Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Guide
A guide to hiking and enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
July 30th, 2025
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Distance: Various trails ranging from x distance to x distance
Time: 1-3 days
Best season: Summer, early fall
Permits: Required for overnight camping
Difficulty: Easy to difficult
If you’re a fan of high peaks, alpine lakes, challenging trails, and rocks, you’ll love Rocky Mountain National Park. Many of the park’s rocks are more than 1.8 billion years old, and predominantly made out of gneiss and schist, which were formed amidst plate movements that pressurized and heated sea sediment.
Eventually, the magma cooled, leaving the area riddled with crystalline ingenious rock. Then, about 70 million years ago, the Rocky Mountain uplift took place, which caused giant blocks of rock to climb upwards, breaking through young sedimentary rock. Today, visitors to the park can see remnants of this occurrence by witnessing the lava cliffs along Trail Ridge Road and Flattop Mountain.
The jagged peaks are some of the tallest in the country, and they’re often framed by ponderosa pines and crystal clear waters. Unlike national parks located at sea level like Dry Tortugas National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park exists where the air is thin and the mountains are steep.
Those of you who are planning to visit this Colorado park should follow along to learn about the park’s unique features, challenging obstacles, and picture-perfect hikes.
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Background
Established in 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park covers 265,461 acres of land. The region has a human presence that dates back thousands of years, with evidence of Paleo Indians as well as the Ute and Arapaho tribes.
In the 1930s, the park began receiving early tourists, which resulted in the establishment of a variety of lodges and the development of the park’s iconic Trail Ridge Road. Today, more than four million people visit the park every year.
Gear List Table
| RMNP HIKING CHECKLIST | OUR PICK | OTHER OPTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Packing | ||
| Daypack | Granite Gear Dagger Janji Revy Hydration Pack |
Best Daypacks for Hiking |
| Fastpack | Your favorite | Best Fastpacking Backpacks |
| Headlamp | ||
| Headlamp | Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp | Best (and Brightest) Headlamps |
Quick facts
Rocky Mountain National Park is home to more than 350 miles of hiking trails, and more than 60 of the park’s peaks stand at an elevation of 12,000 feet or more, including one of the best-known fourteen-thousand-foot mountains (14ers), Longs Peak. The lowest elevation in the park is 7,630 feet.
Moose tend to prefer the west side of the park to other areas. Other wildlife that frequent the park include black bears, elk, mule deer, mountain lions, marmots, pikas, and coyotes. The park is also home to about 1,100 species of vascular plants and 900 types of wildflowers that can often be spotted from late spring through early summer.
Types of places to visit in Rocky Mountain National Park
The park is home to 145 “named” lakes, many of which are located above treeline and host snow even late into the summer. Some of the most popular lakes can be found on the Five Lakes Loop.
There are a few different entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park. Many of the park’s most popular hikes can be found near the Beaver Meadows entrance station. The west and south sides of the park tend to see less traffic.
Technical rock climbers and alpinists also flock to the park to spend time on iconic features like the Diamond, Spearhead, and Sharkstooth.
Highlights
Pristine alpine lakes
Trail Ridge Road
Top-notch ranger-led programs
Well-maintained facilities, and water access
Challenges
Temperature extremes: Rocky Mountain National Parks ranges from 7,800 feet in elevation to more than 14,000 feet. This means that even in the dead summer, the park can see chilly temperatures, or even snow, sleet, and hail at high elevations. Make sure to check the park forecast before your trip to ensure that you come equipped with the right gear to explore the region safely.
Timed entry system: Between May and October, Rocky Mountain National Parks require that visitors secure a slot in the timed entry system. These reservations are only valid in specific parts of the park, and it requires careful planning to obtain one.
Parking at trailheads: Even with a timed entry reservation, parking is not guaranteed at trailheads. Instead, visitors may have to utilize the park shuttles to get from place to place during peak season.
Remote location: Most visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park will end up driving at least 75 miles to get into the park. The nearby town of Estes Park offers an array of amenities for visitors. But it’s not uncommon to lose cell phone service while hiking in the park, so make sure to make a plan before you hit the trails.
Difficulty and skills
Navigation
Rocky Mountain National Park’s most popular trails are well marked and easy to follow. Maps of the region’s trail are available in the visitor’s center. Intermediate and advanced hikers often have to route-find to tackle peaks in the park.
