We visited the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park in September. From the meadows, beautiful alpine lakes, to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover in the park. There are over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing areas.
TIP - You do need an entry pass and it's time entry so plan ahead. https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm
We enjoyed a lot of the Rocky Mountain National Park from the comfort of our car on the many scenic drives in the park.
Bear Lake Road Scenic Drive - MUST SEE!! YOU NEED A SPECIAL PASS to enter this before 5:30 pm.
(There is a visitor shuttle available.) https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses-and-public-transit.htm
As you enter the road, there are open meadows. Find a pull-over and stop for a while. We saw herds of elk grazing in the meadow. You’ll also notice the Big Thompson River flowing through the middle of it. This is a great place to sit and enjoy the view.
Then continue on down the road to Bear Lake. This is probably the most visited place in the national park. If you have time, park your vehicle and take a 0.6 mile (1 km) walk around the lake to enjoy several spectacular views. Bear Lake is also the starting point for hikes to many different areas of the park. It's so beautiful & peaceful.
Trail Ridge Road Scenic Drive in the Rocky Mountain National Park - MUST SEE!!
We did this first, as we didn't have a pass to Bear Lake, so we entered at 5:30 when it was open to everyone.
Trail Ridge Road is one of the most spectacular drives that takes you to an elevation of 12,000 feet above sea level where you'll see beautiful mountains. It is a drive that will leave you breathless in more ways than one!
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. It leads from Estes Park from the east side to Grand Lake on the west side of the Continental Divide. Eight miles (12.9 km) are through the alpine tundra where it is too cold for trees to grow reaching a height of 12,183 feet above sea level (3713 m). This road is truly AMAZING with views in every direction.
TIP - The road has several areas with steep drop offs and many twists and turns. Be sure to choose a driver who will be comfortable with the switchbacks. Also be sure to bring some warmer clothing for your time above tree line. It may be 20 degrees (7°C) cooler up up on the tundra than in the lower elevations near Estes Park or Grand Lake.
You should plan to spend a full-day here and try to be in the park by 8:00 am. Without stops and without much traffic, the road can be driven in about 1.5 hours each way but believe me you’ll want to take your time. It's truly a memorable drive.
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