Featuring 60 peaks soaring over 12,000 feet, more than 100 glistening alpine lakes, hiking trails for all levels, and wildlife from marmots to moose, Rocky Mountain National Park—RMNP to the locals—offers an extraordinary outdoor escape just an hour and a half from downtown Denver.

Over four million people visit RMNP each year, making it one of the top five most-visited national parks in the US. Due to its popularity, the park has a timed entry reservation system during the busiest months (late May to mid-October). 

When visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, remember you’re exploring at high altitude, from about 7,500 feet in Estes Park up to 14,259 feet at the top of Longs Peak. Even if you don’t plan to summit a 14er, the altitude could affect you. Give yourself time to acclimate (maybe spend a night in Denver or Boulder before heading to the park), and stay hydrated.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a vast wilderness of over 265,000 acres. You could easily spend a week exploring all that it has to offer, but this two-day itinerary showcases some of the highlights, including popular hikes with postcard-worthy views of the peaks, the highest paved road in the country, and the best local restaurants.

Day 1

Winding roads and soaring peaks 

Start your first day in Rocky Mountain National Park with a scenic drive along the highest continuous paved road in the US, Trail Ridge Road (closed in winter), which peaks at an elevation of 12,183 feet. As you drive along it, you’ll get acquainted with the varied landscapes of RMNP, from the many mountain peaks to the vast open meadows, meandering rivers, and alpine lakes.

The entire road is 48 miles one way from Grand Lake including the loop all the way to Estes Park (about 39 miles if you end your drive at Deer Ridge Junction) and is a great way to spend several hours exploring the park. The Alpine Visitor Center (the highest visitor center in the National Park System, sitting at 11,796 feet) is a good turnaround point about halfway through if you don’t want to drive the entire road there and back.

Along the way, you’ll pass lots of overlooks to stretch your legs and take in the scenery. Many Parks Curve is a must-stop to catch an impressive view of open meadows and the 14,259-foot Longs Peak, the tallest mountain in the park, in the distance. A few miles farther along, Rainbow Curve offers views of Fall River winding through Horseshoe Park.

When you’re ready, turn around and head back toward the east side of RMNP—it’s time to hit the trails! One of the most popular trails in Rocky Mountain National Park is Emerald Lake. This 3.2-mile, out-and-back hike actually takes you to three alpine lakes: Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and lastly Emerald Lake. While you shouldn't expect complete solitude, it’s worth braving the crowds to take in the unbeatable scenery on this moderate trail. 

You’ll make your way through an evergreen forest, which opens up throughout the hike to reveal each alpine lake. When you reach Emerald Lake, have your camera handy to capture the towering peaks of Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak that frame the lake.

Still have energy? Add on Lake Haiyaha for an extra mile and a half of hiking. In 2022, the waters of Lake Haiyaha changed color from a clear blue to a milky turquoise due to a massive rock slide in Chaos Canyon that sent debris down into the lake. No one knows how long Lake Haiyaha will stay this unique color, so it’s worth making the hike to try to catch it while you can.

The trail to Emerald Lake starts at the Bear Lake trailhead along the Bear Lake Corridor, the most popular area in the park. Because of this, from late May through mid-October, a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation is required to access this area every day from 5am–6pm. The reservation also includes entry to all other areas of the park. For full details, visit Rocky Mountain National Park's Timed Entry permit webpage.

To cap off the day, stop for dinner at Bird & Jim. This local gem just minutes outside the Beaver Meadows park entrance serves elevated Colorado cuisine in a mountain setting that feels special but not overly fancy. The pheasant chowder is a standout start to your meal, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the well-curated menu. 

Day 2

Off-the-beaten path adventures

Now that you’ve seen some of the most popular sights in Rocky Mountain National Park, spend your second day exploring somewhere a bit more secluded. (Still, you shouldn’t expect to be totally alone on these trails, especially on weekends in the busy summer season.)

Before heading into the park, stop by The Country Market in Estes Park to pick up sandwiches and snacks for a picnic lunch later.

For a day hike, head about 30 minutes south on Highway 7 to RMNP’s Wild Basin entrance. Here you’ll find the trailhead for Sandbeach Lake. The 8.4-mile, out-and-back trail takes you to the shores of an alpine lake where you can picnic on the sandy beach or take a refreshing dip in the cold water if you’re up for it. This is a challenging hike with about 2,000 feet of elevation gain, so plan for it to take all day, especially if you spend some quality time at the beach.

If you’re looking for a more moderate hike, check out the Lumpy Ridge area. The Gem Lake Trail and Lumpy Ridge Loop is about four miles long with around 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The trail runs through the granite rock formations of Lumpy Ridge to Gem Lake, a lovely place to stop for a lunch break. You’ll also get amazing views of the Diamond, the sheer east face of Longs Peak that’s famous for its alpine climbing routes, from Lumpy Ridge.

