Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado is one of our favorite travel destinations and we love to experience all the outdoor activities the state has to offer. While Colorado might best be known for its skiing, summer time in the mountains is the perfect reprieve for those hot midwestern summers. The most obvious choice for your first summer outing in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas.
In this guide, we will give you a complete weekend itinerary for your trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Where to Stay
If you are visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, the best places to set up base camp is Estes Park or Grand Lake. Estes Park is on the east side of the park, which is more popular and includes better entry to major destinations like Bear Lake and Trail Ridge Road. Grand Lake, on the other hand, is on the west side which tends to be quieter and less trafficked. Estes Park has more amenities, restaurants, and shops for you to explore when you aren’t in the park. We will focus on the Estes Park side in this guide, but definitely check out information about Grand Lake if you are looking for a quieter trip where you don’t have to fight as many crowds.
Here are three fantastic options for your stay in Estes Park:
Romantic Riversong Inn - We stayed here and had the most amazing time. It is a cozy bed and breakfast just outside the national park and a very short drive to the Riverwalk in Estes Park. With its location right on the Big Thompson River, you get to continue your enjoyment of nature even after leaving the park. The Inn includes a delicious breakfast and has hot tubs and saunas on the property to enjoy.
The Stanley Hotel - If you’re a fan of Stephen King, you should recognize this hotel. This hotel helped inspire The Shining after King stayed at this hotel with his wife. This hotel has so much history (and hauntings). They offer ghostly tours if that is your thing. This hotel is a great location with a short drive to the Riverwalk.
The Maxwell Inn - Another cozy inn located very close to the park and downtown. Initially built as a single family home, it has been renovated into the lovely inn it is today. It is also close to the river and includes a continental breakfast and access to fire pits and a hot tub.
If you’re looking to rough it, there are several easy to reach camp sites just a short drive southeast off Highway 36.
Park Passes & Timed Entry Reservation System for RMNP
You must have a valid park pass in order to enter Rocky Mountain National Park. Entrance for 1-day in a standard vehicle is $30, $35 for a 7-day pass or you can of course enter if you have an America the Beautiful pass. If you plan on visiting more than two national parks in a year, you should definitely spring for the America the Beautiful pass.
Rocky Mountain National Park also has a timed entry reservation system. The dates that you need a timed entry reservation vary year to year, typically beginning Memorial day weekend through mid-October. There are two reservation types: the basic Timed Entry which does not include Bear Lake Road and Timed Entry+ which does include Bear Lake Road. These reservations were put in place to help reduce traffic during the busiest time of the year.
Please visit the National Park website to find out exact dates for when reservation tickets become available and set a reminder. The tickets usually drop the month prior to the month you would like to visit. If you are unable to procure a reservation, you can still visit the park! You will just need to enter the park prior to 9 am or after 2 pm in order to gain access.
Two-Day Itinerary for Rocky Mountain National Park with Bear Lake Road access
Day 1 AM
One of the most popular hikes is a trail that takes you to three unique alpine lakes, Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake. This trail gets very busy and parking can fill up fast, so be sure to get there early! The trail is 3.2 miles out and back. Bear Lake Loop is also nearby for a very easy stroll (1.7 miles).
Day 1 PM
After your hike, take the Trail Ridge road for a scenic drive up to the Alpine Visitor Center. It is the highest continuous paved road in the US and offers plenty of scenic viewpoints!
After a long day of hiking, head back to your hotel/inn and rest up. After you are rested, hit up the Riverwalk in downtown Estes Park. There are so many shops to poke around in, get some ice cream or just sit and enjoy the river. When you are ready to eat some dinner, head to Antlers Rooftop Tavern. They have a great rooftop patio if the weather is nice. The cocktails and burgers hit the spot after a day of hiking.
Day 2 AM
Rise early for a big day of exploring Rocky Mountain! If you decide to stay at a hotel that offers breakfast, this is a great option to fuel for your day. If you have a timed entry reservation, be sure to arrive early. Lines can get long at the entrances, but we found if we just got there 15-20 minutes early and waited for our time slot, we got in easily.
Before you hit the park, stop at Scratch Deli which is just outside the park. They offer some delicious sandwiches you can take with you to enjoy sometime on your hike.
We recommend hiking the Sky Pond trail. There are so many scenic areas along the way. The great thing about this hike is you can make it as short or long as you like. Going all the way to Sky Pond is a 9.5 mile out and back hike. However, you can shorten it by hiking just to Alberta Falls (1.2 miles) or The Loch (5.5 miles).
Day 2 PM
Head back to your hotel, clean up and head back downtown again. If you are like us, we always have to find some good Mexican food to enjoy while on vacation. We opted to visit Ed’s Cantina. While not the best Mexican fare we have ever had, it was a delicious plate after another long day of hiking.
And there is your complete weekend itinerary for Rocky Mountain National Park! If you have more time, there is so much more to explore in the park. You could also venture out to the surrounding areas that also have so many great things to offer. We highly recommend checking out Boulder, Fort Collins or Red Rocks for a show.
