized part of the United States between Chicago and the West Coast.

The Rocky Mountain Front forms the eastern boundary of a triangular area of volcanic activity centered on western Colorado. Several sandstone horizons underlie the Colorado Rocky Mountain Front as well, and decline steeply to the east.

“The Rocky Mountain Front” is the title of an essay by noted Montana author A. B.

It first appeared in Montana, The Magazine of Western History in 1987.

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Early American explorers saw them as a fortress wall to overcome in search of better prospects out west. today they continue to divide the continent between the (still) wild and generally less developed west and the agricultural stretches of the Great Plains, Midwest, and Atlantic coast.

It takes about 90 minutes to reach Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver, making it highly accessible and perfect for those in Denver or those passing through who love the great outdoors. I’ve visited Rocky Mountain National Park a few times.

It’s one of those great parks that give you a chance to get out and explore. that’s probably why it’s so popular during the summer months.

If you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, here’s how to spend it. In this post, I promote travel to a national park that is the traditional lands of the Cheyenne and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) peoples.

To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land. This post was originally published in April 2021, and was updated most recently in November 2023.

Before jumping into my suggested itinerary for one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, I want to go over some of the basics and logistics. I find answering these questions in advance helps you have an awesome, hiccup-free trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Since you only have one day at Rocky Mountain National Park, you won’t have time to visit all of the different regions. For this itinerary, you’ll spend most of your time in the East Region with short stops in the North, Alpine, and West Regions.

You’ll either need to pay an entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass to enter. Here are your options:

Starting back in 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park instituted a (free) timed entry permit system. this system runs each summer (usually late May to late October).

Details for 2024 haven’t been announced yet, but you should bookmark this page if you’re planning to visit during that season and keep an eye on it. Timed entry passes are available on Recreation.gov once details are released.

This winding road connects the two main entrances of the park (Estes Park and Grand Lake) and makes its way through four of the five regions in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is important to note that sections of Trail Ridge Road are closed during the winter for safety reasons.

As for the parking situation, you should be able to find parking spots at all of your stops, unless you visit on the busiest days, such as the weekends in the summer and fall. If you are planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park on a summer weekend, be sure to arrive early so you can take full advantage of the park instead of wasting time trying to find a parking spot.

If you only have one day at Rocky Mountain National Park, you’re going to want to wake up early to make the most of your day. And don’t worry, the early wake-up call will be worth it, thanks to the stunning sunrise over Sprague Lake.

First, you can simply walk a short distance on the Sprague Lake Trail until you find the best view of the sunrise. As an alternative, you can hike the entire 0.9 miles around the perimeter of the lake to see this natural wonder from all angles.

If there’s one thing that you must do during your one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s hike. There are over 300 miles of hiking trails within the park to choose from.

While on this 3.6-mile trail, there are so many things to see, making it one of the most popular hikes in the park. You can see a glacier, towering mountain peaks, and of course the three stunning lakes.

To loop around Bear Lake, you’ll need to hike an additional 0.6 miles. And if you add Lake Haiyaha to your route, you’ll end up hiking an additional two miles.

Estes Park is a popular outdoor destination, but it’s also well-known for the Stanley Hotel – which is supposedly haunted and inspired the Stanley Kubrick film The Shining. A few of the best restaurants in town include Seasoned, Bird & Jim, Ed’s Cantina & Grill, and Mama Rose’s Restaurant.

This 48-mile scenic road connects Estes Park to Grand Lake – and you’ll be driving on it for the rest of your day in Rocky Mountain National Park. But don’t worry you’ll be making loads of worthwhile stops.

While on the Trail Ridge Road, you’ll climb an additional 4,000 feet in altitude. To help you acclimate, be sure to stay hydrated during the drive.

At nearly 12,000 feet high, the Alpine Visitor Center holds the special title of being the highest visitor center in the U.S. While there, you can learn about the alpine tundra ecosystem, find out more about the Trail Ridge Road, and maybe even buy a souvenir.

Kawuneeche Valley offers a little something different. Located at the end of Trail Ridge Road, Kawuneeche Valley is known for its abundant wildlife.

It is important to note that you won’t see all of the animals year-round. Most of the animals like to pop into Kawuneeche Valley for just a few months out of the year.

While this isn’t technically part of Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s a great place to admire the lake views, take a stroll along the boardwalk, or grab an early dinner. A few of the best places to eat in Grand Lake include Grand Lake Lodge Restaurant, Sagebrush BBQ & Grill, and Grand Pizza.

Your first stop is Forest Canyon Overlook. There are a few places to catch the sunset in Rocky Mountain National Park, but Forest Canyon Overlook is one of my favorites.

I highly recommend staying 15 to 30 minutes after sunset, as that’s when the beautiful colors really start to come to life. Forest Canyon Overlook is about halfway back to Estes Park on the Trail Ridge Road.

After the sun has set, Trail Ridge Road becomes the perfect place to go stargazing. thousands of stars dot the night sky.

If not, you can simply admire the magical sky as you head back to your home away from home in Estes Park. Since Rocky Mountain National Park has two entrances, Estes Park and Grand Lake, you have two options for where to stay.

A few of the best accommodations in Estes Park include The Stanley Hotel (from $350/night), The Estes Park Resort (from $230/night), and The Maxwell Inn (from $110/night). But if you’d prefer to stay in Grand Lake, a few of the best accommodations there include The Historic Rapids Lodge (adults only, from $135/night) and the Grand Lake Lodge (from $105/night).

There are five campgrounds in this national park, although most are only open in the summer. These include the Aspen Glen, Glacier Basin, Longs Peak, and Timber Creek Campgrounds.

Jess and I recently visited Colorado, which was my first visit to this wonderfully mountainous part of the US. We were primarily there to attend a travel influencers conference, but we tacked on a few days to do a bit of sight-seeing, starting off in the capital of Denver, where I watched my first ever baseball game, after which we headed out to explore some of those incredible mountains.

Home to 72 peaks higher than 12,000ft, and set in over 400 square miles of wilderness, this park seemed like the logical place for us to spend a couple of days exploring.

This is just a few miles from the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance, and has shops, hotels and restaurants, as well as a few attractions of it’s own, most notably the Stanley Hotel where we stayed. This grand hotel was where Stephen King stayed in 1974 and had the inspiration for “The Shining” novel – today it’s a very popular place to both visit and stay, and Jess has done a full write up of our experience staying at the Stanley.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a big place, with over 350 miles of trails. It’s also quite a busy park, especially in summer – in 2015 it was the third most visited park in the USA.

If you’re coming in from Estes Park, as we were, a great place to start is the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, which is just outside the park. Here the friendly and knowledgeable park rangers can give you plenty of advice on weather conditions, hiking trails – and even the best spots to photograph sunrise and sunset.

Depending on the time of year and the weather, the first thing I suggest you do is to drive: This 48 mile long road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, with a maximum elevation of 12,183ft – well above the treeline.

It’s open between May and October, although conditions can cause it to be closed temporarily even in those times. We recommend doing the first 18 miles or so of the road at least, from where it starts just inside the park up to just beyond the Alpine Visitor Centre.

Some of the best places to safely stop along the route are below. These are in order from entering the park at the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, and all have well marked parking areas.

I’ve put photos from each in order below, to give you some idea of what to expect. We didn’t have the best weather for our Trail Ridge Road drive, experiencing everything from sunshine to lightning, thunder and snow in our two hour adventure, but the views were definitely still worth it.

Many Parks Curve Overlook. The first stopping point as you come up Trail Ridge Road, you’ll find the main parking point for Many Parks Curve Overlook a little way past the curve itself (it’s well marked).

From here you get sweeping panoramic views across much of the south and eastern parts park, all the way back to Estes Park town and up to the mountains, including a view of Longs Peak. You’re also still well inside the tree line, so the photos are nice and green.

From here you can also sneak a nice view of the Alluvial fan, pictured above. More on that shortly.

