Rocky Mountain National Park
Drive up Trail Ridge Road and you'll spot Longs Peak in the distance. Down in Rocky's meadows, watch the park's most crowd-drawing wildlife, herds of elk.
Free Trip Planner
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Explore Colorado National Parks
We love Colorado and exploring its national park sites with diverse and unexpected landscapes. Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide with alpine lakes, the headwaters of the Colorado River and dozens of mountain peaks. Mesa Verde National Park showcases human history at ancient cliff dwellings from 1,400 years ago. Sled or hike a spectacular array of dunes trapped by mountains at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and watch birds take a deep dive between the vertical canyon walls of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We invite you to travel the depths of Colorado and discover your own place of adventure.
Mesa Verde National Park
Described as the pyramids of North America, the ancient ruins at Mesa Verde hold the early stories of our nation from 1,400 years ago.
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Is this south central Colorado or the Sahara? It’s not always easy to tell at this unique park where the continent’s tallest sand dunes join the rugged Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
At this impossibly sheer, narrow canyon in southwestern Colorado, 40 feet at it's narrowest, rock walls plunge a half mile down.
Colorado National Monument
Cruise Rim Rock Drive for a striking upper level view of canyons filled with pillars. Along the road, stop at 19 overlooks and 14 trailheads.
Dinosaur National Monument
Two visitor centers, one in Colorado and one in Utah have interactive displays. One leads to the wall of bones. Raft the Yampa River past the iconic Steamboat Rock.
Top 9 Colorado Hot Springs Soaking Spots
Colorado is blessed with healing mineral waters. Here are our favorite places for après-anything soaking.
What to Pack for Your Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation
How do you pack for a place where temperatures can fluctuate 35 degrees in one day? Here are the top 14 items to bring to the park.
A Trail Guide's Insight to the Colorado Rocky Mountains in Winter
Wildland Trekking outdoor guide, Robin Guthrie gives the inside scoop of why winter is the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park.
Where is Rocky Mountain National Park?
RMNP is 412 miles of wilderness located in northeastern Colorado. The Beaver Meadows entrance to the park is a one-hour-and-45-minute drive from Denver, Colorado.
Which side of Rocky Mountain National Park should I visit?
Rocky Mountain National Park has four entrance stations – three on the east side near Estes Park and one on the quieter west side near Grand Lake. Find out what’s special about each entrance. Trail Ridge Road, a seasonal road, connects the two sides of the park and is the most scenic and popular road in the park.
Estes Park, Eastern Base Camp for Rocky Mountain National Park
Known for its lodging, small-town charm, and knowledgeable outfitters, Estes Park serves Rocky Mountain National Park and access to the national forest.
Grand Lake, CO - West Entrance Town to RMNP
Grand Lake, CO is located just one mile from the West Entrance of the Park. Home to Grand Lake, the largest and deepest natural alpine lake in the state.
Which Entrance Should I Take into Rocky Mountain National Park?
To access the park, there are four entrances, three on the park’s east side and one on the west. Here's how to pick your approach
Drive Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
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.
How should I get to Rocky Mountain National Park?
Most people drive to the park. Check out our road trip ideas. If you fly, the nearest international airport is Denver (DIA). You can also take a passenger train close to the west entrance and complete your journey via taxi. Once you get to the park, you will need a car, tour transportation, bike, or park shuttle to get around.
5 Best Road Trips
Regardless of where you start your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation, you'll find an exciting scenic route to the park when you follow one of these suggested Rocky Mountain maps and itineraries.
Closest Airports to Rocky Mountain National Park
How to get to the national park by flying to Denver or Cheyenne and then driving. Info includes rental cars, and airport shuttles.
Shuttle Buses in Rocky Mountain National Park
Skip the traffic and enjoy the ride on one of the many shuttle buses around Rocky Mountain National Park including options from Estes Park and Grand Lake.
Where should I stay on my Rocky Mountain vacation?
Although there are no lodges inside the park, there are several campgrounds. In the gateway towns, you will find many lodging options including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds.
Where Should I Camp in Rocky Mountain National Park?
A personalized guide to help you decide where to spend the night, from car camping paradise and remote backcountry sites to RV heaven.
Hotels and Cabins
Visitors to Rocky Mountain and Colorado's other national parks will find a large variety of hotels and motels to choose from to fit every need and budget.
What is there to see in Rocky Mountain National Park?
RMNP is known for its many waterfalls and lakes. Bear, Lily, and Sprague lakes on the east side are the easiest lakes to visit with parking lots and level trails circling the shores. Visit the many overlooks on Trail Ridge Road for mountain views including the tallest, Longs Peak. Look in the meadows early in the morning or at dusk for large herds of elk, or on the west side wetlands, for moose.
Natural Wonders
Waterfalls, mountain ranges, glaciers, lakes, rivers, and meadows, are all just a few of the natural wonders inside Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding regions.
3 Best Scenic Overlooks on Trail Ridge Road
Forget having to hike miles to experience the sight of open tundra, alpine vistas, and towering peaks. Trail Ridge Road, has three must-see turnouts.
Where to See Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park
Traveling in herds across open tundra and low-lying valleys, Elk are routinely considered the main wildlife attraction.
Where to See Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park
Seeing moose in the Park typically is not that difficult. Since they are so large it's hard to miss them grazing in the low-lying valleys and wet areas near lakes.
What is there to do in the Rocky Mountains?
Hiking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, and scenic drives are the main activities here. See our list of the top ten things to do in the park and beyond. Are you prepared for high altitude weather? Be careful of afternoon thunderstorms.
10 Things to Do on a Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation
The park and the Estes Park and Grand Lake areas are a Things to Do Mecca! Here are our top picks including hiking, horseback riding and scenic drives.
Best Hiking Trails
Colorado is a hiker’s playground. Even summit one—or all—of Colorado’s 54 14,000-foot peaks. The journey may be painful, but the views are unprecedented.
What's New
Eat Local near Great Sand Dunes National Park
For the hungry tourist, there is another gem right in town - Locavores, a farm fresh experience hoping to enhance Alamosa’s culinary reputation.
48 Hours in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Make your time in the park count with our detailed itinerary! This other-worldly park boasts the tallest sand dunes in North America.
Living It Up in Lyons, Colorado
5 reasons to stop in this historic town on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park including music, beer and playing in the river.
41 Diverse Playgrounds in Colorado State Parks
Colorado’s state parks are as diverse as the state itself. Hike or climb in Eldorado Canyon near Boulder and see moose in State Forest State Park near Walden.
48 Hours in Mesa Verde National Park
There's more to do beyond the main attraction of touring ancient cliff ruins. Take a hike, gaze from a fire tower or have dinner with a view.
Annual Perseid Meteor Shower in Rocky Mountains
A perseid meteor shower can be seen every year in Rocky Mountain National Park in mid August
48 Hours in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
With incredible sheer black cliffs, a history-filled past and abundant plants and wildlife, this park is one of Colorado’s most under-rated destinations