16 Essential Rocky Mountain National Park Tips

Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing vacation destination for anyone who wants to spend some time in nature, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. However, if this is your first national park trip, it can be challenging planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park for beginners. In this Rocky Mountain National Park guide, I’ll give you all of the most important Rocky Mountain National Park tips and tricks, including the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, so that you can feel prepared for your vacation!

1. Know When to Go: The Best Time to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park

The best time for you to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is going to depend on what you want to see and do on your trip. If you want to make sure you’ll be able to do the hikes you want to do and drive Trail Ridge Road without worrying too much about road closures, I would recommend going in the summer.

In the summer, everything is open (barring any unforeseen circumstances), the weather is pleasant, and it’s easier to get around. There are also plenty of activities in the nearby town of Estes Park that are only open in the summer. Summer is probably the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for beginners.

That being said, summer is also peak season and will be very busy, so be prepared for the crowds. You will also have to worry about the timed-entry reservation system when visiting in the summer months.

The second-best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park is fall. In early fall, the leaves change color and the park is beautiful in a completely different way. October is the elk rut season, so it is a great month for wildlife watching, especially if you want to see lots of elk. Photographers and people who want to see lots of wildlife may prefer to visit in the fall.

However, fall is also going to bring cooler weather, and there isn’t as much going on in the nearby town of Estes Park if you’re looking for things to do outside of the national park. You do also still have to worry about timed-entry for most of the fall season.

Winter can be a beautiful time to visit, but you have to be prepared for the cold weather and the snow. It can be difficult to get to the park if there happens to be bad weather. Trail Ridge Road also closes down through winter due to snow. The park will not be crowded at all and it is still beautiful but you will need to bring special gear like microspikes to be able to safely do any serious hiking.

Spring has similar issues to winter. In Colorado, they actually tend to have more snow in the early spring months compared to winter, so early spring can have similar challenges. As you move into late spring, you still are going to have to wait for the snow to melt to avoid it being a problem. Trail Ridge Road will still be closed through most of the spring months, and you’ll still need microspikes to hike the snow-covered trails.

2. Understand the Timed-Entry Reservation System

Do you need a reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park? To enter Rocky Mountain National Park, you will need a park pass or entrance fee, but if you are visiting between May 23rd and October 13th, you will also need a timed-entry reservation (unless you plan on going to the park early).

There are two types of timed-entry reservations: timed entry and timed entry plus Bear Lake Road. The normal timed entry option is required at any park entrance between 9 am and 2 pm during the specified date range. If you arrive before 9 am, you do not need a timed entry reservation unless you plan to go to Bear Lake Road. The normal timed entry reservation does not include Bear Lake Road access.

If you plan on doing any hikes in the Bear Lake Corridor (if you have to turn down Bear Lake Road at all) between 5 am and 6 pm, you will need the timed entry plus Bear Lake Road option. If you get into the park and onto Bear Lake Road before 5 am or after 6 pm, you do not need a timed entry reservation.

With both of these passes, re-entry is allowed between 9 am and 2 pm to everywhere other than Bear Lake Road. The timed entry plus Bear Lake Road reservation allows re-entry to Bear Lake Road between 2 pm and 6 pm.

Typically, timed entry reservations are released on the 1st day of the month before your target month. So if you want to visit in August, you would book your reservations on July 1st at 8 am MDT. See the schedule on the official website for more information. You will want to be ready with an account set up in advance. Timed entry reservations sell out quickly, so if you want specific times, you’ll want to be ready right at 8 am MDT.

More timed entry slots are released at 7 pm MDT the night before any date, so if you miss out at the initial drop, you may still be able to get a timed entry reservation last minute the night before.

3. Book Your Lodging Early – Especially in Peak Season

If this is your first trip, most likely you will be staying in Estes Park. It is located right next to the park near the entrances with the most popular hikes. The town is cute and has lots of local shops and restaurants, as well as plenty of its own activities. Click here for my full Estes Park itinerary.

In the peak season in the summer, hotels and cabins will sell out pretty far in advance, so it is important to start planning early if there is a particular place you want to stay, but also just to make sure you have a place to stay. It is a little bit easier outside of peak season to plan more last-minute.

You could also choose to stay in Grand Lake. It will take you longer to get there, but it is further in the mountains and also incredibly beautiful. However, it does not have as many choices as you’ll find in Estes Park.

Bonus Tip: If you’re planning this trip on a budget, I love staying at the YMCA of the Rockies. It’s pretty close to the park entrance and the rooms in the lodges are cheaper than a lot of places in town. It’s also not directly in the center of town, so you feel more out in nature and they have a lot of activities for kids if you’re traveling as a family. They also have cabins you can book.

4. Arrive Early to Beat the Crowds

Rocky Mountain National Park is an incredibly popular national park destination and does get very busy, especially in the summer. One of the best Rocky Mountain National Park tips is to arrive early if you want to try to avoid the crowds.

You will also want to arrive early if you are hoping to get parking at the trailheads and not take the shuttle, especially if you are doing any of the hikes off of Bear Lake Road in the summer. The parking lots at trailheads fill up really quickly, so getting there early is key. They do have a shuttle if you arrive too late to get a parking spot at the trailheads.

