Loveland & Boulder, CO - Rocky Mountain lodging further away. Order our free stunning National Park Trip Planner for Colorado filled with an inspiring itinerary, gorgeous photographs and everything you need to plan your dream vacation. This short, strenuous hike offers sweeping views over Estes Park and out to Longs Peak and it ends at a very pretty alpine lake. This is a hike that we did on our first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park a few years ago, and we retraced our steps on our latest trip en route to Sky Pond (more on that in a second). Whats the Best Season to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park. 11. We have info on this post on how to do this, so make sure you get your permit for each day that you plan to be in the park. Rocky Mountain National Park Is A National Treasure. More about Trail Ridge Road's Season. From the hotel it's a 15-minute drive to Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, while downtown Estes Park is just a couple of miles away. This hike is much different than many other hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. The main entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is located on highway 36 just four miles west of downtown Estes Park. There are two options and option #1 (Bear Lake Road and the rest the park) is the best option since it gives you access to the entire park. This easy hike offers spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park and it is great for all ages and ability levels. 700 feet (213 m) elevation gain. The Continental Divide Trail connects some of the tallest peaks, such as Mount Ida, Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak, Isolation Peak, and many more. Good to know: Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Black Lake, Sky Pond, Flattop Mountain, and Fern Lake are some of the trails that start at or near Bear Lake. Two of them, Beaver Meadows and Fall River, are just west of the town of Estes Park. There will also be three amazing lakes. You'll either need to pay an entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass to enter. Longs Peak Campground on the East Side. Fern Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Trailhead: Glacier Gorge (40.31053, -105.64033) Why we love it: This quiet winter hike avoids the Bear Lake throngs while still delivering the same stop-in-your-tracks alpine viewsincluding Longs Peakfor hardy snowshoers. However, if Longs Peak is on your list, I recommend waiting one more day if you come from sea level. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on Trail Ridge Road. Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful place so we hope you have a wonderful time here. This road will lead you all the way up to the Alpine Visitor Center and across the Continental Divide to Grand Lake. It is about 2 hours to get to the western entrance and 2 3/4 hours to get to the eastern entrance, taking the least scenic routes in both cases and hoping for no significant delays for the Twin Tunnels construction near Idaho Springs. Emerald Lake. This family friendly hike is a great intro to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. So if i leave Estes at 4.30a I think i should be past that entrance by 4.45a or so and can avoid having to buy the time entry correct? Snow on the trail in July (hiking to Fern and Odessa Lakes from Bear Lake). On the east side of the park, located on highway 36 and 3.5 miles west of Estes Park, is the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Tahosa Valley Cabin is situated near the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, easily sleeping up to four guests. How long does it take to drive Trail Ridge Road? This is another one of our favorite hikes. Old Fall River Road is an 11-mile long gravel road that runs one-way from Horseshoe Park (near Estes Park) and ends at the Alpine Visitor Center. From the summit you have a great view over Moraine Park and Longs Peak. During the summer and autumn, you can expect the entrance stations to be busy for most of the day, and extra busy in the morning from 7:00am-9:30am and in the afternoon from 2:30-4:00pm. It is located further north than the Beaver Meadows Entrance. I think its a good idea to have a basic plan of what you want to do while at RMNP but be flexible. . Clicking on the photos on this page will open up a larger version. Potentially one of the busiest trails at RMNP is the Emerald Lake trail. 9.8 miles, strenuous, 4.5 to 6.5 hours. Is there anything you recommend to bring on the hikes? The parking lot at the end of Bear Lake Road is large but from here, you have access to numerous popular trails in RMNP, so it also fills fast. photo by Ladona Stork. Visit the Alpine Visitor Center, hike Alpine Ridge Trail, and consider driving down to Grand Lake, visiting the Holzwarth Historic Site on the way. If you are coming from a lower elevation and plan to hike to these taller peaks, you will need to spend a few days in the park, acclimating to the higher elevation, before you tackle these hikes. The vast majority of these people visited the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Full-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Over The Top Tour" - RMNPhotographer. On the western side of the park, you can explore the Colorado Rivers headwaters, look for moose and hike to the site of Lulu City, a former mining town, among many other things. Al, Thats a tricky question to answer. You spend very little time below the tree line, so the views are incredible for most of the hike. Sometimes, when the permits open up, you just have to grab them, no matter where you are in the world (we got our Narrows permit for Zion while rock climbing Svolvaergeita in Norway ). Rocky Mountain National Park's 4 Neighborhoods to Stay in. Rocky Mountain National Park also offers a lot to do for those who arent big fans of hiking. