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We still had some snow in a few spots at the higher elevations. But it looks like you have some free time on Thursday and Friday afternoon in case an afternoon gets rained out earlier in the week. Travel to Aspen and Rock Mountain During thanksgiving Nov 08, 2022. Mills Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. If so, you need one for each day that you plan to visit RMNP. Mount Ida. Lily Lake. This is the hike that I recommend for today. If you plan to visit RMNP early in the summer, there is a good chance that you will encounter snow on some trails. From Glacier Gorge parking lot (get there super earlypeople are rolling into the park before 5 am if they dont have a timed entry ticket so parking lots are filling up earlier this year), hike to Mills Lake. Thank you! Approaching Moraine Park, the road winds through large open meadows where the elk love to congregate. Best Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes: Easy Tundra Hikes. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, Haiyaha and Bear Lake: 6.2 miles, moderate, 4 to 5 hours. Due to its large size and long list of noteworthy hikes, you need several days to explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Not sure either if we should stay in Estes park or grand lake? Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. This entrance station has only one entry booth. But more often than not, in the summer, afternoon storms will occur. So you basically log on in July when they open it up for dates in August and quickly pick 2-3 dates? This road is gravel and is quite narrow. The Stanley Hotel offers a wide range of rooms. Rocky Mountain National Park Neighborhood Guide. Cheers, Julie. BEST OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For a list of top experiences, read our article Best Things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park. or maybe 4? And once at topwhat a view.! ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Colorado Springs. 7.6 Good 275 reviews. Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved continuous road in the United States, cuts through the park from the east to the west. So, after Labor Day, you might have some of both (snow and crowds). 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. I recommend staying at The Residences. Best Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park. This entrance station has two booths and is generally one of the quieter entrances of the park; however, on busy days you may have a short wait. Phone. 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 ). If you did not do it yet, you have the option to hike the short but sweet Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. About this Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary, Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Two of them, Beaver Meadows and Fall River, are just west of the town of Estes Park. Timed Entry Reservation Info for 2023 Season Dec 16, 2022. Visiting RMNP in the spring (April or May), Rocky Mountain National Park Bed and Breakfast, Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation Rentals, Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation Packages, Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide, Browse all 3,365 Rocky Mountain National Park topics , 2 days in Rocky Mountain National Park--afraid of heights, Multi-day horse riding trail or pack trip, See All Rocky Mountain National Park Conversations. 1000 US Hwy 36 Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Yes. This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. 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. I hope you have a great time! You could plan your visit for the end of September and keep your fingers crossed that the weather cooperates. , Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved continuous road in the United States, cuts through the park from the east to the west. The Park's 415 square miles encompass a variety of alpine terrain, with at least 60 mountains exceeding 12,000 ft. For a longer list, read our post about Estes Park. 3.1 miles (5 km). Afternoon/Evening free to do whatever 5) Sat Morning: Prepare to drive back to the airport for afternoons flight. Mt Ida, Sky pond and Chasm lake(timed this to catch sunrise there) were epic hikes with great views. For more information about where to stay and where to eat, read our Guide to Estes Park. This is one of the highest national parks in the USA. Rocky Mountain National Park offers plenty of contrast from one season to the next. Follow the three day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. Chasm Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Suggestions for this weekend Nov 03, 2022. The Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is the best place to get information, books, maps and backcountry permits, as well as catch the park bus. Timed entry permits (separate from an entrance fee) are no longer required. The Inn on Fall River & Fall River Cabins. So, climb those stairs, catch your breath if you need to, and enjoy the awesome views from the top. or are there better/rewarding hikes that i can sub in instead of the above listed ones? Odessa and Fern Lakes, Mills and Black Lake, Sky Pond, and Hallett Peak can all be hiked from this trailhead. Reservations are made online on the recreation.gov website. View from Mount Ida | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Estes Park. Cheers, Julie. From the Alpine Visitor Center, drive Alpine Ridge Road back to Estes Park. Outside the usual water, bug