Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) in Estes Park, Colorado, is a National Park with a lot to offer. The best part? You can have an awe-inspiring, beautiful, outdoorsy, nature-packed vacation in only 4 days. Read the full itinerary below!
Dream Lake
Trip Itinerary (The Basics)
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RMNP Trip Itinerary
Day One: Explore Downtown Estes Park, Drive Trail Ridge Road, Hike Tundra Communities Trailhead (1.1 mi RT), Visit Historic Stanley Hotel
Day Two: Hike Bear Lake Trailhead (Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Bear Lake at 3.2 mi RT), Drive Trail Ridge Road (again... no two days are the same for weather, and you may need two chances to see these views clearly!)
Day Three: Hike Glacier Gorge Trailhead (Sky Pond, Loch Vale, Alberta Falls at 9.5 mi RT)
Day Four: Early Morning Visit to Sprague Lake (0.8 mi RT walk), Explore Moraine Park, Professional Photographer Photo Shoot
Need-To-Knows
Before you plan, consider these Rocky Mountain necessities.
Timed Entry Passes: As of 2023, From May 26th through October 22nd, Timed Entry Passes are required to enter the main area of RMNP between the hours of 9 AM - 2 PM (this includes Trail Ridge Road, etc.). You may enter the park without an entry pass if you enter BEFORE 9 AM or AFTER 2 PM. These passes go for sale about a month before the date, at about $2 a piece. More passes go up for sale the day before the required date at about 5 PM MST.
Timed Entry Passes+ are required to enter the Bear Lake Corridor of RMNP from 5 AM - 6 PM (this includes Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, Moraine Park, and more). You may enter the park without an entry pass if you enter BEFORE 5 AM or AFTER 6 PM. These passes go for sale about a month before the date, at about $2 a piece. More passes go up for sale the day before the required date at about 5 PM MST. These passes go extremely fast, so plan your trip early and keep an eye out for the release dates on recreation.gov!
You need Timed Entry Passes in additional to a regular park pass. Regular park passes can be bought at the gate when you arrive (there are options for a week or an annual pass).
Altitude Sickness: It's real. Give your body time to adjust before you try to complete any big hikes, drink lots of water, and be sure to eat.
Afternoon Storms: They are common and you are likely to encounter one in the mountains. We saw rain, sleet, snow, and fog in our four day trip. Bring a rain jacket, be prepared, and try to be below the tree line before 2 PM. Avoid being in high elevation (or high up) during a storm.
Be Weather Prepared: There will be snow in June. I can tell you this from experience! Bring warm clothing and appropriate gear. Rent snow spikes or hiking poles as needed, for hiking in higher elevations. Check All Trails to determine hiking trail conditions before your hike each day.
Full Trip Itinerary
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Day One
Penelope's Burgers picnic in Downtown Estes Park
Happy first day! Arrive in Estes Park and take in that touristy, mountain-town feel. Walk the downtown strip (Elkhorn Avenue) and explore! There are lots of opportunities here: window shopping, real shopping, souvenir shops, restaurants, candy stores, river walks, and more all on one walkable strip. Parking is hard to come by because Estes has become a very popular vacation spot. Just know that you may not park on the strip. There is some free parking just past the strip in a public lot, but it fills up quickly, too. There are some trams that can take folks to and fro. (Pro tip: Pick a hotel in walking distance of Downtown if you would like quick and easy access to restaurants. Finding parking and open tables for dinner proves to be difficult.)
Personally, we only needed about an hour or two to explore Downtown Estes. We aren't touristy people, and seeing the huge crowds was overwhelming. We much preferred the open space and solitude of the National Park close by. We grabbed lunch at the famous Penelope's Burgers, took it to eat at a picnic table on the river walk, and waited for 2 PM so we could enter RMNP without a timed entry pass (because I didn't reserve a pass for this day in advance).
Begin the scenic drive to Trail Ridge Road. Without a timed entry pass, you can enter the main park after 2 PM, which includes Trail Ridge Road, but does not include Bear Lake Road (until after 6 PM). It's important to check the weather before you begin your drive into the tundra ecosystem, because weather is more severe in higher elevations. Even if the weather in Estes was beautiful, you will want to pack a warm hat, coat, warm socks, and maybe even gloves for the journey.