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing. Aspenglen, Moraine Park, and Glacier Basin are the most popular campgrounds and these get reserved well in advance. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. The Continental Divide runs through the park. Few people hike out this far so this is a great place to leave the crowds behind. If you think you can go farther, and if skies are clear, consider going all of the way to Sky Pond. , Thanks ! I am so glad you had great weather and a great trip! The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. 6. An hours drive from Boulder and two hours from Denver, the lively Estes Park is the closest town to the park on the east side of the park. They will ask to see your park pass and ID or offer you the opportunity to purchase one. This station is .25 miles north of the Kawuneeche Visitor Center near the beautiful Kawuneeche Valley. It is equipped with a sofa bed and a double bed, and there is a fireplace in both the bedroom and the warm living room. To feel like you are really in the heart of the mountains, head to the only entrance on the parks west side, the Grand Lake Entrance. 7.4 miles (12 km). In order to see and do everything we list in this itinerary, plan on visiting the park when everything is open. Rocky Mountain National Park made our list of the best national parks for kids. Turn west onto Highway 84 (Wild Basin Road) and follow it for 0.4 miles to the Wild Basin entrance station. You will have to find your own way to the park from Estes Park because the shuttle only runs to the town. Thats crazy how early parking lots fill up, too. What would be the best time to hike RMNP after labor day? If you are an avid hiker, you are probably ready to hike some of the longer, tougher, more thrilling hikes in the park. Timed Entry Ticket: You will need a Bear Lake Road Corridor + Full Park Access permit (Park Access +) if you plan to hike Sky Pond, Hallett Peak, or Mills and Black Lake. For 48 miles, this road runs from Estes Park in the east to Grand Lake in the west. At this elevation, its not enough to cause altitude sickness, but you will tire and get out of breath easily. There is even a three-bedroom house that can accommodate up to nine people. We also have a guide to the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and how to spend one day in RMNP. Gorgeous alpine views can certainly be seen from this center located at 11,796' elevation! At an elevation of over 14,000 feet, guests will be in awe of the breathtaking craggy peaks and lush valleys. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Entrance tickets and fees. 80517. Deer Mountain is nice because the views at the top, but we thought that the trail to get there was a little bit boring, at least compared to the other hikes we did in RMNP. The west side (Grand Lake side) is more about the Kawuneeche Valley and the Colorado River. Cheers, Julie. Not bad for a town of 400 residents, all of whom seem . or maybe 4? You can also access Bear Lake Road, but it requires an additional 10 minutes of driving. 6.2 miles, moderate, 3 to 4 hours. If you are an avid hiker, your itinerary will look something like this: Day 1: Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes plus Trail Ridge Road and the Alpine Ridge Trail Day 2: Deer Mountain in the morning, Estes Park in the afternoon/evening Day 3: Sky Pond Day 4: Continental Divide Trail to Mount Ida Day 5: Longs Peak Day 6: Rest day from hiking (Old Fall River Road and activities in Estes Park) Day 7: Chasm Lake. If you are visiting between late May and mid-October during peak hours, then you will also need to show your timed entry permit to gain entry. Just a mile from the park's west entrance, Grand Lake, Colo., offers incredible family friendly activities from paddle boating and nature walks to world-class theater productions. #2 Grand Lake - Where to Stay in Rocky Mountain National Park for Couples. Dream Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Buckle in for some altitude gain and, outside of warmer summer months, pack spikes for the hiking trail! Equally enjoyable on foot or from your car, there are four separate ecosystems: montane, subalpine, alpine tundra, and riparian. This entrance station has only one entry booth. If driving Trail Ridge Road or Old Fall River Road is on the top of your list and you have limited time, you may want to enter the park via the Fall River Entrance on the parks east side. Ty in advance for your help as usual ! On the east side of the park, located on highway 36 and 3.5 miles west of Estes Park, is the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Dont miss Forest Canyon Overlook, one of the best on the drive. Eleven miles of this road is in the alpine tundra, which is over 11,000 feet. This is one of the highest national parks in the USA. One week was perfect for us. Private vehicle: $30, valid for 1 day / $35, valid for 7 days; Motorcycle: $25, valid for 1 day / $30, valid for 7 days; Per person (including cyclists): $15, valid for 1 day At this time, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are the main things to do in the park.