Elevation gain and rough terrain / scrambling / rock climbing / technical skills
One of the reasons why Rocky Mountain National Park is such a popular destination for locals and travelers alike is because it has something for everyone. Those with limited mobility might take a drive across Trail Ridge Road or tackle one of the park’s more developed and accessible trails. Dozens of trails cater to intermediate to moderate hikers. And, in some parts of the park, advanced hikers and climbers can put their skills to the test in remote, alpine environments like those near Longs Peak and Mount Meeker.
Rocky Mountain national park permits and fees
Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park must obtain a park pass no matter the time of year. One day passes range from $15-30, depending on the number of people in the party. Annual passes can be purchased for $70.
An America the Beautiful Pass is also available for seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities and can range in price from $0-80. While some annual passes are only valid at the designated park, America the Beautiful passes cover entry into all US National Parks, and many federal recreation sites. This is the ideal option for frequent National Park goers. Park passes are available online and at park entrances, where only cards are accepted.
Timed Entry System
In addition to requiring a standard park pass, those who visit the park between May and October need to obtain a timed entry reservation. Reservations are released on a first-come first-served basis on Recreation.gov, and are typically released about a month in advance. Additional reservations are available on the same website at 7 p.m. MDT on the night before the desired arrival.
Ranger led tour tickets and fees
All of Rocky Mountain National Park’s ranger-led programs are free and open to the public. Programs are posted online as well as within visitor centers in the park. Popular programs include birding, bighorn basics, and nature walks.
Best season to visit Rocky Mountain National Park
Most visitors prefer to visit Rocky Mountain National Park between late spring and early fall. The park is open year-round. Depending on your level of experience, the shoulder season months and winter can also be a beautiful time of year to see the park with fewer crowds.
What to do at Rocky Mountain national park
Rocky Mountain National Park is an adventure-lover's dream. The park’s many roads, trails, and historic sites cater to a wide range of people with varying ability types. Here are some of the best things to do on your visit:
Drive the Trail Ridge Road
Trail Ridge Road covers 48 miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake, giving visitors sweeping 360-degree views of the Rocky Mountains. Eleven miles of the trail are situated above treeline, and the road’s highest point is over 12,000-feet in elevation. The alpine conditions that visitors meet along this road can be colorful, and full of flora and fauna. Just keep in mind that the road is only open for a few months out of the year, and it’s subject to random weather closures.
Hike the Bear Lake Loop
Distance: 0.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 49 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 15 minutes
ADA-accessible: Yes
Bear Lake Loop is a nice, entry-level hike that takes adventurers 0.7-miles around Bear Lake. The terrain around the lake is relatively flat, featuring under 50-feet of elevation gain. Those who visit the area will be privy to both lake and mountain vistas.
Tackle the Bear Lake, Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes
Distance: 8.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,702 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Water lovers gravitate to the Bear Lake trailhead to hike to five different lakes while experiencing periodic views of Longs Peak. The route is a 5-mile, moderately difficult route with 1,085-feet of elevation gain. The first lake along the way is Bear Lake, which can be located near the parking area. Nymph Lake is next on the itinerary and is best known for its lily pads, which can often be found on the surface of the water in the summer.
Wildflowers dot the field between Nymph and Dream Lake, before hikers enter into a wooded area along the Lake Haiyaha Trail that brings them to Haiayaha Lake, which is located slightly southeast of Dream Lake. Those who want to add a fifth lake to their journey will have to backtrack to Dream Lake before taking a left onto Emerald Lake Trail. The destination is definitely worth the added mileage.
Hike to Sky Pond Via Glacier Gorge
Distance: 8.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,774 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 5 hours
The Sky Pond hike is full of stunning vistas, featuring dramatic rock faces, lakes, and even a waterfall. The hike begins at the Glacier Gorge parking lot and takes hikers uphill towards the Alberta Falls. As hikers continue onwards, they’ll find themselves at The Loch, a pine-lined alpine lake that’s full of trout. The Sky Pond is the pinnacle of this hike, but getting to it can be a bit challenging since it involves scrambling a rock face next to a waterfall. The final stretch of trail gives hikers views of Taylor Glacier.
The Sky Pond hike is extremely popular, and welcomes dozens of visitors all summer longer. While the trail is accessible in the winter months, navigating it requires advanced winter hiking and backcountry experience.
This hike can also be made into a moderate trek by capping your adventure at The Loch. Instead of hiking all the way up to the Sky Pond, you can travel 2.7 miles to the first lake on the route before turning around. Instead of an 8.6 mile hike, it’d then turn into a 5.4-mile hike with 1,062 feet of elevation gain, and it shares many of the same views as the Sky Pond trek.
