Rocky Mountain National Park
Details: Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing.
Weather can change quickly in RMNP, due to Rocky's incredible range of elevations beginning at 7,800 feet and going to over 14,000 ft at the top of the alpine tundra. Always be prepared for changing weather. For detailed weather information, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/all-about-weather.htm For the park-specific forecast, visit the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/bou/rmnp
Directions: Rocky Mountain National Park is located in northern Colorado. To visit the east side (near Estes Park, CO), follow U.S. I-25 to U.S. Hwy 34 or 36 west to Estes Park. To visit the west side of the park, follow I-70 to U.S Hwy 40 towards Granby, take US Hwy 34 east to Grand Lake, CO. During the winter season (mid-Oct to late-May), Trail Ridge Road, which connects the east and west sides of RMNP is closed to thru travel. In the summer, CDOT's Bustang offers bus service to the east side of RMNP on Sat/Sun only.
Alluvial Fan
Located off the road to Endovalley, the Alluvial Fan is a beautiful cascade of water flowing down through a boulder field.
Reconstructed in 2020, the trail to the Alluvial Fan was designed to be fully accessible. From the west, this path meanders up to a 56-foot bridge crossing the Roaring River, offering access to the east side of the Alluvial Fan. Hikers of all abilities can enjoy breathtaking views of the Mummy Range, Horseshoe Falls, and Endovalley.
Here, you will also find interpretive signage explaining the formation of this site. In 1982 a breach in the earthen dam at Lawn Lake brought down a devastating wall of water sweeping vegetation and debris that would eventually form the Alluvial Fan as we see it today. The boulder field and sediment surrounding the Alluvial Fan are remnants of this destructive event.
There is a restroom off the west parking area and at the Lawn Lake trailhead.
Ranger Recommendation: In the Fall, the changing foliage of aspen groves in Endovalley are some of the most dramatic in the park, be sure to bring a camera.
Bear Lake
Bear Lake Road ends 9.2 miles from the junction with Trail Ridge Road at the Parking Area for Bear Lake. From the parking area, take a short walk on a marked path to reach Bear Lake itself. Bear Lake offers spectacular scenic views of Bear Lake, Hallett Peak and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Due to the popularity of this destination, Bear Lake Parking Area fills early in the day, often by 10 a.m each day. This is especially true 7-days a week during the summer, as well as on weekends and holidays throughout the year.
The Bear Lake Trailhead is a gateway to many popular high elevation hiking destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park, including the Bear Lake Loop, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Mills Lake, Odessa Lake, Flattop Mountain and more!
Beaver Creek Picnic Area
At the Beaver Creek Picnic Area visitors will find a quiet spot for picnicking in the scenic Kawnueeche Valley.
Picnic tables located on the top of a small hill provide an ideal viewing location for the wildlife that often visit this section of the meadow. During the Elk Rut in autumn, this location gives visitors an elevated viewing spot to watch wildlife from a safe distance.
Tables: 4
Fire Grates: 4
Use of Portable Grills: No
Keep wildlife wild. Remember to never approach wildlife and always stay at least 75 feet away from elk, moose, coyote, or any other large animals. 75 feet is the length of two school buses. Please help protect our park’s wildlife by practicing Leave No Trace principles! Always take your garbage with you and never feed the wildlife.
For restrooms, visit nearby Beaver Ponds Picnic Area one stop south on Trail Ridge Road or Timber Lake trail head one stop north.
Beaver Meadows Entrance
Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park!
Enter Rocky Mountain National Park via the Beaver Meadows Entrance. This entrance is the closest entrance to Estes Park.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Today, we encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Look at the Cor-ten steel that makes up its structure. It weathers to a rich red color that matches the trunks of the ponderosa trees nearby.
The architect of this building, E. Thomas Casey, chose Cor-ten "so that the structure of the building itself becomes its primary architectural expression." Cor-ten was a new material in 1967, when Beaver Meadows Visitor Center was constructed. In addition to exposing the structural steel, Mr. Casey designed the horizontally-oriented building to fit into its surroundings and wanted people to connect with the park through architecture.
Mr. Casey told us "this is the way [that] architecture ought to be. You know, that what you see is what you get." If this kind of passionate talk about architecture sounds familiar, it is because Mr. Casey was a fellow of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Through the visible stone, steel and glass construction, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is an example of the continued influence of Wrightean design principles and mid-20th century modern architecture in national parks. This building is also a National Historic Landmark!
Beaver Ponds Picnic Area
Beaver Ponds Picnic Area is an excellent location to enjoy the peacefulness of the Kawnueeche Valley.