spray, sunscreen, etc? Yay!! If you want low crowds and dont mind cold temperatures and snow, plan your visit from November through May. ), you can spend the mornings hiking and the afternoons relaxing in Estes Park or wherever you might be staying. The most popular hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. However, if you are traveling in a car, Wild Basin is a wonderful area to explore with trails that reach eight lakes and three waterfalls. If you had afternoon thunderstorms on Day One, drive Trail Ridge Road in the morning. There are four main entrance stations to Rocky Mountain National Park. Trailhead Location. I am not the hiker I used to be [did Kili in 04] so a moderate/ mildly strenuous 8 miler more my speed now. You have included all of our favorite hikes in RMNP so I think your list looks good! This entrance gives you access to Sandbeach Lake, Finch & Pear Lake, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, Thunder Lake, and Bluebird Lake. Hi Is there any stay offered by national park ? Elk on Trail Ridge Road | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Illustrated t Elevation Gain: 1,100 ft. Sky Pond. From the summit you have a great view over Moraine Park and Longs Peak. We spent a week there in July and had a thunderstorm in the afternoon about 50% of the time, starting between 1 and 4 pm. In this post, get all of the information you need to plan your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary. The west side of RMNP is not the side of RMNP that most people want to visit. RMNP in February Dec 18, 2022. For reference, we live in Maryland, visited RMNP as our first Colorado park last summer, hiked to Emerald Lake and Fern Lake on our first day here, and had no issues whatsoever. This hike passes Cub Lake, Fern Falls, Fern Lake, Odessa Lake and Lake Helene. Dream Lake | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Nymph, Dream, Emerald & Bear Lakes: 4.2 miles, easy to moderate, 3 hours. They can linger into September, when fall colors continue to attract visitors and hikers. ie last an hour or so and go away? Emerald Lake. Hiking poles are a good idea for some of the tougher hikes (Sky Pond, Chasm Lake) if you have knee issues or if there is snow on the trail. Some visitors complain of noise and hot temperatures in the summer (there is no air conditioning). Lake Estes | Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Eleven miles of this road is in the alpine tundra, which is over 11,000 feet. Miles of trails: More than 355 miles along about 160 trails. During the summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are very common. 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? Cheers, Julie. Watch the weather, enjoy the time you spend in the park, and you might find you want to hike more, or less, than you expected to. The wilderness area includes 355 miles of hiking trails, 147 lakes, 77 mountains taller than 12,000 feet, and the opportunity to see elk, bighorn sheep and moose. Take the shuttle to avoid parking hassles. I recommend wearing waterproof hiking shoes or boots (not running or walking shoes) so that you have good traction. If you love lakes you'll like this hike. For those with an interest in historical sites, make sure you visit the Holzwarth Historical Site and learn more about the life of Colorado homesteaders. 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. Quantity. It is located just outside of Estes Park, on the south side, an excellent location for driving into the park. Its time for an amazing scenic drive in RMNP. Learn about each of them and find the entrance station that will best meet your needs. With towering mountain peaks, alpine lakes and waterfalls, and the opportunity to hike along the Continental Divide, this park offers world-class hiking experiences. 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). The best Time to do scenic driving and hiking is during the summer and fall seasons. 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. See what else made the list! The only first-come, first-served Rocky Mountain National Park campgrounds in the park, Longs Peak Campground, has 26 sites and charges $26 per night. Otherwise you'll need to login the day before and try to obtain one of the limited entry passes with . This road will lead you out of town and to the Beaver Meadows Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. I hope you have an awesome time in RMNP and happy hiking! Cheers, Julie. Its a short, easy hike in the subalpine tundra so you have 360 degree views on the entire hike. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Elevation of Rocky Mountain National Park. Youll be glad you did. The views from the overlooks are stunning. If you want to stay in the park, you will be limited to campgrounds. best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Beaver Meadows Entrance was remodeled . Estes Park This station, which is one mile west of the park's headquarters and Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, usually receives the highest volume of visitors. Gem Lake. COLORADO ITINERARY: With 10 days in Colorado, road trip to all four national parks (Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde), linking them together with some very scenic drives. During the winter months, cross-country skiing is also a popular activity. The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in the United States, with 4.4 million visitors. On the west side of the park, located approximately two miles north of Grand Lake, is the Grand Lake Entrance Station. In our experience, they typically just last an hour or two.