Hike the Keyhole to Longs Peak
Distance: 13.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,934 feet
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 10-14 hours
Longs Peak is generally known as the “14er with the highest failure rate,” due to its challenging terrain and rapidly-changing weather conditions. But it’s also one of the most gratifying 14ers. Hiking the peak involves a 13.3-mile day with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The most popular route to the summit involves the Keyhole Route, which takes hikers through a boulder field before skirting an exposed “keyhole” and scrambling the final section up a scree field to the summit.
Where to stay
Camping Within the Park
The park has a handful of established campgrounds in the area that cost from $35 to $70 per night depending on the size of the site. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov for established campgrounds.
Those who love to sleep outside can also snag a backcountry wilderness permit, which must be picked up in person at the Beaver Meadows Wilderness Office. They can be picked up as early as 30 days prior to your start date.
Dispersed Camping
Rocky Mountain National Park also borders Roosevelt National Forest, the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area, Arapaho National Forest, and Indian Peaks Wilderness. These areas generally permit dispersed camping, although some restrictions apply. And the Indian Peaks Wilderness area charges for overnight camping permits for most of the year.
Stay in Estes Park
Estes Park is full of cabins, campsites, and hotels that cater to adventurers all year round. The Appenzell Inn is an alpine-inspired hotel that’s located about a mile east of the main downtown strip and offers complimentary s’mores, breakfast, and access to a hot tub and pool. Rates range from $150–300 per night. Located just north of downtown, the Holiday Inn offers similar amenities and runs $200–300 per night.
Rocky Mountain National Park Trailheads
Rocky Mountain National Park has four main entrances, including Beaver Meadows (the main entrance), Fall River, Wild Basin, and the Kawuneeche entrance on the west side of the park near Granby. Trailhead areas are known to fill quickly throughout the park during peak season, which often results in hikers taking shuttles from the visitor’s center.
Rocky Mountain Maps
Visitors to the park can snag a map with basic trail information from the visitor’s center or the entrance stations. Those who prefer more trail detail and information about terrain might benefit from downloading maps from All Trails, or utilizing apps like GAIA and Hiking Project.
Getting To Rocky Mountain National Park
By Plane
Rocky Mountain National Park is located about 75 miles northwest of the Denver International Airport. The most popular way to approach the park is from the east side, where travelers have access to three different entrance areas and nearby campgrounds.
By Car
The most popular park entrance is located just west of the town of Estes Park off of route 34. Visitors can also head to the Wild Basin entrance off of Hwy 7, or the Grand Lake entrance, which is located on the west side of the park, just north of Grand Lake.
Shuttle from Estes Park
The Hiker Shuttle takes hikers from the Estes Park Visitor Center to Rocky Mountain National Park’s Park & Ride transit hub on Bear Lake Road from late May through early September. All users of the Hiker Shuttle must obtain a hiker shuttle ticket that’s available on a first-come first-served basis on Recreation.gov. Tickets are $2 per reservation, and up to four tickets can be obtained on reservations. Visitors that utilize this service must also obtain a park pass.
Internal park shuttles
Once you’re inside the park, you might also find it helpful to utilize the regional shuttle service to avoid parking congestion. The park currently runs two free shuttles along the Bear Lake and the Moraine Park routes from late May to October.
Bear Lake Shuttle
The Bear Lake Shuttle departs from Park & Ride at 6:30 a.m. and runs every 10 to 15 minutes. Along the way, the shuttle stops at the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead (although service is currently unavailable at this time), the Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and the Bear Lake Parking Area. The last shuttle departs from the Bear Lake Trailhead at 7:30 p.m.
Moraine Park Shuttle
The first Moraine Park shuttle bus departs from the Park & Ride at 6:30 a.m. The shuttles run every hour and stop at Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables, Glacier Basin Campground, the Park & Ride, Hollowell Park, Tuxedo Park, Moraine Park Campground (C-Loop), Cub Lake Trailhead, and the Fern Lake Bus Stop. The last shuttle departs from Fern Lake at 7:30 p.m.
Favorite local food and beer
Coffee on the Rocks is located on the west side of Estes Park, and is a great early-morning spot for a quick sandwich and a cup of coffee.
Burgers and Gyros is a great lunch spot that looks unassuming but quickly delivers quality burgers and sandwiches for half of the cost of many competitive restaurants.
Bird & Jim is a great dinner spot that features an evolving menu with a modern mountain atmosphere. The restaurant is known for its burgers and steaks, and is a favorite destination for many locals.
Rules and regulations
Pets are prohibited on all trails within the park boundary (pets entering in a vehicle may walk along roads and within campground areas but must remain leashed at all times).
