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Top Ten Things To Do :
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1. Experience Quaking Aspens in Fall
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park during the fall is a must do. Starting in late August, aspens in the highest reaches of the Park begin their annual quaking—a term to describe the aspens unique leaves changing a golden-yellow huge and how they react in wind. As the quacking progresses the Park’s high country becomes striped with color, appearing on fire from a distance. During September the aspens continue to change moving gradually down in elevation, until mid-September when typically the whole Park is bathed in color. Adding to the impressive natural display, hundreds of Elk migrate down from the high country to find a mate for the winter. Photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and just about everyone else consider this time of year to be “primetime.” Even though just about every spot in the park is bursting with color, there are a few select spots we recommend, which should make your trip to the Park all the more special.
2. HIking in Rocky Mountain Park
Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park is a cinch. Over 350 miles of trails crisscross the Park, linking together alpine lakes, jagged peaks, thick lodgepole Pine forests and rocky tundra. So what are you waiting for? Lace up your boots, grab your pack, and get ready to explore Rocky Mountain National Park one step at a time. For starters, hike to Alpine Lakes. Using a Park map as a dartboard it’s nearly impossible to not casually throw a dart and hit a backcountry alpine lake. But don’t worry; with so many lakes there is a lake for every fitness level. Some of our personal favorites (yes we’ve been to them and not just seen pictures) are the following.
3. Take in a Festival on your Rocky Mountain vacation
Here at MyRockyMountainPark.com we love festivals. (Especially in Colorado since the state is home to more microbrews than any other). Want to dance, drink, and eat good food all in the name of a frozen dead guy? Done. How about attend the best small rodeo in America? Yep got that covered to. Or how about throwing on a kilt and tossing a kaber? Better yet, how about tossing it with the Rocky Mountains as your backdrop? Done, done and done. If you have little kids things are even better. Face painting, jump houses, animal exhibits, and cotton candy are usually plentiful. So why not dig into this list and see which festival lines up with your trip out to Rocky Mountain National Park, and it’s surrounding regions.
4. Hike to Top of Longs Peak
It is impossible to not stare at the eastern skyline of Rocky Mountain National Park and not be compelled to at least wonder what it would be like to climb Longs Peak. Dominating the skyline, and topping out at 14,259 feet, Longs is the ultimate adventure for enthusiastic hikers. Don’t be fooled though, it’s not a walk in the park. In fact, the 16-mile round trip hike will push hikers lungs and stamina to the test. The reward? Unobstructed 360 degree views spanning the eastern plains and continental divide. Here's the rundown on it...
5. See Wild Animals
Seeing wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park evokes a rush of excitement so great it’s hard to remember there isn’t a piece of glass between you and the animals. Home to thousands of Elk, Mule Dear, Marmots, Big Horn Sheep, and the occasional Black Beer, it’s not uncommon to have your Park experience include a wildlife sighting. After spending hundreds of hours inside the Park, we’ve come to learn a thing or two about how not to get your food ravaged by a Black Bear, or how to cross through a heard of Elk in the high country. So if seeing wildlife is a priority, take our word for it and plan on exploring the Park in depth. And even better, use a little one as a lookout since they typically see things first. (Don’t ask us how; it just seems to always work out that way.)
6. Enjoy a Ranger-Led Activity
We know exploring a national park can be an exciting activity to do on your own, but why not spend a few hours and check out a ranger-led program? The rewards can be bountiful, and Rocky Mountain National Park has more than a few to choose from. Curious what an Elk feels like? They’ve got the covered in an interactive wildlife lecture. Want to learn how to snowshoe? No problem, check out guided snowshoe trips during the winter. Curious why Aspens change color? Just head to a visitor center and check out the nature displays. Not only will your questions be answered, but also your follow-up questions and your kids follow-up, follow-up questions. (Yeah we’ve got kids and know the feeling of being asked why, why, why.) So why not save yourself the hassle of having to know everything and let a ranger do some work?
7. Tour Trail Ridge Road
(Photo courtesy National Park Service) If you thought the journey to Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful, just wait until you experience Trail Ridge Road. Completed in 1933, Trail Ridge Road links Estes Park and Grand Lake, winding past countless 12,000-foot peaks, high-alpine tundra, and some of Rocky Mountain National Parks best views. Known appropriately as the Highway to the Sky, Trail Ridge Road crosses the continental divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and history byway. A trip to Rocky Mountain National Park is not complete without a ride over Trail Ridge Road!
8. Experience this Region in Winter
There is a good chance locals don’t want us to tell you this, but we’ll take the risk: Rocky Mountain National Park during wintertime is a wonderful place. Crowds are non-existent, trails desolate, and backcountry camping always available. (Might just be a little cold) Sure we know it’s not the summer months when a tee-shirt and shorts pass as acceptable attire, but snow-drenched Rockies glistening in early morning light, have an unique beauty only a select few get to see. But the goodness doesn’t stop there. Colorado turns into a wintertime dream once temperatures drop and the snow starts falling. Twenty-six ski resorts, more skiable terrain than anywhere else in the U.S., and some of the best snow on earth mean plenty to do outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.
9. Spend a Night in Historic Stanley Hotel
Just six miles from Rocky Mountain National Park and towering above the small mountain town of Estes Park, The Stanly Hotel should be included in every visitors to do list. Painted bright white and designed with a Georgian architectural style, The Stanley Hotel has been part of Rocky Mountain National Park’s history since 1909 and even was the inspiration behind one of Stephen King’s scariest stories The Shining. Oh yeah it’s also considered to be hunted too. (You know, just in case you’re into that type of stuff….)
10. Experience a "Perfect Day" in Rocky Mountain
We get asked all the time here at MyRockyMountainPark.com what the perfect day at Rocky Mountain National Park would be like. It’s a valid question seeing the Park is just 40 minutes up the road us and a few times each month we head up there. So in the spirit of making your life easier, we decided to spill one of our perfect days. (Just a heads up you might have to drive a few miles over the speed limit to hit everything, but of course we never told you that.) We believe in early starts – to beat the crowd and enjoy the region at sunrise, so follow along. We're starting our day at 5:12 a.m.