Four miles further up from Many Curves overlook, you’ll gain another 1000ft or so in elevation. Time to stop at Rainbow Curve, which gives you a great view in a slightly different direction to Many Parks Curve, out towards the northern part of the park, as well as across Sheep Lakes and to the east.

Again, some lovely photography opportunities from up here, including back down along the section of Trail Ridge Road you’ve been travelling on:.

Forest canyon Overlook. Back on the road, and it’s just shy of three miles to the next stop, Forest Canyon Overlook.

At just shy of 12,000ft, Forest Canyon overlook is really high, and you’re going to feel on top of the world when you get here. When we visited in late May, there was still lots of snow up here (and the temperature was hovering around freezing), but the views were still excellent, despite the clouds.

From Forest Canyon overlook you get a great view down into Forest Canyon, as well as various mountain peaks, including Mount Ida, on the continental divide. Lava Cliffs Overlook.

Here you’ll get a view of this large wall of solidified volcanic ash, left here around 25 million years ago from a nearby volcanic eruption.

Gore Range Overlook. A mile from Lava Cliffs Overlook, passing the Trail Ridge Summit, and you arrive at Gore Range Overlook.

As you can see, we had somewhat variable weather, but the views made stopping worth it nonetheless.

Medicine Bow Overlook. Beyond this point on the road, the elevation drops, and you head down to the town of Grand Lake.

However, if you’re on a limited timetable, this is a great half way point to stop, giving you time to see more of the rest of the park.

Alpine Visitor Centre. Originally built in 1936 (and with various renovations over the years), the Alpine Visitor Centre (open seasonably) is well worth a visit as part of your Rocky Mountain National Park experience.

There are also restrooms and staff on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Depending on your timing, you may have a bit more time to spare. My suggestion would be to head to a couple of attractions that are just off the Trail Ridge Road.

There’s also a viewpoint on the way down the Fall River Road, a little way before west horseshoe park, that is worth stopping at, for views like this:.

This is a steep and winding one way road that was the first route up to the high country when it opened in 1920. It has very limited opening due to weather conditions, but if you want an alternative route up to the high country and are confident in your dirt road driving abilities, this can be a fun way up to the top of the mountains – with the return journey back down Trail River Road.

However, for the purposes of this guide, we’re not going to go all the way up Old Fall River Road – instead we’re just going to drive along it a few hundred yards on the paved section, to the parking area for the Alluvial Fan. From this parking area it’s a short, relatively easy hike to Roaring River, where you can see the Alluvial Fan.

When the water reached Horseshoe Park, it spread out, and left behind the alluvial fan of debris that can be seen today.

From here you have about the best chance in the park to see the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, a truly impressive sheep species that is notable for its agility, as well as having enormous horns. Be sure to keep your distance from the sheep and any other animals here, they are wild animals and this is their home.

The reason you are likely to see them in this area is because they come down here to graze, and eat the soil from “Sheep Lake”, which is high in nutrients.

For the best times to see these sheep, visit between 9am and 3pm in the summer months. And don’t despair if you don’t s.

As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to Covid-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, check individual websites before you go.

I had just started my run and was only about 200 yards from the car, so I wasn’t in a wildlife-encounter headspace. But there it was, standing on the opposite side of the Colorado River, as tall as me and a thousand pounds heavier, with a massive rack.

Elk gather in herds on the east side, while moose patrol the other. In between are bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and black bears.

The 265,807-acre park, located in northern Colorado, offers some of the best access to high-alpine terrain in the country, thanks to Trail Ridge Road—the highest paved highway in America—which tops out at a 12,183-foot peak, one of more than a hundred in the park taller than 11,000 feet. The lower elevations, below 9,000 feet and referred to as the montane, are dominated by broad, grassy meadows filled with more than 350 miles of trails.

And at 11,000 feet, the alpine ecosystem begins: trees give way to windswept tundra, craggy peaks, and cirque glaciers, and the crowds dissipate, leaving you with the “roof” of the park mostly to yourself. I spent three years living in Denver, exploring the park as often as possible, sliding down its glaciers and wooing my soon-to-be wife in primitive campsites deep in the backcountry.

They would earn their first Junior Ranger badges here. Eventually, we’d hold a memorial service for my wife’s grandfather on the edge of his favorite backcountry lake.

Altitude sickness is real. It can be as mild as a light headache or as severe as vomiting and disorientation.

Drink lots of water throughout the day, and eat regularly. Pay attention to road closures.

The park offers real-time road updates on its website, so check the information regularly. Expect unpredictable weather.

If you’re hiking above the tree line, keep your eye on the horizon for sketchy clouds forming, and always have an escape route in mind. Midsummer snowstorms aren’t unheard of either.

Bring extra layers, and always carry a rain shell in your pack. Plan for crowds.

Parking lots in scenic areas like Bear Lake fill up before breakfast, and Trail Ridge Road is packed with minivans and RVs by 10 A.M. If you have your heart set on seeing some of the park’s signature features, accept that crowds are part of the experience.

roughly 80 percent of all visitors enter through Estes Park, on the eastern side. If parking lots are full, don’t fret.

Use it. Rocky Mountain National Park acts as a sort of gateway to the mountains beyond Denver and Boulder.

The other three entrances, Fall River and Wild Basic on the eastern side and Grand Lake on the western side, receive far fewer visitors. The park runs a free shuttle bus from the Estes Park Visitor Center to popular trailheads like Glacier Basin and Bear Lake, but there’s no public transportation into the western side of the park.

Given its location and high elevation, the park has a limited summer season, and most roads are snow-packed during the winter months. If you really want to escape the crowds and don’t mind temperatures in the teens, winter is your jam.

But many of the park’s byways, like Old Fall River Road and even portions of Trail Ridge Road, become cross-country skiing and snowshoeing playgrounds during the winter. There’s even an abandoned ski resort, Hidden Valley, located on the east side of the park, that attracts sledders and backcountry skiers.

Snow lingers well into May in these alpine environs, so spring tends to be a warmer continuation of winter, with temperatures hovering between 30 and 50 degrees. But wildlife starts to get more active in this period, particularly the bighorn sheep, which are lambing in the spring.

Some years, lower elevations see temperatures hitting the sixties in late April. Trail Ridge Road is typically open by Memorial Day, and things really get hopping in June.

Temperatures can reach the mid-eighties, but you could also encounter a freak snowstorm at the highest elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.

While fall might bring the occasional snowstorm, the roads and trails remain open into October most years. Temperatures are mild during the day, reaching the high fifties, and the aspens begin changing in the middle of September.

This is one of the few national parks without an overnight lodge, but there are five front-country campgrounds (from $30). Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, and Moraine Park fill up well in advance (make reservations up to six months prior to your date), while the Longs Peak and Timber Creek Campgrounds are first-come, first-served.

The best front-country camping is at Aspenglen, located near the eastern Fall River entrance, a short jaunt off Trail Ridge Road. The 52 sites are surrounded by Douglas firs and lodgepole and ponderosa pines.

For a more primitive experience, show up early for one of the 26 tent-only sites at Longs Peak, which sits on the southeastern border of park at an elevation of 9,500 feet and puts you within day-hike distance of Chasm Lake and the park’s signature Longs Peak, reached by a 15-mile round-trip trek via the Keyhole Route (discussed below).

The park has 120 designated backpacking sites scattered from the relatively low elevations of Big Meadows, near Grand Lake, to the Boulder Field campsites that sit above 12,000 feet en route to the Longs Peak summit. Get a wilderness permit ($30) at the Headquarters Wilderness Office next to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (near the Estes Park entry point) or at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (near the Grand Lake entrance).

You can find any level of accommodations in both Grand Lake and Estes Park. On the Grand Lake side of the park, Colorado Cabin Adventures has a handful of log lodgings on the North Fork of the Colorado River (from $160).

Every country has its own signature, globally recognizable landmark: the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Great Wall in China, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the colorful slums in Havana. Canada’s calling card is the Rocky Mountains.