Welcome to the tundra (Guns N Roses reference)
We arrived on a cloudy day and chose to battle the elements in search of a good view. In hindsight, this wasn't the best idea. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America. The higher we went, the quicker the weather changed and the temperatures dropped. We couldn't see anything around us. All we could see were thick clouds of white fog on either side of the road, which was pretty scary, considering the road features steep drop offs and no shoulder. For folks who are more gun shy about heights or driving, I wouldn't recommend chancing a cloudy day on Trail Ridge Road.
Cloudy day on Trail Ridge Road
Although we couldn't see the scenery, it was interesting to drive and walk through a cloud. As we began to hike Tundra Communities Trailhead (1.1 mi RT), it began to snow and sleet. It was cold, but it was also beautiful to be in this winter wonderland in June. There is something about a quiet walk through the snow, surrounded by a whiteout, and feeling the snowflakes hit your nose and seeing them melt in your hair. This experience wasn't what I expected weather-wise, but it was a magical experience all the same. How crazy is RMNP? I wore flip flops in Downtown Estes Park and then had snowflakes in my hair on Trail Ridge Road. There is awe-inspiring beauty in change.
Can you see the snowflakes?
The cherry on top of this cold, snowy, winter (in the middle of June) day was the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the United States! I also declare it as the visitor center with the best hot chocolate. (I haven't put much research into that - but it was seriously so good!) This is the perfect place to warm up, take a seat, browse souvenirs, and even grab something to eat. We didn't eat here, but several families were.
Check into your lodging and get settled in for your long weekend. We stayed at the Maxwell Inn, a cute, quaint, family-owned inn just a short walk from Downtown Estes Park. I chose this hotel due to its location near a National Park entrance and its price. Unfortunately, during our visit, construction at the Fall River Road entrance of RMNP was underway, so we didn't get to utilize the close-by entrance. We had to drive through Downtown Estes to use the Beaver Meadows entrance. This was no fault of the hotel, of course, but it did add on extra time and stress to our commute to the park. I recommend the Maxwell Inn for a nice, cozy, no-fuss stay! There was always parking in the hotel lot, and they even have free DVDs that you can borrow to watch during your stay.
Wherever you stay, make sure to book early. Lodging goes quickly in and around Estes Park, due to its rising popularity among tourists and vacationers. I booked our stay three months before, and had great difficulty finding lodging within my price range that was still available three months out. Be quicker than me, and you may just find a great deal! I also recommend finding lodging with a hot tub. After a long day of hiking, and sometimes getting snowed on, it's nice to have a hot tub to go home to! Bonus points if the hot tub has a mountain view!
Get historical and haunted with a night time tour at the Stanley Hotel. On our first day, the weather was rainy, foggy, and spooky: a perfect evening for a ghost tour. We snagged two tickets to a tour, quickly grabbed some sandwiches (half for dinner, and half for tomorrow's lunch on our hike), and joined the tour group. I wouldn't say this tour made believers out of us, but it was fun to explore places most don't get to go on the Stanley Hotel grounds, learn about the history of the hotel, and listen to ghost stories. The tour also came with a $10 voucher to use at the hotel bar.
The Stanley Hotel
Return to your hotel and, if you are staying at the Maxwell Inn, borrow The Shining DVD from the front desk. We hadn't actually watched this movie before, and after touring the infamous hotel that inspired Steven King to write the story, we had to see it.
Day Two
Dream Lake
Grab your timed entry pass for Bear Lake and enter the Park during your assigned time. We got a pass from 8 AM - 10 AM, so we were able to enter the park, after sitting in line for about 30 minutes, at 9 AM. We were surprised by how long the entrance line was, but it was a Saturday in the summertime. As you drive along Bear Lake Corridor, there will be signs if the parking lot is full. (It was full by 9 AM). If it is, you will need to continue on to the commuter/tram parking lot. We found a spot easily at this public transport parking lot, and waited in line to jump on the bus and be taken to Bear Lake Trailhead. It was crowded and the wait was inconvenient, but it was sure better than circling the tiny Bear Lake parking lot and waiting for someone to leave!
