Incredible views, breathtaking nature, stunning waterfalls, fantastic wildlife, great hikes, and excellent infrastructure — I could go on and on about the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park.
As one of the most visited national parks in the United States, it’s easy to see why: it's beautiful, accessible, and impossible not to love.
We took a very brief trip, spending just 4 days exploring Rocky Mountain, and here’s a detailed account of our experience so you can enjoy it as much as we did — or even more! 🙂
If you’re a fan of national parks, consider exploring Alaska, which is home to eight national parks. We road-tripped through Alaska for two weeks and explored three of its parks; it was one of our most memorable trips in the United States!
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Why go to Rocky Mountain National Park
Having visited the USA several times, we wanted something different this time. I sought a destination that offered easy access, natural beauty, a break from big cities, and a fresh experience.
If that sounds appealing, Rocky Mountain National Park won’t disappoint!
Located in Colorado near Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) was established in 1915 and is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. It features a diverse array of ecosystems and landscapes, including meadows, waterfalls, alpine lakes, tundra, and snow-capped peaks that will amaze you around every bend in the road (and there are plenty of curves and roads to explore). The park is also home to a variety of wildlife; we spotted elk, bighorn sheep, beavers, hares, squirrels, and various birds.
As of 2023, it was the fourth most visited national park in the US, with over 4.100.000 visitors!
The park is so expansive and varied that you could easily spend several days exploring it. We stayed for four days, and even then, there was still much to see. We left numerous trails and viewpoints unexplored. However, if you only have one day, definitely go! Don’t miss the chance to visit one of the most stunning parks in the United States.
How to get to Rocky Mountain National Park
The main airport serving Rocky Mountain National Park is Denver International Airport , which is well-connected with flights from various cities across the United States and international destinations.
We were coming from Brazil and, unfortunately, there were no direct flights between São Paulo (our home town) and Denver, so we had a connection in Dallas on our way in and in Miami on the way back.
The charming town of Estes Park, which we used as our base for exploring the park, is about 120 miles from the airport. The drive took us approximately one and a half hours in a rented car.
Where to stay in Estes Park
We spent 4 days exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, staying in the town of Estes Park, which is situated at the park’s eastern entrance and looks like it’s straight out of an American movie set.
We stayed at the Alpine Trail Ridge Inn, a classic inn-style hotel typical of the USA. While not glamorous, it was well-located near the park entrance. The rooms were a good size, clean, and comfortably equipped with two double beds—ideal for our family of four.
Here are a few other well-reviewed options in the area:
The Estes Park Resort: This resort features excellent amenities and seems perfect for families. It’s very close to Estes Lake.
The Inn on Fall River: Located right on the banks of Fall River, this inn offers a lovely setting and is also close to the park entrance. It was my top choice, but unfortunately, it was fully booked for our dates.
The Stanley Hotel: If you’re looking for a historic and slightly more sophisticated experience, check out The Stanley Hotel. It famously inspired Stephen King’s novel The Shining and looks phenomenal!
When to go to Rocky Mountain National Park
The park is open year-round, but from October to May, snow can close some areas. For instance, Trail Ridge Road, which provides access to the park's highest elevations, is open from late May to mid-October, and Old Fall River Road only opens in July (we were unable to visit that section of the park).
We visited during the last week of spring (mid-June), and the weather was perfect. It was sunny with just a few clouds (although it did rain one afternoon, and we even had hail!) and temperatures ranged from 6°F to 24°F.
There was still a lot of snow accumulated in the higher parts of the park, and both children and adults had a blast playing in the snow.
How to enter the Park – Tickets and Timed Entry Permit
Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. However, if you plan to visit during the summer season (in 24, it's from May 20 to October 2024), you'll need a Timed Entry Permit, in addition to the regular park pass or entrance fee.
A Timed Entry Permit is required to enter the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and to access the Bear Lake area from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. You have a two-hour window from the time indicated on your permit to enter the park or Bear Lake Road. For example, if your permit is for 2 p.m., you must pass through the checkpoint between 14 p.m. and 14 p.m.
There are 2 types of Timed Entry Permit: one that covers the entire Park, including the Bear Lake Road area, and another that excludes Bear Lake Road area.
Naturally, it's best to get the permit that includes Bear Lake Road, as it allows access to the entire park. However, these permits are the most popular and fill up quickly. If you can't secure one, don’t worry — just get a permit for the rest of the park and visit Bear Lake before or after the required hours.
Tip: It’s crucial to acquire your Timed Entry Permit as soon as possible.. Mark your calendar for the day reservations open for your desired date and purchase your permit immediately. Don’t hesitate or delay — buy it as soon as sales begin . They cost $2 per day per vehicle, so even if you encounter any issues, the cost is minimal. However, please be considerate of other visitors and avoid purchasing more permits than you need.