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are right on the border of British Columbia and Alberta. Most people arrive by plane in Edmonton or Calgary, then travel through the Rockies in a rental car.

Tourist season is late June to mid-September: high prices in hotels, a lot of cars and people. All activities are available (rafting, tours, etc.), great weather, camping, hikes and water activities.

In July and August it sometimes brings smoke from fires. Off-season is late September – October and early June: few people, slightly lower prices, hikes, many attractions are already closed for the season, cool weather (especially at night), fewer mosquitoes.

March-May: very few tourists, cold, suitable for wildlife watching and hiking. The best time to visit the Rocky Mountains is in the second half of June and the first half of September.

Download Itinerary: Rocky Mountains 8 days road trip from Vancouver. Maps, restaurants, activities, time for each location and other helpful travel tips.

In three days, you’ll have time to run through the basics in Jasper, Banff, and drive from one town to the next with stops and a tour of Athabaska Glacier. If you are planning hiking or rafting, consider to spend another day or two.

Including hikes to Mt Robson, Lake Ohara, etc. – 7 full days or more.

Download: Itinerary of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains are beautiful to infinity and it requires about the same amount of time to see them all properly.

Moraine is that iconic turquoise lake from the postcards and brochures about the Rockies. For ten years it adorned the $20 Canadian banknote.

Moraine Lake is visited by millions of tourists a year. And believe me, it’s worth it.

The small blue lake is surrounded by snowy peaks. The panorama is so beautiful and majestic that the heart starts to beat faster, it takes your breath away and it is impossible to take your eyes off of it.

Most of the year, from October to June, Lake Moraine is covered with ice, as it is located at an altitude of 1,885 meters. Because of the avalanche risk around the same months, the road to it is closed.

From July to September there are a lot of tourists. Parking is small, it is quite difficult to get into Moraine.

In 2023, Lake Moraine will not be accessible by private transport, only by shuttle.

This is how I unsuccessfully tried to break through to Moraine two years in a row. An inexpensive and convenient way to get to Moraine Lake is to take a shuttle.

Make your reservation on the Parks Canada website (30 minutes before departure at the latest). I strongly recommend it.

In the morning the bus is almost empty (we took the 8:30 a.m. bus in July, and there were just 6 people).

A free connector runs from Moraine to Lake Louise and back to the start parking lot. You can easily see both lakes in one visit.

They also allow you to paddle your own. Of course, they won’t let you in the shuttle with a wooden boat, but an inflatable paddleboard in your backpack will easily do the trick.

There are several hiking trails of different difficulty levels around the lake. Top rated:

It is almost twice the size of Moraine and easier to get to. It also freezes from November to June, but the road is open all year round.

There is a big parking, from May to October 2023, the approximate cost is $12.25/day/car. Direct shuttles depart from the same parking lot as Lake Moraine.Book on the Parks Canada website.

Stone dust gets washed into the lake from the rocks by melting glaciers. I recommend admiring the turquoise Lake Louise from the Fairview lookout.

Other popular trails at Lake Louise: Peyto Lake is a must-visit along the Icefields Parkway.

One of the few that can be admired from the heights is the excellent observation deck that opened here in 2022. From the large parking lot to the panorama there is a short walk about 10-15 minutes up through the woods.

Popular trails at Lake Peyto: Download: Itinerary of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Takakkaw means “wonderful” or “amazing” in the language of the local tribes, and the name is well deserved. You can walk along the paved road from the parking lot straight to the base of the waterfall, but be prepared to get soaked to the skin.

Getting to this wonder is easy – 13.5 km from Trans Canada Highway along Yoho Valley Road (be careful, the turns are quite steep), about an hour car drive from Banff. The trail to the waterfall is easy, suitable for children and sore knees.

Athabasca Falls is considered one of the most powerful waterfalls in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Athabasca River, fed by the Columbia Icefield glaciers, plummets 23 meters down the canyon here.

There are several trails nearby. plan to spend at least half an hour here.

For rainbows and the best light for photos, plan your visit closer to the evening time. READ MORE: Jasper National Park: The Complete Guide.

It is located in Yoho Park, an hour’s drive from the town of Banff. There are slightly fewer tourists, a large free parking, lots of picnic tables along the shore, hotel, cafe and more adequately priced canoe rental (you can also bring your own).

Take an easy trail around the lake and view the location of the richest collection of Cambrian-era fossils with free binoculars. READ MORE: Yoho Park, Canadian Rockies: 7 Must-See places.

Here the Kicking Horse River has washed its way over the rocks in the form of a bridge. Scientists predict that this beauty will eventually collapse.

Mount Robson Park is not far from Jasper. It is the second oldest park in British Columbia.

There are many popular multi-day trails here, but the Berg Lake Trail is considered one of the most beautiful in Canada. In my personal top, it takes a solid first place.

The Berg Lake Trail is normally hiked with one or more camping overnights, but it’s also possible to cover 40 kilometers within a day. READ MORE: Mt Robson: how we hiked Canada’s most beautiful trail.

Its length is 22 kilometers. The lake is located within 45 minutes drive from Jasper.

You can take a 90-minute guided tour to the island or take a kayak with an overnight stay in a campsite. It is better to book in advance.

In some places it is two meters wide and goes down as much as fifty meters. Maligne is the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park.

There are lookouts and trails with stairs and climbs through the park. A map of all the trails is here.

April to October is high season at Rocky Mountain, and the park has adopted a timed-entry program to help control crowds between May 28 and October 11. During this period, visitors with park entrance passes must reserve an entry pass that permits access to the park during a specified 2-hour window on their day of arrival.

Visitors who come to the park between April and October can expect mostly dry conditions for hiking and other activities. Snowfall generally begins in late October and can extend through March, so you may need to bring snowshoes or cross-country skis if you plan to hike during these months.

By January, there is usually enough accumulated snow to enjoy sleigh riding at Hidden Valley, the only place where sledding is permitted in the park. Winter also is an excellent time to see the park’s resident population of large mammals, with elk, moose, and mule deer often visible from park roads.

Published on July 3, 2023 under. Encompassing more than 265,800 acres, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the jewels of the national park system.

Scenic vistas, majestic mountains, lakes, and streams teeming with fish, and miles of hiking trails and roadways make the park a destination of choice for more than 4.5 million visitors every year.

The park has a variety of ranger-led free programs along with walks, talks, and activities. For more information and an updated schedule, visit this page.

To make your park tour easier, take advantage of the two free shuttle service routes running during summer: the Bear Lake Route and the Moraine Park Route. If you’re planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, consider coordinating it with the annual TABorado.

Created, organized, and hosted by nuCamp ambassadors Mandy Lea and Kendrick, it’s open to everyone in the nuCamp family: TAGs, TABs, and Cirrus Truck Campers. Visit the TABorado website for more details and to register.

Old Fall River Road, Bear Lake Road, and Trail Ridge Road each offer something unique for motorists. (Not used to mountain driving.

Old Fall River Road was opened in 1920, making it the first auto route in Rocky Mountain National Park that provides access to the park’s high country. Along the nine-mile scenic drive that reaches 11,796 feet, you can take in views of Mount Chapin and Chasm Falls as you move through sub-alpine and alpine life zones.

AWD and 4WD vehicles are advised, while vehicles longer than 25 feet in length and vehicles with trailers are prohibited. Bear Lake Road is one of the most visited areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Key stopping areas include the Moraine Park Area, Sprague Lake, the Park and Ride Parking Area, Bierstadt Lake Parking Area and Trailhead, and the Glacier Gorge Parking Area and Trailhead. Extending 48 miles between Estes Park on the park’s east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road (U.S.

It’s also a nationally designated All-American Road and one of 10 America’s Byways in Colorado. Eleven miles of it are above the tree line at an elevation near 11,500 feet.

While it offers a panoramic view of the Rockies, Trail Ridge Road does lack shoulders and has few guardrails. If the road is closed due to unsafe road conditions or for the season, there are alternate routes between Estes Park and Grand Lake: one via U.S.

