Visiting Rocky Mountain in a day may seem like only skimming the surface of all its beauty, but that short visit will give you wanderlust for years to come! At a stunning 365 miles of untamed wilderness paths, it is really an all-natural Marvel and I feel precisely the same manner.
Nrtil, if you lack time and only have one day to explore the city with qusiering eyeballs there are specific sights that no sowofwa can disobey.
Elk grazing sedately in large meadows, mountains that roll on forever into the horizon and maybe even a close encounter with black bears or moose.About 500 kilometers of walking trek across this beautiful park in just one day!
Well, grab your hiking shoes and pack a delicious picnic — get ready for an adventure!
Rocky Mountain National Park: A One-Day Guide
Experiencing the best of Rocky Mountain National Park in a single day is about getting up early and going hard all day. The day will be long, but it is filled with those breath-taking moments that make every other minute you spent in line or making your way through the crowd worth while.
The key to making the most of your time in Rocky Mountain National Park is getting up early. Admittedly, getting up before 6am is not a favourite activity but honestly do it! In the early morning, there is peace and quiet, less visitors around you so that one can see way more of this astonishing park.
Bear Lake: A Sunrise Experience
Bear Lake is an amazing place to watch the sunrise in Rocky Mountain National Park, and it’s highly recommended.
The Bear Lake Corridor provides access to the lake. You must enter either before 5 a.m. or have the timed entry pass between 5-7am to access this trail.
It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Beaver Meadow Entrance, and slightly less than 40 minutes away when starting at the Fall River Entrance.
Try to get there 30 minutes before the sun peeks over Bear Lake Trailhead. To get the exact sunrise times you can confirm with Time and Date.
Bear Lake is 250 feet from the trailhead, it’s a flat, straight shot. Figure out how far you want to hike around the lake in order for the sunrise anyway.
Two Ways to Spend a Day in Rocky Mountain National Park: Hiking and Sightseeing
Option 1: Scenic Hikes
This is a great one for people wanting to get out and enjoy beautiful views, but do not want to embark on anything very strenuous. This trail has distance between four lakes and surely you are gonna die to visit those near by stunning beauties. For the more adventurous, you can add two miles onto that round trip to trek to a fifth lake.
The sum of these shorter trails unites to provide visitors with an unforgettable hiking experience directly from Bear Lake, where you will already be following the sunset.
Start at Bear Lake and move on to Nymph, Dream & Emerald lakes. And, if you’re feeling the short detour, definitely make Lake Haiyaha a stop on your way back. I would recommend doing Bear Lake, then heading to Lake Haiyaha first and circling back so that you start at Dream lake last or Emerald lake.
Hiking Details:
- Distance: 3.6 miles (6 miles if you include Lake Haiyaha)
- Difficulty: Moderate (especially if you’re not yet acclimated to the altitude)
- Time: 2-3 hours
Option 2: Sightseeing Without Hiking
If not hiking, a gentler way to ease into the day is meander out around Bear Lake after sunrise. Next up, head to Sheep Lakes look for Bighorn sheep and Moose or take a drive over to Moraine Park where you may see Elk.
Afternoon Adventure: Exploring Trail Ridge Road
At the end of your morning, depart from Bear Lake Corridor to take on The famous Trail Ridge Road.
It offers more than 40 miles of breathtaking mountain views, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Your camera will be thirsty for all of the rugged peaks, clear lakes and calm forests that lie within reach.
Stop at one of several overlooks for an even better spot to take pictures.
Trail Ridge Road takes you up to the Alpine Visitor Center and goes on through to the park’s west side, which at Grand Lake where it ends. The Alpine Visitor Center, now at an elevation of 11,796 feet is in fact the highest visitor center within the whole National Park System.
Trail Ridge Road is closed in the winter and can be shut down at other times due to weather.
The drive itself is about 1.5 hours without stops, so allow at least a couple of hours for this part of your day.
Sunset
Sunset is your goal that you want to reach the Alpine Visitor Center, one of the most amazing front-row seats in Rocky Mountain National Park for watching it go down.