This picnic area has tables overlooking two large ponds where visitors can enjoy the scenery while stopping to have a meal. Water sources like the ones found here provide necessary resources for many types of wildlife that live in the area. Keep your binoculars ready for sightings of local birds such as White Crown Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, or Yellow-rumped Warblers. For a closer look at the aquatic ecosystem, look for the short staircase leading down to the water’s edge.
Tables: 6
Fire Grates: 6
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Keep Wildlife Wild: Remember to never approach wildlife and always stay at least 75 feet away from elk, moose, coyote, or any other large animals. 75 feet is the length of two school buses. Please help protect our park’s wildlife by practicing Leave No Trace principles! Always take your garbage with you and never feed the wildlife.
Beaver Ponds on Trail Ridge Road
At Beaver Ponds on Trail Ridge Road visitors can see, hear, and feel one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s wetland environments.
Take the 0.2 mile roundtrip boardwalk into the heart of a wetland environment. Beaver dams once blocked the stream that flows through this area. Silt and organic material accumulated behind the dam. In time, the dam decayed leaving behind rich soil over twenty feet deep. Sedges and grasses grow in the new soil and have created wet marshy areas. Wetland environments like this one become habitats for an enormous variety of insects, birds, and mammals.
Bowen-Baker Trailhead
The Bowen-Baker Trailhead provides easy access to the meadow in the Kawuneeche Valley.
On the far side of the meadow sits the Never Summer Range. This forested mountain range is the only volcanic mountain range in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s rolling mountainsides are covered in Lodgepole Pines and Aspens, which provide shade for Elk during the hot summer months. The Bowen-Baker Trailhead also sits next to the Colorado River, making it a convenient location for visitors who would like to fish. During hunting season, Bowen-Baker provides an entry point to Arapaho National Forest. A dirt road, only open to vehicles during hunting season, crosses the meadow for access to the National Forest. Visitors are welcome to walk along this road at any time of the year to enter the meadow and observe wildlife. Follow all posted instructions at the trailhead if you are using this area for entry to the National Forest.
Picnic Tables: 3
Fire Grates: 0
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Bustang - Seasonal Transportation to RMNP
Bustang to Estes
The Bustang is back and Rocky Mountain National Park is pleased to partner with CDOT again this summer. CDOT's Bustang to Estes Route will be providing summer seasonal transportation service to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub on Saturdays and Sundays beginning May 27 through October 1, 2023.
At Park & Ride, Bustang riders can transfer to the park's Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles to reach destinations along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
- There will also be Bustang service available on the following holiday Mondays: May 29, June 19, July 3, and September 4.
Riders can board the Bustang in Denver at Union Station and at stops along U.S. Hwy 36 in Westminster, Broomfield, Boulder, and Lyons. For route schedules and to make a reservation, visit https://ridebustang.com/estes-park/schedules/.
All Bustang Riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park are required to have a Bustang ticket and a park entrance pass. Park entrance passes can be purchased online at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74291.
- One Bustang rider should select the 1-Day Individual Pass for $15. If there are 2 or more Bustang riders in a group, choose the 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30. This will cover all members of your party. Be prepared to show your park pass to a park ranger upon arrival.
- Passengers who already have an annual or lifetime park entrance pass should bring their annual or lifetime (Senior/Access/Military) park entrance pass and their photo ID with them.
All Bustang riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park should be prepared to spend their day outside.
- There are no stores or food services available within the park. Bustang riders are advised to bring full water bottles, food for the day, footwear and comfortable clothing for hiking (including a jacket and rain gear) sun protection/sunscreen, and a hat.
We look forward to seeing you in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Colorado River Trailhead
The Colorado River Trailhead is the access point for many trails in the northwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park.
From this location, park visitors can explore a variety of trails. For a simple excursion, hike 0.5 miles to find the Colorado River. This point marks the start of its journey through the Kawnueeche Valley. Visitors interested in the history of the area can hike the 3.7 mile trail to the site of Lulu City. This location was a hopeful mining town in the 1880’s. Other popular sites include the Grand Ditch and Little Yellowstone. It is common to find wildlife such as elk, moose, coyotes, and foxes on the way to these destinations. Remember to keep your distance from wildlife. Never approach or feed wildlife. You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Picnic Tables: 6
Fire Grates: 4
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Note: Trail Ridge Road is closed from here east to Many Parks Curve mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Deer Mountain
At 10,013 feet, Deer Mountain is encompassed in a forest of sweet-smelling ponderosa pines.
