Best trails in Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular natural parks featuring incredible mountain scenery. It is known for its alpine and subalpine lakes, peak hikes, and wildlife. You'll often catch a glimpse of an elk, moose, or marmot driving or hiking in the park. The park is also known for Trail Ridge Road, a jaw-dropping feat of engineering that takes visitors over the Continental Divide from Grand Lake to Estes Park. The road typically closes between October and June every year. The park features seventy-six mountains each over ten thousand feet tall. Equally enjoyable on foot or from your car. You can explore four stunning ecosystems within the park: montane, subalpine, alpine tundra, and riparian.
The park is easily accessible by shuttle from Denver International Airport and many shuttles run between the various trailheads, the Moraine Park Visitor Center, and even the Glacier Basin Campgrounds. Shuttles are a great way to get around the park since it is often crowded and parking is limited. There is no reliable cell service in the park, so it is a good idea to download your AllTrails maps ahead of time for hiking, biking, walking, and scenic drives within the park.
Like most National Parks, dogs are not allowed in most parts of Rocky Mountain National Park. Dogs are not allowed on any trails in the park, tundra, or any area off of a paved developed road. Dogs are only allowed on leash on roads, in campgrounds, and in parking lots.
Rocky Mountain National Park requires a permit and campsite reservation for overnight camping in the wilderness. Backpackers must also follow specific regulations when camping overnight. For more information, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/wilderness-overnight-backpacking.htm
Top trails
Visitor info
1-Day Motorcycle Entrance Pass. This pass is valid for one private motorcycle to enter RMNP for one day only. One pass is good for one motorcycle (including all riders). Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
7-Day Motorcycle Entrance Pass. This park entrance pass is valid for one motorcycle to enter RMNP for 7 consecutive days (including all riders). Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
1-Day Per Person Entrance Pass. This park entrance fee is for individuals, walk-ins, bicycles, and non-commercial groups to enter RMNP for 1-day only. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
7-Day Per Person Entrance Pass. This park entrance fee is for individuals, walk-ins, bicycles, and non-commercial groups to enter RMNP for 7 consecutive days. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
1-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass. This pass is valid for one private vehicle to enter RMNP for one day only. All passengers inside the vehicle are covered. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
7-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass. This vehicle entrance pass is valid for one vehicle to enter RMNP for 7 consecutive days. All passengers inside the vehicle are covered. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
RMNP Park-specific Annual Pass. This park pass is valid for entry to RMNP only for 1 year. One pass is good for one passholder and may be used in any personal vehicle. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The visitor centers, bookstores, and information desks are all accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers. The visitor centers also have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Park films at the Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche Village Visitor Centers include closed captioning.
An all-terrain wheelchair can be checked out at no cost. Call the main park number (970-586-1206) for more information or to make a reservation.
The park brochure is available in braille and large print. Assistive listening devices and sign language interpretation services are available but require advanced notice to guarantee availability (two weeks is suggested for assisted listening devices and a month for sign language interpreters).
Additional information about accessibility at Rocky Mountain National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The summer shuttle buses that operate along the Bear Lake corridor are wheelchair accessible. Call Rocky Mountain Transit at (970) 577-7477 to learn about Town of Estes Park shuttle buses.
Electric Personal Assistance Mobility Devices (EPAMD), such as Segways, are allowed for people with disabilities in certain areas, including sidewalks, parking lots, roads closed to motor vehicles, and four trails.
The visitor centers, bookstores, and information desks are all mobility equipment accessible. The visitor centers also have wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains. Park films at the Beaver Meadows and Kawuneeche Village Visitor Centers include closed captioning.
There are wheelchair accessible picnic tables and restrooms at several trailheads, including Lily Lake, Sprague Lake, and Coyote Valley. Many of the overlooks along Trail Ridge Road have designated accessible parking.
There are both “front-country” and “back-country” wheelchair accessible camping sites at various locations.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Rocky Mountain National Park
This trail starts through dense conifer forest but opens up about 2 miles in, at the edge of the tree line, offering great views. Highlights include Peackock Pool, which becomes visible at ~ 3.5 miles, right after the split from Longs Peak Trail, as well as the associated Columbine Falls, Chasm Meadow, which has a vault toilet, and finally the stunning Chasm Lake, which sits below Long's Peak, the highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. This trail is quite rocky, and requires a bit of a scramble to ascend the last quarter mile to the lake (with plenty of more scrambling opportunities for those so inclined). No snow to speak of. Some wildflowers, esp. higher up.
Really fun route! From lock up to Lake of glass it’s probably my new favorite hike in Rocky Mountain national Park. The scramble up the waterfall to Lake of glass was amazing.
A well-crafted trail in a beautiful, more remote part of Rocky Mountain National Park. Some steep climbing in a few places, but well worth it.
Great experience. One of the best hikes I have done. Crowded til the alberta falls and then crowds started to thin out after that. Mills and jewel lake had few people. After mills to black lake saw maybe 2 or 3 groups. We had the black lake all to ourselves with absolutely no one there. Amazing views as you approach the black lake. Last 0.3 miles you get to pass over a big patch of snow, large boulders all the way to the lake. Lake itself is absolutely stunning. Thunderstorms were rolling in so we turned around and didn't go further. Did rain on the way back. Please have offline maps available on alltrails or a watch as trail is not marked after mills and it's easy to get off track. Need good hiking boots, rain jacket, pants for sure as storms can roll in any time. Go slow and enjoy the scenery. We started the hike at 950 am. There are bugs but no big deal. Use bug spray and remember that you are hiking in rocky mountain wilderness not walking through champ elyssses
Enjoyed getting away from the heat (100 degrees in Longmont) to enjoy this hike (6/21/25). We parked on Devils Gulch Rd and did not check the small parking lot, but it is not a difficult walk up the street to the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. Wanted to head to Bridal Veil, but realized it was closer to a 13-mile hike, so decided to get to Gem Lake. Should have taken Lumpy Ridge up to view the Twin Owls, but just went right towards the lake. The trail is well maintained, but it does get crowded as you hike 1k feet in elevation to reach. There are some great views right off the trail overlooking Estes Park and west towards Rocky Mountain NP. Once we got to the lake, it was time to relax in this serene area to eat some snacks and liquids before the descent back down.
Pretty fun and moderately challenging trail. Going before sunrise is definitely Rocky Mountain on easy mode and when you get to appreciate it the most. Didn’t have to deal with timed entry or park fees. Didn’t see a soul from 3am to 7am. Then I headed down and passed 300+ people. Still patches of snow on probably the steeped part, highly recommend spikes or poles for more grip.