Nighttime
In the evening, if you have any energy left after an entire day of walking and want to stargaze then make your way over towards Moraine Park. It makes for the perfect spot to sit and watch the milky way pass by or stare endlessly at thousands of stars, a peaceful end to an amazing day!
Understanding Rocky Mountain National Park’s Reservation System
From May 27 through October 10, Rocky Mountain National Park will utilize a timed entry reservation system.
Reservations can be made on Recreation. gov for a $2.00 fee.
Advance/70 per cent of bookings are released July reservations could be made on June 1, August bookings started July 1 and so on this year.
The last thirty percent of reservations will be released the evening prior at 5 pm Mountain Time. The slots are limited and get booked pretty soon. Unless your Recreation is already up, so this will only be valid. gov account then you will just need to add the time of day slot that corresponds with your preferred bicycle using a preexisting Gov CartResourceId.
Rocky Mountain National Park has two kinds of reservations for entry into the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Options
Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Corridor
This pass provides full access to all areas of the park, including the Bear Lake Corridor. It’s the ideal choice if you’re following this one-day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary.
Available time slots are:
- 5 am – 7 am
- 6 am – 8 am
- 8 am – 10 am
- 10 am – 12 pm
- 12 pm – 2 pm
- 2 pm – 4 pm
- 4 pm – 6 pm
If you’re unable to secure a Bear Lake Corridor reservation, you’ll need to enter the park either before 5 am or after 6 pm.
Option 2: Park Access (Excluding Bear Lake Corridor)
This pass allows you to explore all areas of the park except for the Bear Lake Corridor.
Available time slots are:
- 9 am – 11 am
- 11 am – 1 pm
- 1 pm – 3 pm
If you cannot obtain a reservation and are not planning to visit the Bear Lake Corridor, you can enter the park before 9 am or after 3 pm.
Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance Fees
Definitely get the America the Beautiful Pass. This pass may be fairly too expensive ($80) but if you visit national parks and forests a lot, then this cash is very well worth it.
If you are using a transportation pass, however, think about buying your pass online beforehand so that when arriving at the gate and in need of it.
Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance Costs (For those not looking to grab an annual pass):
- 1-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass: $30.00
- 7-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass: $35.00
- 1-Day Per Person Entrance Pass: $15.00 (for walk-ins and bicycles)
- 1-Day Motorcycle Entrance Pass: $25.00
- 7-Day Motorcycle Entrance Pass: $30.00
Keep in mind that these entrance fees are separate from the reservation fee if you visit during timed entry periods.
Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
Summer or not, you are bound to tackle multiple weather conditions throughout the day. One part of the park may be snowing while another is receiving sunshine.
- Dress in layers.
- Pack a lot of water and snacks.
- Gas up before you go in the park.
- Wild animals should never be approached and cannot be fed.
- Download the GyPSY Guide before you visit for a self guided audio tour including history and interest points as well as wildlife viewing tips.
- Download NPS APP available for free and have Rocky mountain national park section preinstalled before arriving.
- Take the free hiker shuttle to avoid parking on and around Bear Lake Corridor
- Before you take your dog along, review the park’s regulations on pets.
Where to Stay Near Rocky Mountain National Park
If you are looking for a hotel or vacation rental, one of the principal places to stay is Estes Park. This beautiful town offers a range of hotels and restaurants, making it the perfect place to be comfortable after an entire day.
Estes Park, just minutes from the Beaver Meadow and Fall River entrances offers effortless access to the park.
From the iconic Stanley Hotel, forever known as the inspiration for The Shining to quaint inns and cozy B&B’s.
For Estes Park, we recommend staying at Murphy’s Resort, as they truly go above and beyond in customer service. Guests of the resort enjoy breakfast and parking on the house, not to mention a pool and hot tub area where they can relax. We love a hot tub room with fireplace and the little kitchen, it is such an amazing surprise after hours of hiking.
Rocky Mountain National Park One Day Itinerary Conclusion
If you find yourself with just one day to experience Rocky Mountain National Park, we hope this itinerary will help you make the most of your visit.
Of course, there’s always more to explore in this incredible park, so if you have the chance to return for a longer stay, we strongly encourage it!
In the meantime, enjoy your adventure as you take in some of the finest sights Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer.