Overnight camping is permitted in the park, but campers must acquire a wilderness permit or book a campsite at a designated campground. Bear canisters are also required.
Stage 1 fire restrictions are always in effect within the park, meaning that fires are only permitted in designated areas. During particularly dry or windy conditions, further restrictions may be enacted to prevent the spread of wildfires.
Drones and unmanned aircraft are not permitted within the park.
Water planning
Water is readily accessible at the park’s visitor centers, and at some trailheads and campsites seasonally. The park also features many lakes and streams that could be used for additional water support with appropriate treatment.
Accessibility
Rocky Mountain’s Moraine Park Campground has 17 accessible ADA campsites, in addition to the wheelchair-accessible group site at Sprague Lake (which can accommodate a maximum of 5 wheelchairs or 12 people, and has an accessible privy nearby). This accessible campsite offers a unique wilderness camping experience.
Rocky Mountain National Park has several accessible trails, and even an all-terrain wheelchair that can be reserved and requested for use.
Bears and food storage
Rocky Mountain National Park has a small black bear population. Bear boxes are available for food storage in all of the park’s developed campgrounds and should be utilized. Overnight backcountry campers are required to use bear canisters. Trash cans within the park are also bear resistant. Those who park overnight in Rocky Mountain National Park are prohibited from leaving food in their vehicles in the Wild Basin Area and along the Fern Lake Road, and instead must use food storage lockers that are located at Wild Basin, Longs Peak, Finch Lake, Fern Lake, and Sandbeach Lake trailheads.
Why we carried the gear we did
Headlamp
If you’re someone who likes to beat the crowds, you might need to get up before the sun to hit the park’s most popular trails. Packing a headlamp that you can trust like the Black Diamond Spot 400 Rechargeable Headlamp will keep you poised and ready for even the earliest starts.
Day Pack
A day pack, like the Granite Gear Dagger Pack or the Janji Revi Pack, will give you plenty of space to store water, snacks, and all of your other trail essentials for basic excursions in the park. We hiked with the Janji Revi Pack for the Sky Pond trek and found that it was spacious enough for the 4-hour journey. You may also be interested in a fastpack.
Sun Protection
The higher you are in elevation, the closer you are to the sun. And, don’t be fooled, it doesn’t have to be blindingly sunny to catch you unprepared. Packing a sun hat or baseball cap is a good way to protect your face from the Rocky Mountain sun. Sunglasses can help to support eye-health even amidst snowy conditions. And, of course, don’t forget the sunscreen!
Shoes or boots
We wore Rossignol’s new Vezor Shoe on our recent trip to the park, and we were largely appreciative of the shoe’s sticky rubber, and aggressive traction for the few rock scrambles we encountered. Those who struggle with ankle injuries might also opt for a boot on trails that are known for their scree. Check out our Best Men’s and Women’s Trail Running Shoes, Best Hiking Shoes, and Best Lightweight Hiking Boots guides for our favorites.
Hiking shirt
We’re big advocates for wearing sun shirts since they add extra protection against harmful UV rays. Sun shirts come in a lot of different shapes and sizes, and everyone’s preference is a little bit different. We love merino because of its antimicrobial properties and its adaptability, so we generally opt for a shirt with a wool construction for those reasons.
Extra layers
Colorado mountain weather is notoriously fickle. So, chances are that you’ll need some clothing layers to help you regulate your temperature throughout your journey in the park. Depending on the time of the year of your visit, stick a light, medium, or heavy base layer in your pack. Bring a down jacket year-round. And don’t forget your rain jacket since it can rain, sleet, hail, and snow even in the dead of summer in the park.
Traction
July and August are generally pretty snow free in the high country, but pretty much any other time of the year is susceptible to snow. This means that most people can benefit from carrying a pair of microspikes or crampons, trekking poles, and even an ice axe to ensure that they don’t slip down the side of a mountain.
OTHER RESOURCES
Rocky Mountain National Park’s Wilderness (backcountry) campsites
If you’re looking for something to do in Estes Park, head to the tram. A short ride to the top of a peak gives you incredible views of the Rockies and Estes Park.
About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
Mary Beth Skylis is a freelance writer who specializes in adventure content and travel. She’s been climbing across the globe for more than a decade, and is a total sucker for limestone and granite rock, and long multi-pitch climbs. She currently works as a columnist for Backpacker Magazine. She also has by-lines in Climbing, REI, Alaska Magazine, Women’s Health, Outside Magazine, Trail Runner, SELF, 5280, and Yellow Scene. When she isn’t writing, she can typically be found in the Rocky Mountains with her pups.
Follow her on Instagram: @h1kertrash
