Rocky Mountain National Park, U.S.

Trail Ridge Road crosses Rocky Mountain National Park from east to west, rising to 12,183 feet at its highest point. For more than 11 continuous miles the road runs above the treeline through tundra ecosystem: the same terrain found in the High Arctic and the Himalayas, accessible in a standard passenger car. The high-tundra wildflowers in July are extraordinary and the views extend hundreds of miles across the Colorado Front Range. This is the thing that distinguishes Rocky Mountain from other national parks; you drive through an alpine environment that most people never reach on foot.

Trail Ridge Road and Entry

The road opens in late May or early June from the Estes Park (east) side and closes in October. Check current status at nps.gov/romo; do not attempt the tundra sections before checking for ice.

The park requires timed-entry reservations during peak season (late May through mid-October, for arrivals between 9am and 3pm). Reservations open about a month ahead at recreation.gov and sell out for popular dates within minutes of opening. Arriving before 9am avoids the requirement. Park entry is USD 35 per vehicle for seven days.

Hiking

Bear Lake to Emerald Lake (3.6 miles round trip, 600 feet of gain) passes three glacially carved lakes above 9,900 feet with views of Hallett Peak. The most popular trail in the park; the trailhead has free shuttle service from Estes Park.

Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge (9 miles round trip, 1,700 feet of gain) passes Alberta Falls, Mills Lake, The Loch, and a 30-foot waterfall requiring a brief scramble. The best single day hike in the park and less crowded than the Bear Lake trails.

Longs Peak is the park’s only 14er (14,259 feet), 15 miles round trip with 5,100 feet of gain. The Keyhole route above 13,100 feet involves exposed Class 3 scrambling. Start before 3am to be below treeline by noon; afternoon lightning on this peak kills people every year.

Wildlife

September through October is the elk rut in the Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park meadows. Bull elk bugling in the early morning is one of the more specific wildlife experiences in the American west. Bighorn sheep are regularly seen on the tundra near Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road.

Getting There

Estes Park (east entrance), 71 miles northwest of Denver. The drive on US-36 takes 1.5 hours in non-peak traffic; considerably longer on summer weekends. No public transit from Denver.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (1909, Stephen King’s inspiration for The Shining) is worth knowing about for the combination of history and decent rooms from around USD 200 per night.