Here are the many options for national park entrance fees. Some percentage of each days allotted permits are saved and made available at 5pm the evening before the date of entry. The western side of the park is wetter, is heavily forested, and is less developed, but still contains excellent trekking and backcountry opportunities. of the main entrance. A few of the most memorable hikes are listed below. Stunning views of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain can be seen from the east shore of Dream Lake. A great stopping point along the road is the Alpine Visitor Center at the Fall River Pass, which sits at almost 11,800 feet. A bookstore offers items for purchase. Erin McCarthy is a freelance writer and former Colgate University Outdoor Education Leader. Rocky Mountain National Park You can view her complete portfolio at www.erinannmccarthy.com. Rocky Mountain National Park Driving in Estes Park can be a little challenging as it is a small town with a lot of visitors. The first route, known as the Bear Lake Route, runs from Park & Ride Transit Hub to Bear Lake with stops at the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead and the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet, few guard rails and no shoulders. Estes Park is more of a Ponderosa and Lodgepole pines are the dominate conifer trees in the area, although they have been recently dying in large numbers due to an outbreak of pine beetle infestation. The timed-entry permits are per-vehicle, not per person. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The nice thing about using the app is that you can put more time on your parking place wherever you are right from your phone, if you plan to stay longer than you paid for. The Bear Lake Road area is the busiest place in the park and so has its own permitting system which runs from 5am until 6pm. From late May through October 2nd there is a bus that leaves from Table Mesa Park-N-Ride on weekends and holidays. Drive around them slowly and carefully. Sightsee on a Bus Tour: Ifyoud rather stay warm and dry to see the sights, there is an option to book a winter bus tour with Rocky Mountain Conservancy. The last bus of the day leaves Bear Lake and Fern Lake trailheads at 7:30 p.m. She will speak to the League of Women Voters on Although RMNP is one of the few national parks with a one-day vehicle entrance pass, the fee is not new. Route: Flattop Mountain Trail & Hallett Peak, West Slopes Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while you peak at grazing elk and snow-capped peaks. It is recommended that you travel in a counter clockwise direction along Bear Lake. Youll hit a trail junction about a tenth of a mile in. Estes Park is more of a year-round town with facilities open in the off-season. Sign up to receive our exclusive Wildland Wire emails and stay up to date with Wildland Trekking's promotions, discounts, contests, outdoor tips and tricks, trip reports and more! Trails from the campground connect to numerous other trails, and shuttle bus access is available. If you have improperly rated tires on your vehicle, then you must use an approved traction control device. There is a $20 administrative fee for permits during peak season periods (non-refundable). Evidence of Native American peoples visiting the area date back almost 10,000 years, mainly from the Ute and Arapaho communities. A second option is Sprague Lake, a 3.3 mile loop that is perfect for the beginner skier since it is mostly flat. It is first-come, first-served, with no reservations taken. Hallett is a 12,712 feet peak on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. Grand Lake can be reached from I-70 via US-40 which runs through Empire and over the Berthoud Pass. You can either print this out to show at the park entrance station or you can show them the confirmation email on your phone. 970 586-1206 For wildlife seekers, Rocky Mountain National Park offers some fantastic opportunities to view the variety of animals that live inside its borders. The Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Roads are closed during the winter and usually do not re-open util late spring at the earliest. At this point its a good idea to take a quick water and snack break, as the trail soon becomes very steep. The small sites (#1 & 13) fit 9 - 15 people and a maximum of three vehicles. Next you will have two choices: Park Access +" (Includes Bear Lake Corridor) or Park Access" (Excludes Bear Lake Rd Corridor). The other exception to the rule of easy driving is Old Fall River Road. You have at least 5 minutes of inactivity before your selections are removed from your cart and made available to others. Moose mainly stay on the western side of the park and Bighorn Sheep - a rare but exciting find - stay above the tree line and can sometimes be seen off the Trail Ridge Road. Starting around Memorial Day Weekend and going through the end of September, Rocky Mountain National Park operates a free shuttle bus service which enables you to access many destination and loop hikes along Bear Lake Road, including Sprague Lake and Glacier Gorge, to cut down on traffic congestion and limited parking. Of course, any of the roads in the Park present winter driving conditions slippery ice and blowing snow. You can only get the timed-entry permit by purchasing them online in advance. Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, here to learn more about National Park Service Fee Free Days. WebRocky Mountain National Park has two entrances: Beaver Meadow Grand Lake The nearest airport to the Beaver Meadow entrance is in Denver, Colorado. On the east side of the Park, elk descend down to the montane meadows and even into the town of Estes Park. 80517. The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Directions & Transportation - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S On the north side, of the lake youll see Half Mountain and Longs Peak. guests discover new landscapes, ecosystems, knowledge and ways to Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. Conditions can change quickly and visitors should be prepared for wind, snow, ice, rain, and freezing temperatures to occur at any time. Turn right at the trail junction a half mile in marked Cub Lake Trail. There is a recreational vehicle and trailer length limit of 30 feet. