Colorado Est. 1915

Rocky Mountain National Park

Mountains Lake Forest

Plan a visit Check conditions

Established

1915

Size

265,807 acres

Visitors / yr

4.3M

Entrance

$35

Best season

June through October

Nearest airport

DEN Denver International

Park Closure: A Fire Ban (Stage 2 Fire Restrictions) Are In Effect +1 more Details Wildfire Tracker

Why Rocky Mountain is worth the trip

Colorado · Established 1915

Rocky Mountain's superpower is putting ordinary folks on top of the world. Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,183 feet, the highest continuous paved road in the country, crossing miles of open tundra where dime-sized alpine flowers bloom against a horizon of peaks. A third of the park sits above treeline. Nowhere else delivers that much alpine country through a windshield, though you should still get out of the car.

Down lower, the Bear Lake corridor strings together the postcard lakes, Dream and Emerald among them, an easy hour of trail apart. Come in September if you can. The aspens go gold, the summer crowds ease, and bull elk bugle through the meadows at dusk, an eerie whistle you will hear in your sleep. Reserve timed entry for summer visits, and start hikes at dawn to beat the afternoon lightning.

Start with our full Rocky Mountain guide, then use the planning below.

Conditions today Check before you go

WeatherHigh 72°F · Patchy Smoke 2 alerts

WildfireNearest fire 50 mi away Close by

NPS alerts1 closure posted 1 active

Air quality map Wildfire tracker

See live Rocky Mountain conditions in the all-parks tracker

The park reports a partial closure; a weather advisory is in effect (Air Quality Alert); a fire is detected 50 miles away.

Top things to do in Rocky Mountain

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Start here

15 Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park

Read the guide

Fishing · nps.gov Fishing in RMNP Fishing 02

Scenic Driving · nps.gov Enjoy a Scenic Drive on Trail Ridge Road Enjoy a scenic drive across Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road is 48-miles one-way and connects the towns of Grand... 03

Wildlife Watching · nps.gov Wildlife Viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park Wildlife Viewing Tips 04

Junior Ranger Program · nps.gov Hidden Valley is a Place for Junior Rangers Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley is a great place for Junior Rangers of all ages and their families to explore the wonders of...

Best hikes in Rocky Mountain

The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.

1 Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes Three lakes in a row, one of the park's most popular hikes. 2 Bear Lake An easy stroll around the lake, great as a winter snowshoe. 3 Alberta Falls An easy, popular walk along Glacier Creek to the falls. 4 Odessa & Fern Lakes Scenic lakes with far less traffic on busy park days. 5 Boulder Brook One of the park's best kept secrets for fall hiking.

All Rocky Mountain hikes

Before you go

Get the Rocky Mountain heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Rocky Mountain guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Rocky Mountain.

Things to Do Best Hikes When to Visit Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

Estes Park, COGateway town
Grand Lake, COGateway town
Aspenglen Campground 52 sites · Reserve
Glacier Basin Campground 150 sites · Reserve

Compare stays near Rocky Mountain

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

Rocky Mountain Trails Illustrated map

Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.

View on Amazon

Rocky Mountain field guide

Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.

View on Amazon

America the Beautiful pass

$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.

Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

Trekking Poles

Save your knees on steep descents and river crossings. View on REI
Rain Jacket

Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
Fleece Jacket

Mid-layer warmth for alpine mornings and evening campfires. View on REI
Hiking Boots

Ankle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI

Getting there

DEN Denver International 75 mi

NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Rocky Mountain map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park

When to go

Read our seasonal guide

Loading weather...

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month

High

Low

Crowds

Roads

Jan

37°

16°

Low

Partial

Feb

38°

16°

Low

Partial

Mar

45°

21°

Light

Partial

Apr

52°

26°

Light

Partial

May

61°

35°

Moderate

Partial

Jun Best

74°

43°

Peak

Open

Jul Best

80°

48°

Peak

Open

Aug Best

78°

46°

Peak

Open

Sep Best

70°

39°

Peak

Open

Oct Best

57°

30°

Heavy

Partial

Nov

44°

24°

Light

Partial

Dec

36°

16°

Low

Partial

Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)

Seasonal Road Openings

Seasonal Road Tracker

Typical opening windows, the last few years of actual open dates, and current status pulled live from the National Park Service where available.

Trail Ridge Road

Rocky Mountain National Park

No live NPS road alert right nowTypical opening: Late May, around Memorial Day weekendFull through-travel from Estes Park to Grand Lake typically opens in the last week of May, weather permitting.

Typical opening windowLate May, around Memorial Day weekend

Fall closureCloses to through travel in mid-to-late October, or earlier after a significant snowstorm.

Recent full-open dates
Year	Opened	Source
2025	May 30 (approx.)	NPS official
2024	May 31	NPS official
2023	May 26	NPS official
2022	May 27	NPS-sourced
2021	May 28	NPS official

The 2025 date reflects the NPS season-opening release dated May 30; the exact open day was not stated.

Sources NPS 2025 season release·NPS 2023 season release·NPS 2021 season release

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