I purchased my permit on the day sales opened, but I mistakenly bought it an hour after the sale started (due to a time zone mix-up 😫). For Bear Lake Road, I only managed to get permits for one day at 10 a.m. and another day at 14 p.m. On the third day, there were no permits available for Bear Lake Road, but I did get entry for the rest of the park. The demand is high, and permits sell out in minutes, so be prepared!
In 2024, permit sales start on May 1st at 8 a.m. MDT (Mountain Daylight Time, GMT -6) on recreation.gov ou on this specific link. Permits are released monthly based on the date of your visit, so check the website for the exact release schedule.
In this link you'll find all the information about the Timed Entry Permit.
Outside the required times (5 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Bear Lake and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the rest of the park), a Timed Entry Permit is not necessary. With daylight lasting late into the evening during this time of year, you can still enjoy the park even if you arrive after six p.m.
Values
Regular park admission is $30 for one day/vehicle (regardless of how many people are in the vehicle), $35 for seven days/vehicle, or $70 for a Rocky Mountain annual pass.
If you are going to enter the park on foot, by bicycle, by public transport or on a tour, you need an individual ticket, which costs US$15 per person per day.
If you are taking a trip that includes other National Parks and areas managed by the National Park Service, it may be worth purchasing the “America the Beautiful” annual pass, which costs $80.
Each day of Timed Entry Permit costs $2 per vehicle per day.
Tickets can be purchased through this link.
Where to Eat in Estes Park and Grand Lake
Although American cuisine isn’t my favorite (apologies, friends from the US!), we tried some great restaurants:
- Sweet Basilico, a charming Italian spot very close to the city's main street.
- Wild rose, an American restaurant located on Main Street (W Elkhorn Ave).
- Estes Park Brewery – we love local breweries, and this one didn’t disappoint. It offers excellent beer options, tasty food, and a fantastic view.
- Himalayan Cury and Kebob – Indian/Nepalese food that we thought our kids might not enjoy, given we’re not used to these flavors. However, it was a hit! We all loved the flavorful and well-prepared kebabs and curries.
- Coffee or the rocks – our go-to for breakfast. They serve great coffee and American-style bagels, right by a lovely lake.
- Mountain Home Café – perfect for a hearty breakfast, featuring delicious pancakes and waffles.
- Antonio Real New York Pizza – the pizza was decent, but the long wait times and large queues were a downside. It might be worth a visit if you have plenty of time.
In Grand Lake, we enjoyed lunch at Sagebrush BBQ & Grill.
What to do in 4 days in Rocky Mountain National Park
We spent 4 days in the area, but only had 3 full days for exploring the park. As is often the case with incredible places, we could have easily stayed much longer.
Here’s a breakdown of the trails and activities we enjoyed:
Day 1: Trail Ridge Road and Grand Lake
– We drove along Trail Ridge Road and we stopped at all the viewpoints: Many Parks Curve Overlook, Rainbow Curve Overlook, Lava Cliffs Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook, Gore Range Overlook
– Near the Alpine Visitor Center, we hiked the Mushroom Rocks/Tundra Communities trail (800 meters each way)
- At Grand Lake, we hiked the Adams Falls (700 meters each way). There are a lot of steps, but nothing really challenging. Our daughters, ages 9 and 11, completed it with ease.
Day 2: Bear Lake
– We took the easy, scenic trail around Bear Lake (800 meters loop), which is perfect for a leisurely walk with plenty of opportunities for stunning photos. Parking is conveniently located right at the trailhead.
- Nymph Lake (800 meters each way), a peaceful and quiet spot.
- Dream Lake (1km from Nymph Lake each way) – this section has some steps and still had a bit of snow on the path (mid-June), but it’s manageable. It’s an easy to moderate trail.
Day 3: Other areas and waterfalls
- Alluvial Fan (400 meters each way)
- Lily Lake (1,3 km loop, very easy)
- Alberta Falls (1,3 km each way, with some climbs/steps, but overall it's easy)
- Bear Lake (800 meters walk in the park) – we had already visited the previous day but couldn’t resist returning for more!
Day 4: Enjoy Estes Park and prepare to leave
Our flight was in the late afternoon from Denver, so we spent the morning exploring Estes Park. . Main street is great for a leisurely stroll, with charming shops, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and ice cream parlors. It's a delightful small-town experience in the heart of the United States.
Complete map with everything we visited in 4 days in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Here is the Google MyMaps map with our detailed itinerary. Just click and save it to your Google account. When planning your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, whether it's for 4 days or any other duration, you'll know exactly where to start 😉
In this post, I explain how I use Google MyMaps to plan my trips. It’s a fantastic tool for saving places, calculating routes and distances, and organizing your trip overall. I highly recommend it!
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