We realize that travelers determine their vacation destination based largely on the things to do in an area. Well, we have news for you: Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding regions are a Things to Do Mecca! There is so much to do on a Rocky Mountain vacation that you’ll be hard-pressed to fit it all in a single vacation.

You definitely won't run out of things to do during your Rocky Mountain vacation, whether it's your first time in the national park or a return visit. Scenic drives wind past the park's natural wonders and viewpoints of the Rocky Mountains.

AdventureIf you like adventure you’ve come to the right place. Backpacking, skiing, rafting, camping, and hiking are just a few of the activities you’ll be able to experience in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. Throw in 350 miles of trail, a 14,000-foot peak, three mountain ranges, and 75 plus lakes and it’s no wonder your adrenaline will be pumping. Some of our favorite things are hiking Longs Peak, cross-country skiing through the Kawuneeche valley during wintertime, and backpacking along the Continental Divide through the Never Summer Mountains. For more trips and enough suggestions to get your adrenaline flowing, explore this section.
SightseeingThe Park is full of must-see sights: waterfalls, canyons, mountain ranges, meadows, peaks, valleys, trees, and vistas. So why not plan ahead and make sure you can see them all? Looking for the ideal scenic roadway? No problem we’ve got that covered. Want one outside of the Park while you’re driving in? Yep got that too. How about the best overlooks? Done. Or even better how about instructions on how you can drive part of 3 national and historic trails. Yeah old news for us. So take the guessing out of your visit and look here to get the insider information locals don’t want you to necessarily know.
Natural WondersIt’s a sticky name—Natural Wonders—mainly because it’s hard to decide exactly what a natural wonder really is. To help clear things up a bit we drove, hiked, biked, ran, and climbed all throughout the park looking for the ultimate natural wonders. What we came up with is, you know, run of the mill…. (yeah right) Like: the best views in the park, the most remote canyon no trials lead too, and the perfect backcountry lake nobody knows about. So before jumping in the car check our list to make sure you see the waterfalls, lakes, rivers, canyons and mountains that define Rocky Mountain National Park.
Arts & CultureEver wanted to celebrate a frozen dead guy? How about drink the best beer from all over the United States at the largest beer festival in America? Then you’ve got to check out these festivals and things to do in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park and surrounding regions are packed with museums, galleries, historical monuments, and annual festivals. Of course you could just skip everything and go straight to the granddaddy and stay that night in room 217 at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. What’s so special about it you ask? It’s the same room Stephen King started writing The Shining and oh it’s haunted too. So plan your trip perfectly and enjoy some local culture by looking here.
Wildlife to see on your vacationThere are big mammals and then there are Elk and Moose. These guys are huge! Found throughout the Park and highly visible, children’s eyes will light up when they realize there is no fence between them and the massive mammal a few hundred feet away. But there are tricks to seeing them and we want to help you out. Also, don’t worry we’ve covered a few more animals too like Big Horn Sheep, Marmots, Mule Deer, and Birds found only in the highest elevation tundra. So heed our advice and make sure you set yourself to succeed by looking here to learn where and when to look for wildlife.
A Rocky Mountain Park vacation is one big scenic road trip. Explore our sample routes and scenic drives here.
A Rocky Mountain Park vacation is a trip of a lifetime. You need to know what gear to pack and wear while visiting the spectacular natural wonder. Backpacker provides what you need to get properly geared up.