There is a 6-mile round trip trail that starts at Deer Ridge Junction that will lead visitors to Deer Mountain. Found in the montane forest zone, the peak of this mountain does not go above treeline. However at the summit, you will be rewarded with views of Longs Peak, Moraine Park, Upper Beavers Meadows, and Estes Park. A great option for summiting a mountain when other higher peaks may be unreachable due to snow.
Weather Warning: Weather in the mountains can turn in an instant! Be prepared for changing weather conditions. Check the forecast before heading out. Lightning can strike anywhere in Rocky. Watch for building storm clouds and return to the trailhead immediately if you hear thunder. As a rule of thumb, try to be back at the trailhead by noon.
Endovalley Picnic Area
Stop at the Endovalley picnic area to enjoy a meal or quiet solitude.
There are plenty of picnic tables in this loop that was once a campground. A river flows through the area so be on the lookout for birds, moose, and small critters.
Tables: 32
Fire Grates: 30
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Estes Park Visitor Center
From May 27 to October 10, the RMNP Hiker Shuttle provides service from the Estes Park Visitor Center to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road. Once at Park & Ride, passengers may transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles to reach desired trailhead destinations. Some hiking trails are accessed directly from Park & Ride.
The Hiker Shuttle does not make any other stops in Rocky Mountain National Park.
To ride the Hiker Shuttle, two things will be required: a Hiker Shuttle Reservation, which may be booked at www.recreation.gov, plus a valid park pass.
Exploring the Bear Lake Road Corridor
The Bear Lake Road Corridor is a gateway to incredible scenic views, a wide variety of hiking trails great for all ages, and spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities and camping. There is a reason the Bear Lake Road Corridor is one of the most visited areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bear Lake Road is a paved road that is 9.2-miles long. It winds and climbs in elevation from 8,200 feet above sea level (2,500 meters) at the junction with Trail Ridge Road to 9,475 feet (2888 meters) at the Bear Lake Parking Area and Trailhead.
Popular destinations include Moraine Park, the Moraine Park Discovery Center, Moraine Park Campground, Sprague Lake, Glacier Basin Campground, the Park & Ride Parking Area and Transit Hub, Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake Parking Area and Trailhead.
Fall River Entrance
Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park!
Enter Rocky Mountain National Park via the Fall River Entrance on the east side of the park.
Fall River Entrance Construction Project
Be Prepared - Fall River Entrance Construction Project
A major construction project has begun on a new and improved entrance station at the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Fall River Entrance is one of two major entrance stations on the east side of the park and is located on U.S. Highway 34, just inside the park boundary.
What to Expect?
During this major construction project, only one lane at Fall River Entrance will be operational to enter the park and one lane to exit. Park visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance.
During this major project, park visitors should expect wait times at both major east side entrance stations. Weather and resources depending, the project should be completed by late June 2023.
Fall River Visitor Center Remains Open
Fall River Visitor Center and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store are open during this construction project.
The visitor center is open 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily 7-days a week. The visitor center is located along U.S. Highway 34 at 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO, 80517.
Why is this Project Important?
Originally designed only for summer operations, the existing Fall River Entrance Station was constructed in the 1960s. These existing facilities no longer meet the safety or operational needs of the park today.
When the entrance station was designed, the park had approximately one and a half million annual visitors. By 2019, annual visitation almost tripled, to over 4.6 million annual visitors. Critical infrastructure improvements are needed to improve visitor access and convenience, reduce traffic congestion, and provide a safe and efficient space for park employees.
What will be Improved?
This project will also rehabilitate and replace failing water and wastewater infrastructure that serves Fall River Entrance and the Bighorn Ranger Station. The on-site wastewater treatment system will be replaced, and other upgrades will occur. A culvert crossing Fall River Road is severely deteriorated and does not meet 100-year flood standards, it will be upgraded and replaced during this project.
Fall River Pass Historic District
Fall River Pass Historic District
The Fall River Pass Historic District is located high above tree line in Rocky Mountain National Park. The 137- acre district includes two distinct developed areas: the visitor service area at Fall River Pass proper and the Fall River Pumphouse and Catchment Basin, which sits in the valley below. This district includes 131 acres of alpine tundra, a significant character-defining feature. The Alpine Visitor Center, at 11,795 feet above sea level, is the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park System.