For up-to-date information on the status of Trail Ridge Road, call the recorded phone line at 970-586-1222. Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of hiking trails, ranging from half a mile to close to 10 (one way).

Lake, waterfall, and summit hikes are among the most popular choices. Make your choice based on your fitness and experience levels, bearing in mind that elevations that range from 7,500 to over 12,000 feet can cause altitude problems.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a popular destination for sport fishing, with species including brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat (Colorado River and Yellowstone) trout, suckers, and sculpins. If you’re planning to challenge those finned inhabitants, there are a few things you need to do:

Visit this page for more information and regulations about fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Details about fishing season dates and license fees are available here.

Since roads are narrow with few or no shoulders and lack designated bicycle lanes, cyclists need to ride with care. While bicycles aren’t available for rent in the park, nearby communities do offer bicycle rental, repair, and sales.

After autumn road closures, Endovalley Road, High Drive, Upper Beaver Meadows Road, and all park campgrounds (closed loops) are open to bicycles, while Fern Lake Road, Wild Basin Road, and Twin Sisters Trailhead Access Road are closed to bicycles. A “per person” entrance pass or an annual or lifetime pass, which covers the owner and up to three additional cyclists, is required, with passes requiring photo identification to verify ownership.

See the webpage for rules and regulations regarding biking in the park. With its wide variety of peaks and granite rock formations, it’s no surprise that the park has been a destination for climbers since the 1800s.

Information about classic, most popular, and highest-rated climbing routes can be found on the Mountain Project website. No permit is required for climbing and mountaineering, but if you’re planning an overnight trip, you must have a backcountry wilderness camping permit to camp or bivouac.

If your idea of a fun activity is to spend time viewing wildlife, then Rocky Mountain National Park is the place for you.

Elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer and moose, just to name a few. The park has more than 60 other species of mammals, 280 recorded bird species, six amphibians, 11 species of fish.

For the best photographs, follow the tips on this page. But don’t try to get up close and personal with these inhabitants.

Also, note that harassing or feeding wildlife is illegal in all national parks. One of the best places to view wildlife is the Sheep Lakes Information Station in Horseshoe Park.

– 4:30 p.m. daily.

All vehicles will need a Timed Entry Permit Reservation (a Park Access or Park Access+ Timed Entry Permit) and a park entrance pass (including a 1-day or 7-day Vehicle Pass or an America the Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, or 4th Grade Pass). We hope you find this guide helpful for your future trip to Rocky Mountain National park.

I’ll never forget our first visit to Rocky Mountain National Park during our Colorado honeymoon. Those big, jagged, snow-capped mountains loomed over us and made us feel so very, very small in the best way.

It was magic. And it was the catalyst that triggered our cross-country move from Florida to Colorado.

There are waterfalls, mountain views, challenging hikes, scenic lakes, and so many opportunities to see wildlife – like elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and moose. Even after dozens of visits during our five years of living in Colorado, and annual visits after – we still find new areas to enjoy and unique perspectives of old favorites.

So, if you are a first-time visitor, we understand how difficult it is to choose what to do with your limited time. That’s why we’ve compiled everything we know and love about this amazing national park to help ya out.

There are three entry points to the park. You can access two of them coming from Estes Park – the Beaver Meadows entrance off of US-36 and the Fall River entrance off of US-34.

This is usually the less busy side of the park, since going up to the park this way isn’t as common. And if visiting in winter or when the pass is closed, you’d only have access to that one side of the park (which doesn’t have as much to do – but is still worth a visit.

From Denver, it takes a little more than an hour and a half to get to the park – if planning to enter the park via one of the Estes Park entrances. On your way, you’ll pass through Boulder and Lyons – both worth a stop, if you’ve never been.

Either way, you are in for a real treat …. Expect traffic either way – especially once you get to the winding, one-lane mountain roads.

Here are some good tips from the park. Just take your time and be safe.

Read our tips for surviving your first time in winter conditions.

This year, it even closed in mid-June.

Check here for updated prices and to purchase online. (Note that the seven-day pass is for consecutive days and if you purchase online, you should plan a month or more before your visit to receive it).

However, we feel like the best bang for your buck is the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass because it gets you into more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States for $80. If you plan to visit two or more parks for multiple days, this is totally worth it – and it gives you the option to pop into any parks or other included sites you may happen to be near.

There are also free annual park passes available for U.S. residents who are active members of the military or their dependents, fourth graders, have a permanent disability, or volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program.

We’re finally to the fun part. No judgment if you just skipped straight here.

Although there is plenty of hiking and scenic vistas elsewhere in the park, many of the best viewpoints are on this amazingly scenic mountain pass that winds its way through most of the park. As you begin to climb into the mountains, this spot is a great opportunity to take in the park – and get some epic family photos.

But, it closes right after this stop usually in mid-October. Toward the beginning of your ascent up Trail Ridge Road, this overlook is one of the most beautiful stops for a photo because you can see the wide-open fields and mountains.

This is our favorite spot to stop on the way over Trail Ridge Road. It is just an unbelievably picturesque look at the mountains of the Continental Divide – especially on a sunny day after some fresh snow.

At the top of Trail Ridge Road, before descending down toward Grand Lake, the Alpine Visitor Center is a great place to stop for bathrooms, a gift store, hiking information, and VIEWS.

Keep an eye out for wildlife.

Just do some research and take extra precautions if hiking in winter (be sure you don’t walk over semi-frozen lakes, and bring necessities for emergencies like an avalanche, etc.). An easy must-do at less than a quarter-mile round-trip, just be careful on the rocky terrain.

So, it’s landscape has changed a lot over the years, but it is beautiful.

This area is also great for stargazing.

Ute Trail is gorgeous and has a section near the Alpine Visitor Center (the entire trail is four miles). Another, easier one, is the Tundra Communities Trail – at only 1.1 miles round-trip.

It’s under a mile and flat, plus it offers stunning mountain views as you get to the side opposite of the parking lot. We’ve even seen moose here.

At an easy, flat 0.8-miles, the Bear Lake Loop is definitely worth a stroll. However, if you’re short on time, a quick stop here will still give you stunning views.

You can even snowshoe it in winter – just be sure not to walk on the any lake if it isn’t frozen solid.

Expect an incline for these hikes, but also amazing views.

You are rewarded after climbing switchbacks with a dense forest trail that leads to a stunning lake. Definitely a bit more challenging with the incline.

It’s moderate in difficulty due to an incline. And is also on the way to longer hikes, like The Loch or Sky Pond.

But it is a STUNNING mountain lake two miles past Alberta Falls. And if you want more of a challenge, you can keep going to Timberline Falls and Sky Pond.

Read more here. It’s definitely one of our favorite hikes in RMNP.

On the West Side of the park near Grand Lake, this short trail (0.9 miles round-trip) makes for a nice stop. You may even spot some moose, since they are usually more prevalent on this side of the park.

The loop also takes you by a peaceful stream and is a fun trail with varied terrain. While this is technically still part of Rocky Mountain National Park, the 0.8-mile lake loop is outside the usual park boundary.

Very alien-looking creatures with a mane-like face. Just outside the town center of Estes Park, is the gorgeous Gem Lake hike.

But, if you don’t want to go that far, about one-third of the way through is an amazing viewpoint of Estes Park. For longer, more challenging hikes, check out this list by the Outbound Collective.

When we had our nephew out to visit recently, we made it a point to try to see as many different kind of animals as possible. Use this list to see how many you can find.

Traveling to Colorado and thinking of visiting Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver. Even if you only have a day, you can see some of the most beautiful places by taking a day trip to Rocky Mountains from Denver.

Find out.

This itinerary is just one way to do it, based on our personal experience, and also on what is feasible when visiting Rocky Mountains on a day trip from Denver. This 1-day itinerary starts in Denver, passes one of the most scenic roads in Colorado – Peak to Peak Highway, Estes Park, and brings you all the way to the heart of the Rocky Mountain National Park via the Trail Ridge Road.