This was my favorite hike that we did in RMNP. Hike towards Emerald Lake for around a three mile hike. You will first see Nymph Lake, then continue your hike to Dream Lake, and finally, Emerald Lake. All three lakes were beautiful in their own ways. I'm not sure if Dream or Emerald was my favorite! We stopped at Dream Lake to eat our sandwiches on the rocks, in the midst of gorgeous nature. This was an easy and beautiful hike, with a few hard spots due only to snow. We completed without snow spikes or poles in June, but many other hikers used them on this trail. Spikes would have made a few spots easier, but for the most part, there wasn't too much snow on the trail!
Emerald Lake
As we continued back towards the trailhead, it began to snow around Nymph Lake. As a rule of thumb, you should always plan your hikes to avoid 2 PM. Many thunderstorms and weather events occur around this afternoon hour in the mountains. We met other hikers who were just beginning their hike, and the snow caused them to turn around. Start early or start late, but try to avoid the middle if you can!
Nymph Lake
Bear Lake is worth a quick walk at the end of your hike, but it is not as beautiful as the other lakes, in my opinion. I would skip Bear Lake at the beginning of your hike, and then walk it if you have the time and energy after hitting the other lakes.
Snow in June on Emerald Lake Hike (at Emerald Lake)
You can add on Lake Haiyaha and make this a 6.2 mile roundtrip hike. Unfortunately, we skipped Lake Haiyaha on our June visit, because it was still very snowy. There were tunnels that went through/under snowcaps, and rangers stated it wasn't the safest trail due to the snow, and that they would only recommend it to more experienced hikers. The rangers recommended spikes and poles for this leg of the hike, and we didn't have them. I had a slight fear of being crushed by a snow tunnel and decided to skip the detour. I have heard that this lake is gorgeous, and in the summer of 2022, it turned a beautiful, milky color. I wish we could have seen it!
Emerald Lake
Wait at the trailhead for the bus to come back for you, return to the commuter lot, and choose your next plan of attack. As Emerald Lake is a shorter hike and it was a beautiful, clear day, we chose to give Trail Ridge Road another try. I'm so glad that we did, because it is a completely different experience on a clear, sunny day! Seeing the mountains and the wildlife while driving was so much better than seeing a whiteout. We threw our beanies and coats on and stopped at the gorgeous viewpoints (in order from bottom of the road to the top: Forest Canyon Overlook, Gore Range Overlook, Medicine Bow Curve).
Forest Canyon Overlook Viewpoint
We parked at the Alpine Visitor Center and hiked the short Alpine Ridge Trail, although it was the most difficult 0.5 mi walk I've ever taken. The high elevation and steep stairs make this walk a lot of work - and it's hard to breathe in the thin air. The view from the top wasn't any more spectacular than what we saw from the viewpoints, so the hike wasn't something I would recommend. You can see the same great view from the safety of slightly lower elevation pull-offs on the road and save your lungs! Also, after we got back down, we heard a local talking about someone being struck by lightning at the top. They referred to it as the "Lightning Rod Hike." Had I known this, I would have skipped. Yet another reason it is so important to check the weather before you begin the climb to high elevation Trail Ridge Road! We make another quick pit stop in to the Alpine Visitor Center for the amazing hot chocolate, and this time, with a nice view out of the windows! We saw several elk on this drive.
Grab a window seat
At this point of the day, you must be starving! Our best dining experience of the entire trip was at Smokin' Dave's BBQ in Estes Park. The BBQ was fantastic, the service was super fast, and the price was pretty standard. We were quickly seated on a Saturday evening without reservations, which is unheard of in Estes. I highly recommend this restaurant! After our meal, we hit up a local liquor store for some locally brewed apple cider, which we enjoyed in the hot tub at the hotel! It's so special to support locally owned businesses on vacation and get that authentic experience.