The Fall River Pass Historic District is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level with a Period of Significance from 1920 to 1966. This span reflects the evolution of this visitor destination from the arrival of the Old Fall River Road through the first full year of operation for the Alpine Visitor Center during the Mission 66 program. This complex has developed from a basic stop for visitors into a comprehensive visitor experience focused on the alpine tundra ecosystem. The Alpine Visitor Center (1965) is the architectural and functional highlight of the district. The district is significant for design, embodying the principles of both NPS Rustic and Park Service Modern styles.
Additional Information
The Fall River Pass Historic District tells the story of how the Rocky Mountain National Park visitor experience has evolved over time. The National Park Service started developing the pass during the 1920s. The scale and design of the Old Fall River Road and the Ranger Station reflect a period of limited financial resources. There were few formal trails and visitors could wander the alpine tundra to take in views, winds, and occasional summer snow storms. After World War II, visitation at Rocky Mountain National Park increased dramatically. Scientists began to study visitor impacts to the alpine tundra and, with an influx of funding for the Mission 66 campaign, development focused on expansion of visitor services and facilities. The Alpine Visitor Center illustrates the tenets of the Mission 66 program that sought to modernize the national parks by providing “one stop” to meet a ranger, visit a museum, buy a souvenir, and experience the natural environment. Along with buildings, the landscape became “hardened” to contain visitors and preserve the alpine tundra. Change has continued in this district, though with less intensity, with seasonal maintenance and improvements focused on providing for ever-increasing visitation and responding to the weather-related challenges of keeping high elevation facilities in visitor-ready condition.
The two distinct periods that shaped the district’s development also resulted in two different yet compatible architectural expressions. The earliest resources are good to excellent examples of the NPS Rustic style, simple buildings with local stone exteriors that blend in well with the relatively undeveloped (no formalized trails and the unpaved Fall River Road) surrounding landscapes. NPS Rustic architecture buildings reflect their 1920 to 1944 dates of construction. Key construction materials, employed both for roadside features and Rustic-style buildings, included native stone and logs. These buildings also employed handcrafted workmanship and featured elements such as overhanging eaves, small paned windows, and stone chimneys. This architectural expression, particularly popular in the national parks, represented an extension of a prevalent domestic style for recreational cabins and lodges. This same style, suited to local material requirements associated with New Deal programs, experienced a revival during the 1930s and remained popular at the park during the entire 1920 to 1944 period. Rustic style resources within the Fall River Pass Historic District include the Ranger Station that temporarily housed a small museum; the Fall River Rest House, an early shop with numerous Native American curios and a small area for museum displays (later expanded into the Trail Ridge Store); and infrastructure improvements such as the Pumphouse and Catchment Basin and roadside fencing. The landscape of this period was less hardened and constrained, allowing visitors extensive access to the adjacent alpine tundra.
Just as Mission 66 changed interpretation and visitor services, it also shaped architecture and landscapes in the park. A new architectural style, Park Service Modern, continued to emphasize harmony with the natural environment while introducing the concepts of functionality and technological advances associated with the International style or the A-frame form. Key construction materials included reinforced concrete, steel frames, and large expanses of glass. To make sure these resources did not distract from the natural landscape that visitors came to see, many designers chose natural stone or log, the same materials also popular for Rustic style architecture, as veneers or decorative elements.
The Alpine Visitor Center within the Fall River Pass Historic District exemplifies all of these architectural trends. Well-known Denver architect William C. Muchow’s design used a stone veneer on the exterior and incorporated large window walls on two sides. The cross-gabled roof is covered in wood shakes with a distinctive gridwork of peeled logs that offers extra weight and protection in harsh winds. This center combines Modern architectural elements with some natural materials, allowing the building to complement not only the existing buildings and structures but also the natural environment. Muchow also employed technology and engineering techniques for the building, designing the new facility to survive the realities of the harsh environmental conditions. Principles of Modern design also impacted the Fall River Pass landscape during this period. The park built a paved parking lot, a concrete plaza and sidewalks, and stone-veneered retaining walls to keep visitors from wandering freely across the alpine tundra. Still, visitors created their own trails to get directly to the top of the highest point in the area.
Farview Curve Overlook
Enjoy sweeping views of the Kawnueeche Valley and the Never Summer Range from this spectacular overlook.
For thousands of years, Native American communities lived seasonally in the Kawnueeche Valley. The Colorado River provided valuable resources that sustained communities through the summer months. In the late 1800’s, settlers from the United States of America began to farm the valley as homesteads.