We also include a short hike recommendation and tips for wildlife viewing for those who want to make the absolute most of their Rocky Mountains National Park day trip. Good to know: To help you plan your self-drive day trip from Denver to Rocky Mountains, we also include a map showing all the places mentioned in this guide and the driving route.

This itinerary is designed as a loop starting and ending in Denver, but you can easily adapt it if you continue your trip to Grand Lake or other places. Take a look.

Good to know: You can visit Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver the whole year. However, Trail Ridge Road is only open in summer (+- June to November).

In addition, you can go for a winter hike if you like. TIP: If you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver, but don’t want to drive or worry about planning, there are also several nice tours that visit this area for a day.

If you want to see the highlights in an easy way, this is the best tour for you, whereas if you want to do some hiking, this is the best option.

Here’s our suggested itinerary for your day trip from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park: If you look at the map, you’ll see that there are many ways to get from Denver to Estes Park.

For that, take I-70 west of Denver, followed by State Highway 119 to Nederland, and from there – roads #72 and #7 to Estes Park.

It’s about 30 miles longer compared to the shortest route via Boulder and takes about an hour extra. So you may be wondering whether Peak to Peak scenic byway is worth it….

If you are just planning to drive around and see some of the best scenery of the Rockies, then yes, Peak to Peak Hwy is definitely worth it. The drive on Colorado’s oldest scenic byway is easy and the landscapes are stunning.

TIP: If you are visiting Colorado Rockies in the fall, Peak to Peak Hwy is a must. Golden aspen trees along this route make it one of the best places for fall foliage near Denver.

Nevertheless, we recommend a few photo stops along this route – Brainard Lake, Saint Catherine’s Chapel on the Rock, and Lily Lake. Estes Park, CO is the best place to stay for visiting Rocky Mountain National Park.

There are also nice lakes here and some really unique scenery close to town. If you are driving back to Denver on the same day, you could head to Rocky Mountain National Park first and visit Estes Park on your way back.

Estes Park is a good place to get some coffee or grab something to eat on your way, but – with just a day in the area – I wouldn’t linger here too long. TIP: If you are traveling in the fall, winter, or spring Estes Park is a great place to see elk.

Enter Rocky Mountain National Park via the Park Entrance Road at Beaver Meadows area. Keep in mind that in the high season the park works with the timed-entry reservation system.

One of the best areas for hiking in RMNP is the Bear Lake area. The walk around Bear Lake itself is easy and short, but if you already go through all the trouble to get there, we recommend taking one of the longer hikes.

Dream Lake is about 1 mile/ 30 min walk from the car parking at the Bear Lake trailhead, with about 450 ft elevation gain. If you come back the same way, it’s about 2 miles in total, plus you may want to walk around Bear Lake (add about 0.7 miles).

TIP: If you are fit, we recommend that you continue past Dream Lake and hike to Emerald Lake, about 0.5 miles/ 15-20 minutes further. With just a day in the Rocky Mountain National Park, this is one of the best hikes you could do.

Important. If you are visiting in the peak season and want to go hiking in the Bear Lake area, you’ll likely have to leave your car at the Glacier Basin Park & Ride parking area and take a free shuttle further.

Good to know: You can go hiking in this area in winter as well. For that, you may need snowshoes, or – as a minimum – good waterproof hiking boots and hiking poles.

It’s the highest paved road in any national park in the U.S. and takes you well above the treeline to altitudes of 11-12,000 feet.

Built in the 1930s, Trail Ridge Road stretches for about 48 miles between Estes Park in the east and Grand Lake in the west. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive the entire road in one direction, without any stops.

But on a day trip from Denver (and if going back to Denver), we suggest that you only do part of the road – up to the Alpine Visitor Center or a bit further to Continental Divide at Milner Pass. This stretch is very scenic and takes about 1 hour (stops not included).

At the Alpine Visitor Center, you can also take a short walk on the Alpine Ridge Trail to the nearby peak at 12,005 feet.

Good to know: Count about 2.5-3 hours for Trail Ridge Road and the best stops. Also, even in the warmest summer months, you’ll likely find snow along Trail Ridge Road.

Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a big variety of wildlife. Seeing bears on a day trip is unlikely, but you might get lucky to see bighorn sheep, elk, moose, and also lots of smaller animals such as marmots, squirrels, or chipmunks.

On your way back to Estes Park, you could check out a few areas that are known for wildlife viewing: Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park, or Upper Beaver Meadows (see our map below for the location). If you are visiting in the fall, you’re almost guaranteed to see elk here.

We saw moose and lots of elk here on our last trip to the area. After visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, leave via Fall River Visitor Center and continue to Estes Park.

One of the most beautiful drives from Estes Park to Denver is Hwy 34 via Loveland, aka the Big Thompson Canyon Road. It follows the Big Thompson River with the most spectacular canyon walls all around you.

However, it’s difficult to find a safe spot for a photo stop along this road, so just enjoy the scenery around you. And yes, just as the Peak to Peak highway, Big Thompson Canyon Road is a small detour when driving between Estes Park and Denver, but it’s well worth it.

The Mountain States are eight US states in the Western United States. These states are Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Six of the eight states have parts of the Rocky Mountains within their borders. There are, however, other mountains ranges in the Mountain States, such as the San Francisco Mountains in Arizona, and the Great Basin Ranges, which are mostly in Nevada.

The Mountain States are subdivided into the Northwest and Southwest. The former consists of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, while the latter consists of the other five states.

Although it is certainly not the only mountain range in the Mountain States, the Rocky Mountains, or Rockies, as they are sometimes called, are the most prominent. The Rocky Mountain Range stretches from northern British Columbia, Canada’s most westerly province, all the way to northern New Mexico, for a total distance of 4,830 km.

The Rocky Mountains make up what is known as North America’s Continental Divide.

Elbert, located in Colorado. It has a height of 14,440 ft.

It is also the only state that sits 1000 meters above sea level in its entirety. In addition, Colorado boasts the 30 highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains.

Montana is also the biggest state in the Mountain States region by land area, comprising 380,800 sq. km.

km, is the smallest state.

In fact, the Mountain States region is one of the most geographically diverse parts of the country. Arizona alone, for example, has an extremely varied landscape, which contains deserts, forests, and mountain ranges, including the aforementioned San Francisco Mountains.

The Mountain States in their entirety contain all the major deserts of North America. These include the Mohave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin Deserts, all of which are found in the Southwest Mountain States.

Forests also cover large parts of the Mountain States. Many of them are located in the mountains themselves.

Other major forests in the Mountain States include Coconino National Forest in Arizona, Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, and Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho.

Based on 2018 estimates, the entire population of the region is just 25 million. Arizona, with a population of over 7.17 million is the most populous state of all the Mountain States.

3.3 million), Nevada (est. 3.18 million), New Mexico (est.

1.86 million), Montana (est. 1.08 million), and Wyoming (est.

The most populous city in the Mountain States is Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, which is home to more than 1.7 million people. In fact, Phoenix is the only city in the Mountain States with a population in excess of 1 million.

Las Vegas, Nevada, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In the Southwest Mountain States, the Hispanic and Latino population is particularly prevalent. New Mexico, for example, has the highest percentage of Hispanic Americans (48%) in the country.

About one fifth of Nevada’s population is of Hispanic or Latino descent.

Several Native American nations call the region home, including the Navajo, Hopi, Apache, and Ute. The Navajo Nation has the largest Native American reserve in the entire United States.

Arizona in particular has one of the highest numbers of Native Americans in the United States, at 391,620, making up 5.64% of the population. The state also contains 5 of the 10 biggest Native American reservations in the United States.

Two other Mountain States, Wyoming and Montana, also have high percentages of Native Americans relative to other states.

The most common ethnicities among the people of European descent in the Mountain States are German, Irish, and English. Idaho’s population in particular is overwhelmingly of European descent.

