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Rocky Mountain National Park contains 415 square miles of the most spectacular mountain scenery in America. With its granite summits towering over broad, forested valleys, the landscape inspires a visitor with its immense size and beauty. The Park straddles the Continental Divide, the rooftop of America where melting snows and rainfall flow westward to the Pacific Ocean or southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the United States, travels through the heart of the Park providing access to the delicate beauty of the Alpine Tundra, which comprises a third of the Park's area. The route, with 11 miles above tree line, climbs from Estes Park at 7,522 feet above sea level to a high point of over 12,000 feet. The road is open from Memorial Day until late fall when heavy snowfalls at the summit make it impractical to clear the route.
Old Fall River Road, a popular trip for more adventurous motorists, is a dramatic 11-mile journey uphill past waterfalls, glacial deposits, icy pools, and breathtaking views. Sheer cliffs rise from the edge of the road to towering heights above. The circle is completed with a return trip on Trail Ridge Road.
Bear Lake Road follows Glacier Creek through 9.5 miles of spectacular scenery to Bear Lake, one of the few sub alpine lakes that is directly accessible by car. This is one of the most visited areas of the Park. Nestled in a glacial valley at 9,500 feet, the area puts the visitor within touching distance of some of the Park's most spectacular scenery and serves as a hub for hikes to many glacial lakes that dot the area. One of the more popular hikes takes visitors to Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes offering dramatic views of Hallett Peak and Longs Peak. Accessible all year, the Bear Lake area is an ideal starting point for cross country skiing, or snowshoe outings.
Rocky Mountain National Park was selected as one of the top 10 National Parks by National Geographic Adventure magazine in their May, 2002 issue.
Alpine Visitors Center
Phone: 970-586-1206
Located at Fall River Pass at junction of Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, 4 miles east of the Continental Divide.
Closes for the winter and reopens in late May, weather permitting.
Park Hours
The park is open 24 hours a day year round. Visitors can enter or exit at any time. If planning to stay overnight, visitors must be in a designated campground site or a backcountry campsite reserved by a valid permit.
Park Fees
- Individuals and Families - Seven-day automobile pass $20
- Pedestrians, Bicycles Motorcycles and Mopeds - Seven-day pass is $10 per person, not to exceed $20 per vehicle
Recreation in RMNP
Hiking
Camping
Picnicking
Scenic Driving
Click here to visit the Official Site of the Rocky Mountain National Park