Along the far side of the valley, visitors can view the impressive Never Summer Range. This row of mountains is the only volcanic mountain range in Rocky Mountain National Park. In the late 1800’s, prospectors looking for precious metals mined the valley below Farview Curve. The mines never produced riches, but today, the Never Summers provide another valuable resource: water. Look for a horizontal stripe running across the middle of the mountain range. Known as the Grand Ditch, this canal collects and carries water to Long Draw Reservoir. Even today, the ditch provides water to farmers and communities living east of Colorado's Front Range.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes from here west to Colorado River Trailhead mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Forest Canyon Overlook
Get a panoramic view at 11,716 feet!
Take a five minute walk down the paved asphalt trail to see Forest Canyon and its tributary canyons, Hayden Gorge and Gorge Lakes. Here the erosive force of glacial ice is unmistakable. A 1,500 feet thick glacier shaped a V-shaped stream valley below. With grinding force, the ice scoured the valley into the distinctive U-shaped valley of today.
Please stay on the paved asphalt trail to protect fragile alpine tundra plants. Studies have shown it can take decades for alpine plants and soil to recover after human trampling. Thank you for staying on the path and enjoying the flowers by not picking them, so future visitors can enjoy them as well.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Gore Range Overlook
Get spectacular views of Rocky Mountain National Park’s highest peaks!
Gore Range Overlook offers views of the Never Summer Mountains, and the Gore Range. From this western-facing pullout, the flat top of Long’s Peak is in sight - the highest peak at 14,259 feet in the park. The Never Summer Mountains were created by volcanic activity between 29 and 24 million years ago. The Arapaho Indians call these mountains Ni-chebe-chii, which translates to “Never No Summer”. The Gore Range is named after St. George Gore, an Irish aristocrat who visited the area in the mid 1800’s to lead an infamous hunting expedition.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Grand Lake Entrance
Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park!
Enter Rocky Mountain National Park via the Grand Lake Entrance. This entrance is the closest entrance to Grand Lake.
Harbison Meadows
This picnic area on the edge of Harbison Meadows offers covered and uncovered picnic tables.
The beautiful view across the meadow may have been one of the most important factors in convincing Kitty and Annie Harbison to homestead there. In 1896, the sisters started homesteading adjoining plots of land in what is now Rocky Mountain National Park. Neither married and instead ran a dairy ranch, built cabins to live in, and took care of their mother and father. In the late 1930s the park acquired the land from Mame, their fostered daughter, who they left the ranch to after their deaths.
The meadow is now home to elk, migratory birds, coyotes and mule deer, while the picnic area can attract hungry chipmunks, squirrels, and birds.
Picnic Tables: 4
Fire Grates: 4
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine. Vault toilets are also available here.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley is Junior Ranger Headquarters! It is a great place to visit with families and to enjoy a picnic with a group.
There is a 0.5 miles nature trail that winds in Hidden Valley along a gently flowing stream.
Picnic Tables: 4 tables in pavilion, scattered tables on hillside
Fire Grates: 0
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Hollowell Park
A relaxing destination with many picnic tables and excellent views of Mill Creek Basin below Longs Peak.
Enjoy a short easy trail that leaves from the parking lot. Pit toilets available but no trash cans. Pack out what you bring in.
Tables: 10
Fire Grates: 0
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Bridge Over the Colorado River
Beneath you runs the headwaters of the Colorado River! It provided water to the homesteaders who called this valley home over a century ago.
What was the Homestead Act?
With the goal of promoting development in the American West, President Lincoln passed a law in 1862 that promised any family or individual 160 free acres of land on the frontier given they inhabit the land for five years and “improve it.”
Improvements included clearing land, building structures, and cultivating plants and livestock.
How did the Homestead Act Impact the Kawuneeche Valley?
While a total of 270 million acres were claimed under the Homestead Act, here in the Kawuneeche Valley only a little over two dozen claims were successfully staked between 1880 and 1927. This impacted roughly a quarter of the total area.
Farmers and ranchers saw little success converting the area to cropland due to the poor, swampy soil conditions and long winters. These factors also made livestock ranching difficult due to lack of accessible pastureland along with natural competition between domestic livestock and native wildlife.
Not only that, but day to day activities could also face increased obstacles. Imagine having to walk through three feet of snow to use the outhouse!
Despite the harsh landscape surrounding them, the homesteaders were keen to adapt the landscape around them to suit their needs, even though it was at the expense of the natural character of the ecosystems. If you stood in this place a hundred years ago you would see willow dominated wetlands mixed with riparian forest. However, the removal of native vegetation was encouraged under the Homestead Act to create an environment that was more habitable by people and livestock.