5. Don’t Skip Bear Lake, But Be Prepared for Crowds

This goes for all of the popular hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park – they are popular for a reason. It is absolutely worth it to go see Bear Lake or hike up to Emerald Lake. They are absolutely beautiful and are some of the most well-known hikes at the park. However, they tend to be on everyone’s list, so you do want to be prepared for crowds. You will not be the only person on the trails.

6. Prepare for the Altitude

Altitude sickness is real and can have more of an effect or less of an effect on each person, and on different trips on the same person. There have been times when I feel perfectly fine on the first day or two (okay, maybe a little short of breath) and other times when I have felt pretty sick.

To try to avoid altitude sickness, be sure to rest and drink lots of water. If you start to feel sick, it’s a good idea to try to get to a lower elevation for a little bit. I also would advise against doing your most challenging hike on your first day at a higher altitude. Save it for at least a couple of days into your trip to give yourself some time to acclimate.

7. Dress in Layers

The temperature difference between Estes Park and some of the higher elevation parts of Rocky Mountain National Park is huge. One of the most important Rocky Mountain National Park tips is to wear layers, even in the summer. It can be a beautiful, warm summer day in Estes Park, but it will be significantly colder even just at Bear Lake. It is super important to wear the appropriate layers so that you can be comfortable in any part of the park.

8. Pack Everything You’ll Need

You probably won’t be going in and out of the park frequently throughout the day, and you may be going on some pretty long hikes. Make sure you have enough water and snacks packed in your backpack for your adventure in the park. I would also be sure to bring some sunscreen and hiking shoes or boots, along with the layers discussed in the previous section.

9. Download Trail Maps Before You Go

While you might get a blip of service here and there in the parks, you probably won’t have great cell service in the majority of the park. Most of the popular trails are pretty well marked, but it’s a good idea to download any trail maps you might want before going to the park.

10. Respect Wildlife

Do not be that person who walks right up to the elk and moose in the park. They are very cool to watch from a distance, but people have gotten seriously injured after getting too close and not taking the animals seriously. If you see wildlife, just be respectful and keep a safe distance. This is one of the best Rocky Mountain National Park tips for safety.

11. Leave No Trace

Practice the Leave No Trace principles while in the parks. Leave No Trace just means that anything you bring in with you, you don’t want to leave it behind. Make sure you take any garbage with you out of the park, or at least to the trash bins conveniently located at some of the more popular trailheads. This helps to keep the parks clean and beautiful for all of the people who visit after you. It also helps to protect the wildlife in the park.

12. Use the Park Shuttle

If you arrive later and can’t find parking at the trailheads, there is a parking lot for the shuttle. You can park in the shuttle lot and take the shuttle to a variety of stops in the park. I have used the shuttle lot on Bear Lake Road before after arriving too late to find parking at Bear Lake Trailhead and it was easy and convenient.

It is a pretty far drive back down to the shuttle lot from Bear Lake, so it honestly is sometimes worth it to just park in the shuttle lot before you even check the parking lot situation at Bear Lake. It will probably save you at least half an hour.

13. Take Scenic Drives

Hiking in the parks is a great way to see a lot of one area, but everyone should take at least one scenic drive through the park on their trip. You can see a lot of the park and the views are beautiful. It’s a great way to take a break from hiking.

Trail Ridge Road is an amazing choice for this. Do note that the road has lots of curves and some drop-offs. If driving on these kinds of roads makes you nervous, I would suggest booking a tour instead.

I also enjoy driving around the park, doing some wildlife spotting at different stops. Sprague Lake in the morning is great for seeing moose if you’re lucky. We also enjoy driving over to Sheep Lakes around lunchtime to watch for sheep or right around sunset to watch for moose and elk.

Looking for more ideas for scenic drives in Colorado? Check out my post on the best scenic drives!

14. Don’t Overplan Your First Day

Give yourself plenty of time to adjust before you jump into a busy day. The first day should be for acclimating to the altitude and taking things a little bit easier.

Spend your morning checking out some of the easier hikes or driving through the park to do some sightseeing (just maybe save Trail Ridge Road for once you’ve adjusted a little bit more). Then you could spend your afternoon checking out some of the shops and activities in Estes Park. You can see my full Estes Park itinerary here. The point is to take the first day easy and let your body adjust.

15. Choose the Right Hikes for Your Skill Level

Everyone has different skill levels for hiking. You probably shouldn’t start with Longs Peak if you are a beginner. If you want more of a challenge, you might not be as happy sticking with the easier hikes. Make sure you pick hikes that fit your skill level and the difficulty you would like in a hike. AllTrails is a great resource for this. They assign every hike a category: easy, moderate, or challenging. This makes choosing the best hikes for you a lot easier. If you’re looking for the best easy and moderate hikes at Rocky Mountain National Park, check out my post here.

16. Check the Website Before Your Trip

Conditions can change, so always be sure to check the official park website before your trip for information on closures, weather, fire restrictions, and any information about reservations and park passes.

Final Rocky Mountain National Park Tips

Rocky Mountain National Park is a great place to visit to see the mountains and get out in nature and experience one of the best national parks. These Rocky Mountain National Park tips will help you make sure your trip goes smoothly. Before you go, make sure you have your time entry reservations and park passes and the appropriate hiking gear for your trip. Remember to plan things like lodging in advance and choose hikes that work for you. But most of all, remember to be safe and enjoy the park!

Are you planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park soon? What are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!