Or, for a relaxing, family-friendly way to spend the day, visit Lily Lake. It’s a great spot to kick back and enjoy the views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and the Twin Sisters without much effort to get there. You can walk on the trail around Lily Lake, hike up Lily Ridge, or simply hang out in the picnic area for an al fresco lunch with a mountain view.

For something a bit more adventurous, hire a guide to go rock climbing in Lumpy Ridge or at Lily Lake. KMAC Guides offers 4, 6, or 8-hour climbing days to show you the ropes and get you on some of the amazing granite that Rocky Mountain National Park is known for.

After you’ve worked up an appetite on your second day in Rocky Mountain National Park, a trip to Ed’s Cantina in Estes Park is in order. Fill up on fish tacos, bison enchiladas, or poblano cauliflower grilled cheese, and be sure to top your meal off with the legendary avocado margarita, a unique creamy twist on the classic tequila cocktail. 

Plan your trip

Timed entry reservations

Timed entry reservations are required to visit Rocky Mountain National Park at certain hours of the day during the busiest season from late May until mid-October. There are two types of timed entry reservations: Standard timed entry provides access to all areas of the park except Bear Lake Road, while the Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road provides access to the entire park including Bear Lake Road. Reservations are required for the Bear Lake Road corridor from 5am–6pm and for all other areas of the park from 9am–2pm.

Most timed entry reservations are released in advance (typically the first day of the month before you want the reservation) on recreation.gov. Additional timed entry reservations are released the night before a desired date at 7pm Mountain Time, so you still have a chance to get a reservation if you’re a little more spontaneous. We recommend using AllTrails and their Rocky Mountain National Park Guide to find up-to-date trail information, curated trail collections, and permit and reservation details all in one spot.

If you don’t have a timed entry reservation, you can get an alpine start and enter the Bear Lake Road area before 5am or all other areas of the park before 9am and stay as long as you like (but you won’t be able to exit the park and re-enter).

When to go

You’ll find the best weather in Rocky Mountain National Park from early summer to early fall, but that, of course, means you’ll find the most people there then, too. You have to do more logistical planning when you visit RMNP in the summer season because of the timed entry reservation requirement from late May to mid-October.

If you’re thinking of visiting Rocky Mountain in the spring, know that spring snowstorms are quite common at higher elevations, even when it’s dry down in Denver. Also, expect snow on the ground in spring, so be prepared with proper gear (like microspikes for traction) when hiking in the early season. Check the AllTrails+ Advanced Conditions feature to see what the trail and weather conditions will be during your visit.

Winter can be quite pretty in the park, but it can also cause dangerous conditions both for driving and hiking. Trail Ridge Road closes every winter, typically sometime in October, and doesn’t reopen until around late May, depending on snow conditions.

Where to stay

Estes Park is located right outside the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, so you’ll find tons of lodging options catering to park visitors in town.

The Stanley Hotel, made famous in Stephen King’s The Shining, offers an elegant stay in a historic property, and even features “spirited rooms” where high paranormal activity has been observed. Don’t worry, they have regular rooms, too, if you prefer not to share your space with a ghost.

For a more rustic experience, check into a cabin or lodge at the YMCA of the Rockies. Just 20 minutes from the Beaver Meadows park entrance, the YMCA ranch is a great option for families and groups, and it offers lots of amenities and activities right on the property.

A bit farther from the park is the A-Lodge in Lyons, which is designed for adventure seekers and makes a great base camp if you’re planning to visit both RMNP and the town of Boulder. At this boutique hotel, you can choose to stay in a three-bedroom Victorian alpine house, two-bedroom suite, or queen room. An onsite beer garden and food truck park is the perfect place to chill after exploring the mountains.

How to get around

Renting a car is really your best bet to dive deep into RMNP. A rental car will give you the freedom to drive Trail Ridge Road and explore anywhere in Rocky Mountain National Park. Just be aware that the parking lots in the most popular areas fill up quickly.

Another option is the Bustang bus, which takes you from Denver to Estes Park with a stop in Rocky Mountain National Park. You can then use the park shuttle to get to certain areas in Bear Lake and Moraine Park. However, both Bustang and the park shuttle only run seasonally in the summer, and the stops within the park are limited.

Note: Due to reductions in funding and personnel, our national parks are experiencing challenges. Visitors may encounter reduced hours at visitor centers, longer lines, and limited access to campsites, bathrooms, and popular attractions. Trail and backcountry safety may also be affected. Supporting our parks helps ensure they remain accessible for future generations. If you plan to support by visiting, remember to check the status of the park using online resources like AllTrails, pack your patience, respect trail rules and closures, and always leave no trace.