Another example of this was the Colorado River headwaters, as the course of the river was changed, channelized, and rerouted by inhabitants to distribute water to pastureland.
When the Holzwarth family arrived in 1917, they sought the goal of creating their own habitable oasis in the Rockies. But what was their background to qualify them as ranchers? And how did the family settle on the Kawuneeche Valley?
Holzwarth Historic Site - Fleshuts Cabin
The Story of this Place Begins Long Before the Holzwarth Family’s Arrival to the Kawuneeche Valley
For centuries, humans have been using the valley’s resources in search of both sustenance and economic prosperity.
Today, we as park visitors are still using this land for adventure, mountain views, wildlife, or solitude within the wilderness. Thankfully, those who have come before us have preserved a portion of the Kawuneeche valley for us to walk back in time to acknowledge their struggles and triumphs. Keep in mind the environment where you come from, and how it impacts your own livelihood as you make your way across this landscape.
Joe Fleshuts
Before you stands Fleshuts Cabin, initially owned by Joe Fleshuts, a miner who built the cabin in 1902 to claim the land under the Homestead Act of 1862.
Records indicate that Joe Fleshuts was unsuccessful at mining and had accrued significant debt leading up his disappearance in 1911. This ultimately resulted in the forfeiture of the property and resale to Henry Lehman, who thereafter sold the property to John Holzwarth Sr. on July 22, 1918.
As early as 1922, the Fleshuts Cabin was used for the accommodation of guests. Alongside the miners and hunting guides who worked out of the mountains, the valley saw a stream of European settlers arriving to attempt to not just extract the landscape resources, but also transform them altogether.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Introduction
Welcome to Holzwarth Historic Site!
You are about to explore Holzwarth Historic Site, the spot where the Never Summer Ranch, Holzwarth Trout Lodge, and family homestead was operated by the Holzwarth family through two generations from the 1910s to 1970s. Their story is one of immigration, innovation, and adaptability to not only survive, but to create their livelihood in the high Rocky Mountains.
Located eight miles (12.8 km) from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Holzwarth Historic Site tells a story of dynamic history and rugged adventure. Through hard work, this area was transformed into a wilderness access point where people could reap the recreational benefits of the nearby mountains, similar to today.
Things to Know Before Starting
This self-guided tour is a one-mile roundtrip walk, taking you across the Kawuneeche Valley and looping through Holzwarth Historic Site.
Please be aware of changing weather, fast forming thunderstorms, and higher exposure to the UV rays typical of these high elevation environments. Sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, and water bottles are encouraged!
Also, please note that this area is frequented by elk, moose, and other wildlife that call Rocky home. Please keep a respectful distance for their safety and yours, and never feed any wild animals. If wildlife are responding to you, you are too close.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Mama Cabin
The Mama Cabin was the first building constructed on this site. The cabin started as a very primitive structure with one room and a sod roof for John Sr. and Johnnie to brave their first year here. It was gradually transformed to be the working headquarters for Sophia (Mama) and the Holzwarth Trout Lodge.
Beginnings
The property you see today was John Sr.’s second attempt at homesteading. He and two friends travelled over this parcel of land in 1917 and alongside the teenaged Johnnie, spent the summer building the Mama Cabin, tent house, woodshed, and also clearing the land for corrals.
They spent that following winter together with kerosene lamps and a kitchen wood stove to stay warm. Mama and the Holzwarth daughters stayed in Denver during the winter and continued to do so for the duration of the time that the family owned the land due to their respective families and professions being based in the city.
The Trout Lodge
After a wagon accident in 1919, John Sr. crushed his hip, leaving him to use canes for the rest of his life. This event would limit his initial dream of turning the homestead into a horse ranch.
When his friends from Denver repeatedly visited the homestead for hunting and fishing weekends, Mama and Johnnie realized there was profit to be made from the tourist draw of the Colorado River and the Rocky Mountains. The family adapted by turning the property into the Holzwarth Trout Lodge, charging $2 a day and $11 for a week.
Family members would recall that it had always been a dream of Mama to run a lodge.
Fun Facts About the Mama Cabin
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The logs were sourced from lodgepole pines from the surrounding woods
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Upon initial construction, the cabin only had two rooms
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The dining room and kitchen were added in 1921, as well as a new roof to replace the original sod
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The cabin didn’t receive electricity until 1929, and it was from a generator
The Holzwarth Trout Lodge was a success not only due to the magnificent scenery and abundance of fish, but also because of the hospitable character of the homestead and the family.