The state’s percentage of African Americans, for example, ranks 48th out of all 50 states. In contrast, Nevada is the Mountain State with the highest percentage of African Americans, at 12%.

Nevada contains the highest percentage of Asian Americans in the Mountain States, at 9.59%, which makes it the state with the 5th highest percentage of Asian Americans in the country.

Rocky Mountain National Park spans 265,769 acres of pristine wilderness and reaches its highest point at 14,259 feet at the top of Longs Peak. From jagged mountain peaks and flowing mountain streams to expansive valleys and lush forests, Rocky Mountain National Park offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.

A hiker’s paradise, RMNP offers roughly 355 miles of trails, scenic overlooks, and some of the best alpine scenery in the world at nearly 12,000 feet. From easy half-mile loops to strenuous 20+ mile routes, visitors will find a trail, no matter their skill level.

One of the most popular scenic drives in all of Colorado, Trail Ridge Road is one experience not to be missed during your visit to RMNP. Trail Ridge Road covers 48 miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake, with 11 miles of the road traveling above treeline at 11,500 feet in elevation.

While there are plenty of scenic overlooks and pull-out stops, Forest Canyon Overlook should be at the top of your list. It offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the park.

From herds of elk to nearly 282 reported species of birds, RMNP is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Viewing the wildlife inside the park is one of the park’s main attractions.

Guests of Valhalla Resort are in a great place to see local wildlife. Because of our proximity to the park, elk sightings are frequent on our property – making wildlife viewing easily enjoyed from the comfort of your cabin.

Some of the more popular lakes to visit include Bear Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Sprague Lake. While some are easily accessed, like Bear Lake, others require a moderate hike to get to.

Because the park will not be fully open, be sure to check their website for the most updated information regarding their phased re-opening. There is no lodging inside the park.

Just a five-minute drive time from the east entrance to RMNP via the Beaver Meadows entrance, Valhalla Resort is one of the best ways to experience Rocky Mountain National Park. Our accommodations include comfortable rustic-style cabins with modern amenities and a range of bedroom options – all at an affordable rate.

To learn more, visit our COVID-19 information page.

Stay four nights, June through August, and get the fifth night half off. New reservations only.

The Southern Rocky Mountains make up the southern part of the much larger Rocky Mountains of North America. This range occupies parts of three western states with the greatest majority of it spread throughout the western half of Colorado.

Within this range are 3,700 named mountains, with the highest and most prominent mountain being Mount Elbert in the Sawatch Range of central Colorado.

Although there are a number of higher mountains in North America (Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and California), they are not part of the greater Rocky Mountains chain. They are mostly concentrated in the various coastal ranges.

Wetterhorn (l) and Uncompahgre Peak (r), San Juan Mountains. The most important sub-ranges of the Southern Rockies are mostly in Colorado, which alone has 4,253 named mountains, with one range extending into New Mexico and two into Wyoming.

It should be noted that some of these are further divided into even more local sub-ranges each with their own characteristics. Furthermore, these mountains are spread over a number of national forests and wilderness areas.

Therefore, it goes without saying that there are countless opportunities for recreation afforded by this large mountain range.

Well, with 3,700 named mountain in the Southern Rocky Mountains, it’s a bit difficult to give detailed trail descriptions or even a listing of major hiking areas. But there is hope – it comes in the form of the internet and major (very major) online retailers that are more than happy to provide the mountain enthusiasts with volumes about hiking in the Rockies.

If, in certain cases, I don’t have a favorite place (meaning that I haven’t been or hiked there) I will just have to wing it. Well, I will do some research to better inform myself and you, the reader.

Let’s start with the crown of the Rockies – Colorado. After all, this is the state with the highest average elevation (6,800 feet) of all 50 states – but Wyoming is close at 6,700 feet, with Utah, New Mexico and Nevada not far behind.

In fact, Colorado is the only state that lies entirely above 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). It is the most mountainous state in the Union.

It might be of interest to many readers that the absolute highest mountain in the entire Rocky Mountains of North America lies in Colorado. You read it above – Mount Elbert.

I have climbed it and the only negative aspect of my experience was that I had to run down to tree-line more than 3,000 vertical feet below the summit because a thunderstorm chased me off the mountain. Let this be a warning – it has been said that thunderstorms were invented in the Rockies.

Mount Elbert. Now let us look at some specifics about the major sub-ranges of the Southern Rocky Mountains.

It is simply one hiker’s/writer’s opinion based on personal experience or at least partial knowledge about the mountains in this range. This 175-mile range includes 917 named mountains and, being close to the Front Range Urban Corridor of Colorado and Wyoming, provides ample venues and opportunities for playing in the mountains.

There are several major sub-ranges and six fourteeners that can be found in the Front Range. With 85% of the state’s population within a short drive of most parts of the range, it follows that the Front Range is indeed heavily used for recreation.

The Indian Peaks are particularly popular among locals. The Hessie Trailhead near the town of Nederland and the Brainard Lake Recreation Area near the town of Ward are easily the most popular ways to gain access into the ever popular Indian Peaks Wilderness and the many trails that are to be found here.

It is considered strenuous, but highly rewarding for those who are in good condition.

The central part of the range contains four of the six fourteeners. Grays Peak (the highest summit on the Continental Divide in North America) and Torreys Peak (the only other summit on the Divide) are relatively easy non-technical climbs and are therefore very popular.

But it is Mount Bierstadt that has for years been the most climbed fourteener in the state (until late 2019, when another one took over the lead). It is a “beginner’s fourteener”, extremely popular, easy to get to, and not difficult to climb, with great views.

Aside from many historic towns and attractions, the San Juans afford some of the finest hiking of any mountains on the continent. There are seven wilderness areas scattered around this range.

Some of the most popular hiking areas can be found near the charming and historic towns of Ouray, Lake City and Silverton. Here are a few examples.

Downtown Lake City. Lake City is a small, quiet town that many residents of Colorado don’t even know about, let alone out-of-state visitors.

Those who know it are well aware of the charms this place offers in terms of recreation. The trailhead for the highest peak in the entire San Juan range, Uncompahgre Peak (also the fifth-highest peak in the entire Rocky Mountains), can be reached a short drive from this town.

These hikes are all highly recommended, and do not involve any complicated ascents.

Ouray and its surroundings are often referred to as the “Switzerland of America” and for good reason. From this lovely town it is easy to get to the best-known local fourteener – Mount Sneffels.

One is from the wildflower-studded wonderland called Yankee Boy Basin. A 4WD vehicle is required to access this area.

This is the Blue Lakes Trailhead. One need not have Mount Sneffels on his or her itinerary – the three Blue Lakes make what I think is one of the most beautiful hikes in all of Colorado, in what is known as the Mount Sneffels Wilderness.

Blue Lakes, Mount Sneffels Wilderness. Silverton is best known for being the northern terminus of the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.

The only way to get here is by the train, which makes a special stop near the trailhead. It is unlikely that day-hikers would do this.

The impressive Sawatch Range could be called the “backbone” of Colorado since it contains four of the five highest summits in the Rocky Mountains and is home to 15 fourteeners, including the highest of them all – Mount Elbert. There are several major trailheads for getting into these mountains and most of them are easily reached from the two most important towns in the area – Buena Vista and Leadville.

Some examples very worthy of consideration for locals and visitors alike follow.

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is for you if you want to climb some fine fourteeners without having to be concerned about technical routes, although they certainly exist. The North Cottonwood Trailhead will get you into a fine network of trails from which you can climb Mounts Yale, Harvard and Columbia.

Rocky Mountain National Park is an expansive piece of public land comprising 415 square miles of mountains, 350 miles of trails, scenic drives and more than 50 peaks that are over 12,000 feet. The park is only a quick hour and a half drive from Denver.

The variety of trails, the views above the treeline, the majestic wildlife and the endless nature makes the Rocky Mountains one of my favorite national parks.