Day Three
Lace up your hiking boots
This is your big hiking day! By day three, you should have plenty of time to get adjusted to the altitude and conquer a big hike: Sky Pond at about 9.5 miles round trip (give or take.. We did it in about 11 miles with exploring around the lakes). Check the weather and check recent reviews on All Trails to determine if supplies are needed for the terrain. On June 18th, we needed snow spikes to complete this hike. We quickly stopped at Estes Park Mountain Shop to rent snow spikes for the day and had a great experience. All the workers were very nice, it was quick and easy to rent the spikes for the day, and the return process was just as easy. It was also super affordable. If there's snow on the mountain, just spend the $20 to keep them in your backpack! I was so glad that we rented spikes because I could not have navigated the snow fields without them.
Grab your timed entry pass for Bear Lake Road and head towards Glacier Gorge Trailhead. We got a pass from 8 AM - 10 AM, so we were able to enter the park, after sitting in line for about 30 minutes, at about 9:30 AM. This was on a Sunday. Expect a line on the weekends - even with the timed entry passes!
Alberta Falls
Glacier Gorge Trailhead is another small parking lot: even smaller than Bear Lake Trailhead. The signs showed us the lot was full, so we parked in the commuter lot again. We waited for the hiker bus in the rain, and hitched our ride to the trailhead. The weather cleared and we were boots on the ground towards Alberta Falls. After Alberta Falls, the crowds quickly cleared out, and we made our way to Loch Vale. It was at Loch Vale that we needed our snow spikes for the first time. I couldn't believe how windy it was at this lake! It was gorgeous, though.
Windy, like check out my inflated windbreaker, windy
The All Trails reviews aren't lying.. It is difficult to find the trail to Sky Pond from Loch Vale. We got some of our extra steps in trying to locate the trail. However, it was covered in snow, so I'm sure it's easier to find when clear. Once you arrive to Loch Vale, you need to continue along the right side of the lake to continue. The hike to Loch Vale seemed easy, but it became gradually more difficult from this halfway point. Get ready.... You're too close to turn back now!
Loch Vale
I was thankful to have my snow spikes this June will climbing up the slick, steep ice fields to Timberline Falls. There was a one-way path blazed through the snow, so those going up and down took turns on the narrow trail. We met several hikers who made it to Timberline Falls, but turned around just short of Sky Pond because they didn't have spikes and the slick snow was too dangerous.
Timberline Falls requires a rock scramble, up the waterfall, to get closer to your end point. Although it is a running waterfall, it is relatively easy to stay dry while climbing, as long as you choose the correct rocks. Take your snow spikes off while climbing the rocks, because spikes are not made for rocks, and will make it much more difficult. I'm not an experienced hiker, and I probably had no business free climbing this small waterfall, but it was such a feeling of accomplishment to reach the top! However, your hike isn't done at this point.
Lake of Glass
You will arrive at the Lake of Glass. This is not Sky Pond (although it's just as pretty), so your journey continues another half mile around the right-hand side of the Lake of Glass. You will need to rock scramble up some large boulders to continue on the trail and then it will become a flat hike to Sky Pond.
Sky Pond
Sky Pond is very windy due to its high elevation. It boasts a very interesting rock formation, called the Shark's Tooth. Take a moment to sit down, soak in the view, and say, "I DID IT!" If you are anything like us, and you took a few extra breaks on the way to the top, you won't have much time to sit before you begin your trek back down the mountain to avoid potential afternoon thunderstorms. I recommend starting earlier than we did (and giving yourself about 30 extra minutes for the hiking bus) so you have more time to enjoy the top!
Sky Pond
Scrambling Timberline Falls was harder going down than it was coming up, as expected. Navigating the snow field was also more difficult and jarring on the knees and toes, which would make hiking poles useful. Several hikers slid down the snow path on their butts to get down quicker, and I followed their lead. Your butt dries off pretty quickly, as there's still a lot of hiking to be done on the way down. There were a lot of bugs at Loch Vale on our way back through, so if you would like to spend time there in the afternoon, bring bug spray.