At the forefront of creating this warm environment was Mama Holzwarth.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Mama Cabin Interior
What Comforts Make Your House Feel Like You Were at Home?
The décor? The people? Maybe the food? All of these factors were draws of Mama Holzwarth’s hospitality for her guests at the trout lodge and Never Summer Ranch.
As much as the major events in people’s lives tell the story of a place, so do their daily practices. We see the intersection of skill and hard work through the daily practices of Mama Holzwarth, who used this space in its later years as the primary kitchen and dining room. These areas provided not only nourishment and hominess for guests, but also acted as an extension of her German heritage.
The meals that Mama prepared for guests were geared towards the American diet but were sourced from what was available in the surrounding landscape. She used plants and animals found in the nearby environment, since the transport of food and goods was difficult. For example, meals would consist of freshly caught trout, soup was made with dandelion greens, and meat roasts were made with deer. Meals were served three times a day at the dining hall. On the other hand, food prepared for Mama’s family and staff were traditionally German, with specialties such as liver dumplings, pig ear sandwiches, and spaetzle.
A niece of Sophia’s once described ranch life as: “Whatever Mama did, she did well. Ambitious, proud, clean. She would give anything to you. But at the same time she expected you to work...” It was reported that after a one-night stay at the lodge, her housekeepers would have to tear the cabins apart to clean them from top to bottom.
Her family credits her as the one who initially had the dream to open a lodge in the mountains before they moved away from Denver.
Hard work was a key factor to the Holzwarths success as businessowners, but adaptability was also an equally important characteristic that helped the family persevere in the untamed Rocky Mountains.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Taxidermy Shop
In 1919, John Sr. was in a serious wagon accident on the ranch. This accident crushed his hip and impacted his mobility for the rest of his life. While this incident limited his initial dream of turning the homestead into a horse ranch, John Sr. found a way to adapt and took up the taxidermy trade to find personal fulfillment and generate additional income for the family.
The workshop before you was built in 1922. Two years later, John Sr. obtained an official certificate from the Northwestern School of Taxidermy.
Wild game was bountiful in close proximity to the homestead, which gave him ample opportunity for practice. One notable piece included a coat rack with the hooks being crafted out of mule deer legs. Many of his original tools are located inside the shop, including clamps, pliers, files, hack saw, draw knife, and hammers.
After John Sr.’s death in 1932, the building was used as a rental cabin until Rocky Mountain Conservancy purchased the homestead. During the summer season, this building is open for visitors to view some of these items.
Similar to how the abundance of game fueled John Sr.’s taxidermy, the availability of Rocky’s natural resources was also an essential part of the family’s livelihood.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Tent Cabin
The Tent Cabin belonged to Johnnie Holzwarth and was built by him the first summer he stayed at the homestead with his father. The original tent cabin was said to have been pitched in the valley between the cabins and modern-day Trail Ridge Road.
Who Was Johnnie Holzwarth?
John Holzwarth II, known as Johnnie, was the only child of John Sr. and Sophia who lived on the homestead full time. During the early years of the trout lodge, he charged $10 a day as a pack and fishing guide and claimed he could catch three trout per minute due to the sheer abundance of fish in the Colorado River.
Johnnie quickly became a famed sportsman as he fished for trout, trapped smaller mammals for fur, and successfully hunted big game throughout his decades in the Kawuneeche Valley.
He expanded the family business by leading the construction of the Never Summer Ranch adjacent to Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road). He was able to do this after receiving a loan from his eldest sister Julia in 1929, who was by then a prominent businesswoman in Denver. He eventually managed over 70 horses and more than 30 staff.
His natural storytelling abilities were well known during the prominent days of the dude ranch, especially during campfire cookouts and social hours when he entertained guests with talks of hunting, cowboying, and traveling tales. Later, this talent proved useful when the park needed to gathered information about the historic site, as Johnnie was a vivid primary source regarding the members of the family and their personal lives.
He was married twice: first to Carolyn Pratt in 1931, with whom he had three children; after her death, he married Wanda Fiecher in 1971. Johnnie died in 1983 at 80 years old and his ashes were scattered in the family’s hayfield.
Johnnie was the driving character that transitioned the homestead from family frontier life to a modern enterprise with Western American culture at its forefront.
Holzwarth Historic Site - The Holzwarth Historic Site Today
Explore the Holzwarth Historic Site
When envisioning Rocky Mountain National Park, visitors may initially think of the preservation of mountains and wildlife. But the National Park Service also highlights the human history of a place and how people have impacted the environment.