This includes leaving nothing behind, respecting wildlife, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting those around you, planning ahead and traveling on durable surfaces. For more details, read about the seven principles at lnt.org.

When to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Tips for Visiting the Rocky Mountains in the Spring.

Estes Park. Two Day Springtime Rocky Mountains Itinerary.

Take a Day Hike Near Estes Park. Dinner in Estes Park.

Day Two in the Rocky Mountains. Take a Scenic Drive in the Rocky Mountains.

Drive the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway. If you Have More Time.

In 2023, timed entry reservations are required for visiting Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer and fall months (beginning on May 25, 2023). Tickets for the following month go on sale on the first of the month prior.

tickets for June go on sale May 1st). Reserve your tickets at Recreation.gov.

Views from Trail Ridge Road near Estes Park. The mountains cause unpredictable weather in the Rockies.

During the spring and fall, some areas will be inaccessible but you’ll experience a bit less crowds. During the winter, the higher elevation areas get a lot of snow, ice and high winds.

The park shuttles typically run from May 27th to October 18th and the opening of Trail Ridge Road follows a similar schedule depending on weather. I visited in early May 2019 and experienced heavy snow on some of the trails.

It was nice to beat some of the crowds, but I found parking at the trailheads to be difficult without the shuttles. Overall, I think May is a great time to visit as long as you have the right gear and you’re prepared with backup plans if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

It was difficult and would have been much easier with the right gear. If you are hiking in snowy conditions, make sure you are prepared.

Tip: The snowy conditions can continue into the summer months. There was still a lot of snow on the trails during my trip to the Rocky Mountains in June 2022.

Estes Park. Estes Park is a town at the base of Rocky Mountain National Park that includes a variety of accommodations, shopping, restaurants and activities for visitors.

Ever since, it’s been a resort destination for all types of people and is the perfect town to stay or visit in as you explore the vast and awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains. The Stanley Hotel.

The hotel opened in 1909 and hauntings have been reported there since 1911. Most notably, the hotel inspired The Shining book when Stephen King stayed there in the 1970’s.

The hotel has multiple buildings and four different options for accommodations. There is the original historic hotel, where you’ll find the haunted rooms and typically the most affordable rates.

Also on the property, you can stay at ‘The Lodge’ which offers more modern and updated rooms with a boutique feel. Then there is the ‘Aspire’ portion, which has apartment-style rooms with kitchenettes.

great for a large group. There are also four restaurants at The Stanley.

For coffee and quick snacks and gifts, there is Colorado Cherry Co in the main lobby. If you’re staying at The Stanley for it’s paranormal activity, be sure to go on one of their tours.

I’ll talk more about the night tour in the itinerary below. There are several rustic lodges and inns in Estes Park that make for cozy and budget friendly places to stay.

Staying in a cabin in Estes allows you to feel cozy while gazing up at the mountains. Check out Fall River Cabins, Solitude Cabins or Timber Creek Chalets for cabin rentals.

Camping in the Rocky Mountains is also a great option to be close to the trails and enjoy the outdoors. There are three campsites you can reserve in advance.

All three of these are close to Estes Park. You’ll be closer to the Rockies while still near to the restaurants and shops.

Be sure to check several months in advance as they fill up quickly. There are also a couple first come – first serve campsites: Longs Peak and Timber Creek.

Timber Creek is deep in the park and accessible only during the summer. Below is how I recommend spending two days in Rocky Mountain National Park in the Spring.

Hike to Emerald Lake, have dinner in Estes Park and enjoy the Stanley Hotel ghost tour. The Rocky Mountains have over 300 miles of trails.

Emerald Lake. The hike to Emerald Lake is a popular and gorgeous hike 30 minutes from Estes Park.

You’ll pass by four lakes during the climb up, each one prettier than the last. The trail is 3.3 miles and when I visited in May it was covered with several feet of snow.

At times it was hard to tell where exactly the trail was, but there were many other people around to follow. At the base of the trail off to the right, you can walk around Bear Lake.

At Emerald Lake, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of Hallett Peak framing the lake and see skiers descend the mountain peaks. The entire trail has stunning views and this is an amazing hike for your first time visiting the Rocky Mountains.

I resorted to sitting and sliding down the trail on a coat a couple of times on my way down the Emerald Lake Trail. Once again, don’t make my mistake and be sure to acquire microspikes.

If you have time, Alberta Falls is a great add on to the Emerald Lake trail. Take a left from the Bear Lake Trailhead and the waterfall is a little less than a mile away.

Alberta Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is especially cool to see frozen in the winter. Sprague Lake.

The Beaver Meadow Visitor Center is the closest to Estes Park. If you are in need of information, trail conditions or trail conditions, the rangers will be able to help you.

You can also purchase an American the Beautiful national parks pass at the visitor center. The park pass costs $80 and grants you entry into over 2,000 federal recreation sites.

After a day of hiking, enjoy dinner in Estes Park. Cap off your night with some paranormal occurrences at The Stanley.

You’ll get many chances to take photos on the hunt for floating orbs and spirits. You might even see a door shut on its own.

I personally didn’t experience anything paranormal, but it was still interesting to tour the hotel at night. As of March 2021, tours are limited to 10 people, masks are required and advanced reservations are needed.

Trail Ridge Road. Spend half a day driving as far as you can on Trail Ridge Road.

With its sharp peaks that slope down to bright blue glacial lakes and dramatic waterfalls, canyons and caves to explore make Canada’s Rocky Mountains one of the most spectacular places on Earth. Comprising the national parks of Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho, the Rockies, as they’re most commonly known, are a majestic sight to behold.

Whether you’re witnessing it up close from the Rocky Mountaineer train or spending the night in one of its cute chalets, you’ll want the Rocky Mountains high up on your bucket list. But where are the Rocky Mountains, anyway.

It stretches more than 3,000 miles and one of the best times to see the mountains is in late summer when the crowds have gone. If you’re thinking about taking a trip next year (check out this holiday that takes in Alaska’s breathtaking glaciers too), these 7 ways to experience Canada’s Rockies will help inspire you to book that unforgettable trip.

It’s been serving freshly baked cakes and pots of loose-leaf tea to explorers for over 100 years. The tea house is a truly special place to rest up and drink in the views of the Rocky Mountains.

The train crosses rushing rivers and past pines clinging to the cliff’s edge. Next year, you can experience all of this for yourself with a ride on the Rocky Mountaineer, undoubtedly one of the world’s most scenic train journeys, combined with a luxurious cruise around Alaska.

The high street – Banff Avenue – was even lined up to give a perfectly framed view of Cascade Mountain in the background: the ideal spot for that perfect Instagram shot. The Icefields Parkway, known as one of the most scenic highways in the world, which connects the Banff and Jasper National Parks, allows you to discover colourful lakes that are all different shades of brilliant blue – almost too bright to believe.

TAKE ME TO THE ROCKIES.

If you want to know the best time to visit the Rocky Mountains to see the lakes in all their glory, summer is when you should go for the most vivid colours. Banff National Park is one of North America’s finest destinations for animal lovers, with a whole host of impressive mammals living in this gorgeous corner of Canada.

Perhaps most famously, you stand a good chance of seeing grizzly and black bears there – but also keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep, moose and caribou. BOOK A ROCKIES TOUR.

The Maligne Lake Chalet reopened to diners in 2011, overlooking the world’s second-biggest glacial lake. You can also stay in rustic accommodation near Bow Summit, the Icefield Parkway’s highest point, for incredible views over Peyto Lake.

As well as lakes like Peyto, Maligne and Louise, you can pull over to take in dramatic sights like the Athabasca Falls. Book your place on Good Housekeeping’s tour of West Canada, sailing the Gulf of Alaska and riding on the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer.

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Rocky Mountain National Park takes up over 265,000 acres, and the truth is that there is a ton to see and do in your time here. We’ve broken down the park into five main sections, and each one can be the subject of a day or more of visiting and exploring.

Hopefully, this guide will help break down exactly what you should consider during your visit.