This hike took us around seven hours to complete. Once we reached the trailhead, we were ready to get off our feet and go back to the hotel! Unfortunately, there had been an emergency within the park, and the hiking buses were not running until the emergency ended. We waited at the trailhead for an hour to be picked up. This is a downside of utilizing the transport system. If you can get to the park early enough to secure a parking spot in the small lot, I highly recommend it. It wasn't the park's fault, but there is nothing worse than being stranded without water after an 11 mile hike. We rationed our water to reach the end of the hike, but didn't figure in extra for the hour wait until we could get back to our cooler in the car.
After returning to the hotel, hit a restaurant for dinner. If you would like to eat almost anywhere in Estes Park on the weekend, you will need a reservation. We tried going to four restaurants for dinner, all of which were not taking more tables at that time. We settled for a dinner at a dive bar on the Downtown strip that had an open table. I should have made reservations in advance as this was for our anniversary dinner, but I wasn't sure what time we would return from the hike, so I thought we would try our luck. We weren't lucky. If dining is important to you, I highly recommend reserving your spot in advance.
Return to your lodging and utilize that hot tub for your aching muscles!
Day Four
BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee) - All the other hikers will be so jealous!
Get an early start to make the most of your last day! We only had half a day to spend before making our drive home, so this itinerary will reflect a half day.
Start by checking out of your lodging and grabbing a breakfast to enjoy in the park. We stopped at Squatchy Donuts in Estes Park on our way into RMNP. This Bigfoot-themed donut shop was just too campy for us to skip. It was full of artifacts and memorabilia for a quick and quirky stop. With our coffee, mini donuts, and timed entry pass, we were ready to enter the park! There was no line on a Monday morning at 7:00 AM.
Head to Sprague Lake to enjoy your light breakfast in nature. This 0.8 trail is easy, flat, and beautiful. Plus, there is a little moose family that likes to spend time here. We saw a mama and juvenile moose, plus an additional moose (3 moose total). It was such a peaceful and serene morning watching the wildlife in the lake. Life seemed to move in slow motion as we watched them for an hour. Magical!
Mama and kiddo enjoying their breakfast at Sprague Lake
After completing Sprague Lake Loop, head to Moraine Park. This gorgeous little meadow boasts a meandering stream, wildflowers, and mountain views. We saw an elk here and watched a fly fisherman in the stream. It was truly one of the prettiest spots in the park.
Travel Tip: Book a photographer and get photos you're actually in!
We booked a professional photographer to take photos for our anniversary while in RMNP. Our photographer, Alyssa with Bold Love Photo, met us inside RMNP at Moraine Park. I can't recommend her enough! If you are looking for professional photos while on vacation, consider her business. She went with the flow and it was a very relaxed, casual, fun shoot. It was also super affordable! *I do not receive anything for endorsing this business and all views are my own.
Moraine Park looks like a computer screensaver in real life.
Unfortunately, our time in RMNP had to come to an end, and we began our drive home. For folks with more time on Day Four, I recommend hiking Ouzel Falls (5.3 miles roundtrip). This hike is about 45 minutes further south than the main area of the park, so be sure to plan it accordingly! More time could also be spent in Downtown Estes Park on this day.
Rocky Mountain High... Colorado!
Rocky Mountain National Park is an accessible source of beauty for all. Trail Ridge Road provides amazing views from the car and there are wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the park from the road! I would recommend this N.P. for folks of all ranges of accessibility and age. We saw several families with young children enjoying the park and hiking.
The choices around Estes Park are endless. You can choose a vacation as full of (or as free from) cities, entertainment, shows, museums, and activities as you like. Not all National Parks have such large, tourist-centered towns nearby. While I prefer to skip big cities and tourist towns in my travels, I know that some folks love them! There are several activities for young children in Estes Park.
We are very lucky to live within driving distance of this National Park. For those who are flying, the closest airport is about two hours away in Denver, Colorado. I would recommend adding at least a day to explore Denver if you are arriving this way.
Be as happy as a chipmunk who found some leftover trail mix
Take a hike! Katie
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