Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is the most visited recreation area in the state, headquartered in Estes Park. The Park’s 415 square miles encompass a variety of alpine terrain, with at least 60 mountains exceeding 12,000 ft. Longs Peak is the biggest at 14,259 ft and can be seen from nearly anywhere.

Summer is when most people visit the park and for good reason. The main route through the park typically closes in mid-October and reopens the following Memorial Day weekend. Trail Ridge Road peaks at 12,183 feet high in the alpine tundra. There are a lot of winter recreation activities going on but they occur closer to the entrances.

Camping, Fishing, Hiking between Estes Park and Grand Lake, CO

There are two main entrances on the east side of the park, both near Estes Park. One enters near the Fall River Visitor Center and the other near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

On the west side there is only one entrance near the town of Grand Lake and the Kawuneeche Visitor Center.There are also few other entry points that only access trailheads.

There are fees for entry. You can purchase passes per vehicle good for 1 or 7 days, or per person, which applies to walk-ins and bicycles. There is a separate fee for motorcycles.

Activities

Colorado Mountain Living Dream Lake Sunrise — Dream Lake sunrise. Photo: Bryce Bradford

Biking: Not permitted off established roads in the park. Bikes may used paved roads. Nearby Roosevelt National Forest offers mountain biking.

Camping: Yes, 5 drive-in campgrounds, 1 drive-in group campground. They are located on either side of the park. Moraine Park has the most sites at 245.

Aspenglen – (8200 ft) 54 sites; Located just west of the Fall River Entrance Station on U.S. Highway 34. Open May 23, 2012-September 23, 2012. $20/night, reservations accepted.
Glacier Basin – (8500 ft) 150 sites; Located about 6 miles south of Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on Bear Lake Road. $20/night, reservations accepted. Shuttle bus access.
Longs Peak – (9500 ft) 26 tent sites, year round; Located 9 miles south of downtown Estes Park on Route 7. $20/night/peak, $14/night/no-water, first-come first-serve.
Moraine Park – (8160 ft) 245 sites, year round. Located 2.5 miles south of Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on Bear Lake Rd. Campground is situated in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest above the Moraine Park meadows. $20/night/peak, $14/night/no-water, reservations accepted during peak season. Shuttle bus access. Sites have picnic table, fire grate, tent pad, and parking for 1 vehicle.
Timber Creek – (8900 ft) 98 sites, year round. Located 10 miles north of Grand Lake on US. Highway 34. $20/night/peak, $14/night-no-water, first-come first serve.
General Camping Info – Campgrounds regularly fill during peak summer season. Firewood is sold at all campgrounds during summer. Ice is sold all all but Timber Creek. Checkout is at noon. You can stay in the campground for up to 7 nights from June through September; and up to 21 days the rest of the year. Campsites are limited to 8 people and 2 tents, or 1 tent and a wheeled camping unit.

Fishing: Alpine lakes and streams occur throughout the park. Artificial flies and lures only. Must have a CO fishing permit for those over 15. See fishing brochure to the right. Poudre Lake is easy to access on Trail Ridge Rd. It’s at Milner Pass west of the Alpine Visitor Center.

Hiking: There are lots of places to hike in RMNP. The Tundra Communities Trail, just east of the Alpine Visitor Center, is a popular 1 mile round trip trek at high altitude. On the Grand Lake side of the Divide, the Holzwarth Historic Site is a short hike to and around a former dude ranch that opened in the 1920’s.

Residing within the RMNP is the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness. It encompasses 250,000 diverse acres of backcountry terrain on both sides of the Divide.

Horseback Riding: About 260 miles of trails are open to horse use, which accounts for about 80% of the park’s trail system. There are 2 stables within the park and dozens more outside.

Scenic Drives: Whether you start on the western side in Grand Lake or east in Estes Park, the 2 routes through the park are dramatic and memorable.

Old Fall River Road – This is the original wagon trail earlier visitors used. It’s a windy road, located more in the forest. This road is one-way up only from Estes Park and is closed in the winter.
Trail Ridge Road – A national designated All American Road and one of America’s Byways, this 48-mile road hugs the mountain side, offering many overlooks as you pass from lowland meadows up into alpine tundra. This is the fastest route and closes in mid-October.

Winter Recreation: The western side of the park is best for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. There is a 2 mile trail for snowmobiling which connects the town of Grand Lake with trails in the Arapaho Nat’l Forest.

Highlights at Rocky Mountain

As one of the most visited attractions in the state, Rocky Mountain National Park sure lives up to the hype. It’s a good one to visit year round, especially in the quiet off seasons.

There are lots of chances to fish and hike around all sections of the park. The Tundra Communities Trail is a short one mile round trip hike above the tree line, located about mid way through the the drive.

The Holtzwarth Trout Lodge is another highlight, located on the Grand Lake side. This historic site opened in 1920’s and is open to the public for tours. You can go inside several of the old cabins, blacksmith and taxidermy shops.

Driving the Trail Ridge Road Byway

Trail Ridge Road is the main route through the park, which winds up and through a unique high alpine environment. It’s a designated Scenic Byway and an All American Road. It crosses several mountain passes, Milner Pass, which is over the continental divide, as well as Trail Ridge Pass, Fall River Pass, and Iceberg Pass at 11,827 feet in elevation.

From the east, it begins in Estes Park, heads west over the Continental Divide and ends in Grand Lake. The drive takes about an hour to three depending on how many stops you take. The 48 mile route peaks at 12,183 of feet elevation and travels at above tree line for eleven miles.

Moraine Park campsites have a table, tent pad and fire pit.