A Scenic Drive Through Rocky Mountain National Park: Your 1-Day Itinerary
Fun fact: Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest parks in the USA, making it a perfect destination for a day drive.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The park is renowned for its stunning landscapes, which encompass high peaks, alpine meadows, alpine lakes, gushing waterfalls, and forest. Its highest peak, Longs Peak, stands at 14,259 ft and is a popular destination for hikers. Covering an area of 415 square miles, it’s home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep, and moose, various species of birds, and fish
Before I begin, it’s essential to practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stick to the designated trail, carry out all items you bring, dispose of waste properly, leave the environment as you found it, minimize the impact of campfires, respect fellow hikers, and refrain from feeding wildlife.
Timed Entry Permit Reservation
To visit Rocky Mountain National Park from late May to mid-October, you need to reserve a permit in advance. This measure aims to control crowds at the busiest sections of the park during peak visitation season (summer months). Without reservation, you will NOT be allowed to enter the park.
Between late May to mid- October, all vehicles must have:
A Timed Entry Permit Reservation with two options: Park Access and Park Access +
Park Access: Grants access to all areas except Bear Lake Road, effective from 9am to 2pm.
Park Access +: Grants access to all areas, including Bear Lake Road, from 5am to 6pm.
A park entrance pass.
Reservations are made online at the Recreation.gov website (be sure you set up your Recreation.gov account first). Each reservation cost $2 per vehicle, in addition to the daily entrance fee.
Daily Entrance Fee
A 1-day vehicle entrance pass cost $30,
More information about Timed Entry Reservation, Fees and Park Passes can be found here.
One Day Driving Guide
With one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, there are numerous places to explore and activities to enjoy. For first-time visitors, I strongly recommend getting the Park Access + permit to explore the Bear Lake Corridor hikes.
In this section I will outline a one day itinerary with the Park Access + permit (timed- entry permit including Bear Lake Road). If you’re unable to secure a Park Access + permit, you can skip the Bear Lake Corridor and opt for the Trail Ridge Road, which offers several day-hike opportunities in the morning.
One-Day Park Access + (includes Bear Lake Road) Guide
Start at Beaver Meadows Entrance Station for quick access to Bear Lake Road. While you can park at the Bear Lake Parking area, it fills up rapidly. Plan to arrive no later than 7am to secure a spot. Alternatively, use the Park & Ride Parking area, approximately 4.4 miles from the Bear Lake Trailhead. The Bear Lake Shuttle operates free of charge, with buses running every 10-15 minutes. Additional information on shuttle buses and public transit can be found here to assist in your planning.
Bear Lake and Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lake are among the most popular spots for spending a day in the park. Various trails are accessible from the Bear Lake Trailhead.
Bear Lake Loop
The trail around Bear Lake is one of the easiest, starting just a few steps from the Bear Lake Trailhead. Covering half a mile around the lake, the views are breathtaking, particularly from the north and east sides, offering vistas of Longs Peak and Hallett Peak in the distance.
Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake Trail (with an option to add Lake Haiyaha)
Images from left to right: Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake
The trail to Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lake is stunning and relatively easy. Covering a distance of 3.6 miles out-and-back, this trail treated you to the sight of three alpine lakes. While the hike takes about two to three hours, allow additional time to relish the view at each lake. If you have spare time, I highly recommend hiking to Lake Haiyaha, a personal favorite of mine. You can read more about it in this blog.
Alberta Falls Trail
After hiking at Bear, Nymph, Dream, Emerald and potentially Lake Haiyaha, you can drive from the Bear Lake Parking area (if you parked there) or take the shuttle bus to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. This easy 1.6-mile out-and-back hike to Alberta Falls takes about an hour and a half at most. It’s a popular trail leading to a spectacular waterfall on Glacier Creek – perfect for enjoying your lunch.
Scenic Drive: Trail Ridge Road
After your hike at Bear Lake and Alberta Falls, hop back into your car. This is the perfect moment for a drive within Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road stands as the highest paved thoroughfare across all of the US national parks.
Must See Overlooks
Among the finest overlooks on this route are Many Parks Overlook, Rainbow Curve Overlook, Forest Canyon Overlook, Medicine Bow Curve Overlook, and Farview Curve Viewpoint.
Quick Hike
Tundra Communities and Alpine Ridge Trails– this short, easy hike is a personal favorite.
Highest Point
As you approach the visitor center, you’ll reach the road’s highest point at 12, 183ft.
Alpine Visitor Center
Stop by at the Alpine Visitor Center, the USA’s highest visitor center. From here, you can hike on the Alpine Ridge Trail. Although it’s a short hike – just over half a mile round trip – it’s a stair climb that begins at nearly 12,000 ft of elevation and it will literally take your breath away.
Continental Divide, Poudre Lake
After Alpine Visitor Center, drive to Poudre Lake to capture a few photos by the Continental Divide signs and enjoy the scenic view of Lake Poudre. If you’re up for it, hike as far as you wish on the 10-mile one-way Poudre River Trail. A fun fact: water on the east side of Milner Pass flows to the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean, while water on the west side flows down the Colorado River and into the Pacific Ocean.
Short Waterfall Hike
Feeling adventurous? Drive all the way to Grand Lake for a short waterfall hike to Adam Falls
Keep in mind that driving to Grand Lake takes you out of Rocky Mountain National Park, so plan your next destination accordingly. Note that upon re-entry into the park, you might encounter lines at the entrance booth. Also, you will need a timed-entry permit to re-enter the park.
However, if you prefer not to exit the National Park, I highly recommend driving back from the Alpine Visitor Center to explore the Alluvial Fan Trail.
Alluvial Fan Trail
This 0.7-miles out-and-back leads to a stunning cascade of water flowing through a boulder field. Designed to be fully accessible, hikers of all abilities can enjoy this view.
After visiting Alluvial Fan, you can hop back into your car and head to Estes Park for dinner. There are lots of great restaurants to choose from.
This itinerary will fill your entire day, so be sure to pack appropriate layers, lots of water, snacks, and, of course, your camera!
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