Area
Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights, and fun times. In a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top!
Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park. This beautiful park has many accessible facilities for visitors, including visitor centers, scenic overlooks, self-guided trails, campgrounds, some picnic areas, and a backcountry campsite.
This spectacular high-elevation park ranges in altitude from the lowest valleys at about 7,700 feet to the summit of the highest mountain — Longs Peak — at 14,259 feet; scenic Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,183 feet as it crosses the park and the Continental Divide. These high altitudes can worsen preexisting medical conditions. The higher you go, the harder your body needs to work. Allow your body to acclimate: Stay well-hydrated, eat lightly, avoid smoking, and get plenty of rest. Seasonal conditions may make some facilities inaccessible in winter. Enjoy your visit!
Entrance fee required. You may purchase 1-day, 7-day, or annual passes at all park entrance stations or online.
Temperatures are often moderate at elevations below 9,400' (2,865 m). At higher points, like Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, or Longs Peak, it may snow even in July.
A wide variation between day and nighttime temperatures is also typical of mountain weather.
Summer days in July and August often reach the 70's or 80's and drop into the 40's at night. All temperatures given are in Fahrenheit.
Based on ten years of precipitation data, Estes Park receives approximately 13.10" of moisture every year. Grand Lake receives about 19.95" yearly. This precipitation comes in the form of rain or snowfall through the year.
Read more on the Rocky Mountain National Park website.
Entrance fee is $25.00.
Valid for date of purchase. Covers single, non-commercial vehicle with capacity of less than 16 passengers.
Driving from the east: from I-25, take US Hwy 34 or 36. Driving from the west: from I-70, take US Hwy 40 to Granby to US Hwy 34 to Grand Lake. From mid-October until late May, Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake is closed to vehicles, so driving between the two takes ~4 hours. The closest airport is Denver International (DIA). There is no public transportation between nearby cities and the park.