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and These may include snow chains, cables, tire/snow socks, or studded tires. The east side of Rocky Mountain National Park at Estes Park (7,500 feet) has less snow but still has cold temperatures even at lower elevations. The first is to park in the large parking garage behind the town visitor center. CO Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing. In addition, there is a $50 pass available that allows entry into Rocky Mountain National Park for one year. WebHalf-Day Rocky Mountain National Park "Mountains to Sky Tour" - RMNPhotographer. Reservations accepted and recommended. Take the time to know the upcoming forecast for the park. The timed-entry permits need to be purchased in advance online. Be prepared for changing conditions by dressing in layers and always carrying gear appropriate for both cold, wet weather and bright, sunny conditions. Also note that high elevation increases the chance of dehydration, severe sunburn, and the aggravation of pre-existing medical conditions. Though there are no hot springs within the national park boundary, 20 miles southwest of the Grand Lake entrance sits Hot Sulphur Springs. CATHY ALPER/LWV. (Limit of 7 per party for individual campsites and crosscountry areas. Arrived at the park entrance before 5am which allowed us access to Bear Lake Road before the timed entry kicked in. Conditions at 5,000 feet are dramatically different from conditions above 8,000 feet. Discover what different park entrance fee and pass options are available. Trail Ridge Road is an actual highway connecting Estes Park and Grand Lake. Ice Skating: There is a dedicated ice skating rink at Trout Haven, in Estes Park. This visitor center offers ranger-led walks in the Land Above the Trees and exhibits on the alpine tundra. If you choose the second option, you can visit everywhere else in the park except for the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This recorded phone line has the most up-to-date information on the status of Trail Ridge Road. Camping space is extremely limited. These buses run every 30 minutes. Several expeditions visited the area in the early to mid 19th century, including one by Joel Estes in 1859 after which he and his family established a homestead that would soon become Estes Park, the resort town that currently sits on the east side of the park. Located at 8,500 ft elevation with 150 sites. There is also a bookstore with items for purchase. Animals are unpredictable, particularly if they feel threatened, and even a deer is capable of killing a human. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. The fastest way to get to the park from the airport is via the E-470 toll road, up I-25, then west on highway 66, and from Lyons head up Highway 36 to Estes Park. Just be aware that at these times the lines to get into the park can be long. (9am-3pm for most of the park, 5am-6pm for Bear Lake Road corridor). If you missed this opportunity, you still have a chance to get a permit. One advantage to a winter trip to Rocky Mountain National Park is that oftentimes the lodges are nearly half the price, specifically in Estes Park. The fee goes to recreation.gov to pay for their administration of this system. No prior experience is needed. Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any national park in the United States, with Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) cresting at 12,183 feet above sea level. Finally, theGrand Lake Nordic Centerhas twenty-one miles of groomed cross country ski trails with stunning views of the Continental Divide. Temporary road closures may be put in place at any time for motorist safety, based on weather and road conditions. Estes Park, Hummingbirds have a tendency to fly close to where people - and their food - are sitting. The campground is seasonal, opening (in 2010) on May 26 and closing on September. All sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations taken). One of the biggest drawbacks of a March visit to Rocky Mountain National Park is road closures. Youll trek across frozen mountain lakes and through alpine meadows. The cost for timed-entry permits is just $2 per day and is non-refundable. It includes Bear Lake Road and the hikes that start here (Bear To this end, it is wise to have a reliable vehicle and always pack extra food, water, flares, and blankets in case of an emergency. Off-road mountain biking is prohibited inside the park. The large sites (7, 8 & 9) fit 26- 40 people and a maximum of five vehicles. You may obtain day-of-trip permits in person year round. Fees are good for the same group for seven days. You are required to have one of these park passes to enter the park day or night. While Rocky Mountain National Park has federal exclusive jurisdiction, the park is authorized under 36 CFR 4.2(b) to enforce applicable local and state traffic regulations. The 1930s brought a building boom to the park during the Great Depression, during which time the Trail Ridge Road was constructed through the park, which remains the highest continuous stretch of highway in the United States. Visitor Information | Rocky Mountain National Park Discover what different park entrance fee and pass options are available. It is about a 90-minute drive to the eastern edge of the park from the airport. Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in Feds sue Fort Collins water company for a Grand River Ditch Park streams may contain Giardia and other water borne diseases, so always purify water before drinking. 970 586-1206 Site by, Learn all about the Estes Park Hiker Shuttle, Temporary Closures In Lumpy Ridge And Loch Vale Areas Begin February 15 to Protect Nesting Raptors, Winter Adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP continues pilot timed entry permit reservations from May 26 through Oct 22, Winter Pile Burning Operations On Both Sides Of Park.

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