Ahead of your trip, we recommend taking the time to download our 26-page Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. Cell service in the park is pretty much non-existent, and our guide provides maps, information on hikes, what to bring, what to see and do in the park and what to see in the area.

Like many National Parks, the area that is currently occupied by Rocky Mountain National Park was once inhabited by American Indians and nomadic peoples that would use the area for hunting and gathering. As western exploration occurred and gold was discovered, the landscape changed and more people came to the area.

Word got out about the beauty, and tourists started to come to the Rocky Mountains in the early 1900s. Rocky Mountain National Park was established in 1915.

They built trails and other infrastructure, but the most notable improvement was the construction of Trail Ridge Road, which is the highest continuous road in the United States. With the increase in popularity of the National Parks, some parks have had to put reservations systems in place, and Rocky Mountain National Park is one of them.

Reservations are required from late May through early October and open 1-2 months in advance of the entry date. You can book timed entry passes for Rocky Mountain National Park here.

Note, if you have a reservation at a campground, then you are not required to get a timed entry reservation as well. If you want to drive into the Bear Lake Area and park, you can get reservations for 5 am to 6 am in the Bear Lake Area here.

If you end up getting reservations for the Bear Lake Area, this serves as an entry reservation into the entire park, though nobody will check when you enter the park that early (checking begins at 9).

Moraine Park, Fall River and Beaver Meadows map, courtesy of the National Park Service. Most visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park come into the park via the east side that is closest to Estes Park, CO.

If you are coming in during a more crowded time of day, we recommend the Fall River entry station. Many people skip this area in favor of driving Trail Ridge Road.

Some recommendations in this part of the park include:.

Bear Lake, Sprague Lake and Glacier Basin area map, courtesy of the National Park Service. The Bear Lake area is a very busy part of the park.

But there is good reason why visitors flock here-the amount of easily accessible breathtaking scenery is rarely matched by any other park in the United States.

), then there is a free shuttle that operates to take you around the area from the Glacier Basin parking area. While in the Bear Lake area, we recommend the following:

Trail Ridge Road map, courtesy of the National Park Service. The highest contiguous road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road will leave you speechless.

Along the way you’ll see plenty of wildlife (elk and deer will be the main animals) and more stops than you can imagine. Plan on spending 2-6 hours driving this road.

Grand Lake and Timber Creek area map, courtesy of the National Park Service. The southwestern part of Rocky Mountain National Park is a bit quieter than the Estes Park side.

Trail Ridge Road is also reached from this side of the park as well. The stops we recommend include:

Longs Peak and Wild Basin area map, courtesy of the National Park Service. The Longs Peak and Wild Basin areas are a bit out of the way and not accessed by the main park entrances.

Rocky Mountain National Park is situated just 90 minutes from Denver, Colorado. That means that you can fly into a major airport from anywhere in the United States (frequently with a direct flight) and be at the park later on in the afternoon without any issue.

Whatever route you take into the park, be prepared for amazing scenery. Rocky Mountain National Park Lodging: There unfortunately isn’t in any lodging inside of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Be sure to book reservations well in advance. Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park: There are five campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park, with four of them suitable for RV’s and trailers.

Rocky Mountain National Park is open all year-round, like most National Parks. However, since the park is so high, it tends to get a lot of snow and the weather in Rocky Mountain National Park can be quite cold.

Most visitors come between June and September, when temperatures are at warm (ish. ), with highs in the mid to upper 70s.

Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter can be an amazing experience. The number of visitors in an average winter month is about 15% of the peak summer months.

You should be sure you are prepared for the cold, as days do not get above 40 generally. The trails will be snow or ice covered, so be sure to wear snowshoes or micro spikes, even for short hikes.

While the bulk of annual visitation to Rocky Mountain National Park tends to happen between April to early October, travelers and outdoor fanatics shouldn’t write off a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park in winter.

For more active visitors and fans of winter snow sports, some of the best activities Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer include winter hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and even winter fly fishing below Olympus Dam in nearby Estes Park. The wintertime also gives photographers a great backdrop for seeking out shots of wildlife and serene, snow-covered landscapes.

Table of Contents. If you had to pick one thing to remember about visiting the Rocky Mountains in winter, it would be to always overprepare when it comes to warm clothing — even more so than when simply visiting Denver in winter.

Expect the winter weather in Rocky Mountain National Park to be cold and snowy with high temperatures in December, January and February rarely climbing above 32°F (0°C). And, as always, be prepared for temperatures much colder than that, with average lows hovering around 18°F (-8°C).

Other crucial items of clothing include warm hats, gloves, and waterproof hiking or backpacking boots, assuming you aren’t going all-out and hiking in snowshoes. A note on this: snowshoes are a lot of fun and can allow you to get to some hard-to-reach places, but the microspikes and Yaktrax-type products on the market nowadays are also a great traction solution for winter hiking on slippery surfaces.

It’s important to always pay attention to the sky and other shifts in the weather like an uptick in the wind or the early signs of falling snow, and always make decisions based on your intuition. It’s better to turn back early on a hiking trail if you sense a blizzard coming in and begin to feel nervous about your navigating abilities or level of preparation.

While some of the RMNP visitor’s centers and the Moraine Park Discovery Center are either fully closed or closed periodically for major holidays during the winter, access to trails and roads in the park during wintertime is mostly excellent, depending on weather conditions. This gives you plenty of opportunity to explore the park in the winter.

It’s also worth noting that the famed Old Fall River Road is also closed during the winter, so don’t plan a scenic drive here unless you want to be met with disappointment.

Out of all the areas you might choose to travel in the Rocky Mountains during the winter, RMNP is one of the safer ones in terms of having well-maintained, paved roads and accessible trailhead parking. Roads that tend to stay open all winter in the park, depending on weather, include Bear Lake Road, Fern Lake Road, Wild Basin Road, the Twin Sisters Trailhead Access Road, and the Upper Beaver Meadows Road.

Park visitors who have two-wheel-drive cars may want to use more caution or even consider renting a car for a day in RMNP where weather forecasters are calling for a significant chance of snow. And finally, a few things to always remember when driving in slick or snowy wintertime mountain conditions: break early, break lightly, and go slowly.

If you need to rent a car for your trip to the Rocky Mountains, you can browse Rentalcars.com which aggregates results across major suppliers. If you don’t want to drive, it is possible to take a day trip from Denver such as on this full-day tour or this hiking adventure.

Whereas October and November still see the park at times flooded with autumn leaf-lookers and wildlife enthusiasts hoping to see the rare sight of two bull elk locking antlers and bugling during the rut season, Rocky Mountain National Park in December is a winter wonderland of mountain seclusion.

It’s usually not until April that the frozen park streams begin to thaw and the high country starts to melt off and on, depending on weather trends and overnight temperatures. Along with the already-mentioned clothing and gear essentials that help prepare you to face the elements, there are some other things to keep in mind when it comes to wintertime safety in RMNP.

This is especially important if you’ll be venturing out on any trails or into areas where you won’t have cell signal or the ability to send out an electronic communication. GPS trackers and satellite-enabled communication devices are good to have for anyone, and they’re practically essential for anyone planning on exploring away from marked trails with snowshoes or cross-country skis.

The immediate Estes Park and Grand Lake areas don’t have too many opportunities as the kind of downhill resort skiing that draws so many to Colorado in the wintertime (this goes even more for the Eastern Slope). However, it can be a great idea to go sledding at Hidden Valley – especially if you’re visiting with children.

The list below includes a lot of activities geared toward the most active park guests, but less fitness-inclined people should keep in mind that a day of touring the park—with occasional stops to get out, look around, and do some sightseeing—can always be in the cards too.

If you’re not an experienced hiker, consider taking a guided hiking tour. When hiking, be sure to keep your eyes open for chances at spotting wildlife.

The stark white contrast of the snow against everything else sometimes really makes animals like elk stand out, and it also can make spotting smaller animals such as birds easier from afar. There are even some local outfitters, such as Y.