The story of the National Park Service in this area began in 1974 when Johnnie Holzwarth sold the property to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Rocky Mountain Conservancy had raised funding to purchase the Holzwarth Ranch with the intention of transferring the title to the National Park Service after congressional funds were approved. The process was completed the next year in 1975.
The Holzwarth property was the last major plot of land to be sold in the Kawuneeche Valley to Rocky Mountain National Park. The site was designated as Holzwarth Historic Site and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 2, 1977.
Interpretation and education started the year the Holzwarth family sold the property. In the early years, historical interpreters dressed in period dress and demonstrated homesteading skills such as bread baking, soap making, laundry, and wood chopping.
Today, there are no longer living history demonstrations, but National Park Service staff and volunteers conduct interpretive tours and educational programming all while preserving the Holzwarth family legacy. The grounds of Holzwarth Historic Site are open year-round. Buildings are open during the summer season. Park visitors are invited to come to this amazing site to see this legacy for themselves.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Twin Cabins
The Twin Cabins
The Twin Cabins (Twin 1 and Twin 2) were constructed to be the first permanent guest accommodations for the original Holzwarth Trout Lodge. Twin 1 was built by John Sr. and Johnnie in 1921 and Twin 2 was built by Johnnie alone in 1923. The Rose Cabin, which is adjoined to Twin 1, was constructed in 1945 as an addition.
During the summer season, Rocky Mountain National Park staff open Twin 1 to the public to showcase some of the original furnishings.
The hospitality industry was not new to the Kawuneeche Valley at the time of the Holzwarth's arrival. The first guest lodge was a mountain trekking outpost run by “Squeaky” Bob Wheeler, famous for hosting President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 on a bighorn sheep hunt.
Rearing livestock and growing crops ultimately proved to be an unsuccessful livelihood for homesteaders in the valley, so many relied on the natural appeal of the Rocky Mountains to create a thriving tourist industry. Which is similar to today.
Along with the Holzwarth Trout Lodge, there were other enterprises such as the Green Mountain (Schooners) Ranch, the Kawuneeche Ranch, and the Pontiac Lodge/ Montane Ranch, scattered across the valley from Grand Lake to the Little Yellowstone Canyon.
Over the years, the Holzwarth family had to adapt to tourists visiting the area, with interest gradually moving away from hunting and fishing to the “cowboy experience” provided by dude ranches. The Never Summer Ranch was a dude ranch that was established, built, and run by Johnnie from 1929 to the 1970s. The site had 14 buildings, including barns and corrals, the Never Summer Lodge, guest cabins, and Johnnie’s home.
Activities offered included campfires, trail rides, hikes, rodeo presentations, and more. After the overwhelming success of the dude ranch, the cabins of the original homestead were used as housekeeping cabins and spillover lodging from the 1950s onward.
Alongside the responsibilities of running the Lodge and the Ranch, the Holzwarths also mastered a variety of skills required for successful living in the Rocky Mountains, using the flora and fauna of the surrounding environment.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Who Were The Holzwarths
John Sr. and Sophia Holzwarth were German immigrants who prior to homesteading, operated a saloon in Denver from 1897-1916 called the Old Corner. Their business proved to be profitable, allowing the Holzwarths relative affluence during this time. At one point, they took a trip to Germany to reconnect with family and allow their children to experience their home culture, a rarity for working-class, immigrants at the time.
When Colorado’s state prohibition laws went into effect in 1916, it forced them to convert the saloon to a grocery, which proved less successful. In addition, anti-German sentiment as a result of WWI made Denver an even more hostile place for the family to reside. The combination of these factors made retreating into the mountains an appealing option for the Holzwarths.
John Gottlieb Holzwarth “Papa” (1865-1932)
Patriarch of the Holzwarth family, he arrived in the United States 1879, at the age of 14, as an indentured apprentice to a baker in St Louis. After a few months John ran away to Texas, barely speaking English, where he found himself travelling and performing odd ranch jobs such as horse wrangler, cook, etc.
Shortly thereafter in 1881, he found himself in the Middle Park area, modern Kremmling, Colorado, with his brother who drove a mail stagecoach between Hot Sulpher Springs and Georgetown. He had initially tried to homestead 80 acres that now lie under Lake Granby but left the valley in 1893 to move to Denver and work for Tivoli Brewing.
Sophia (Lebfromm) Holzwarth “Mama” (1870-1954)
Sophia immigrated to the United States in 1890, at the age of 20, from the German state of Baden. She worked as a housekeeper in Denver for affluent families, contracted to 14-hour days at a rate of $20 per month. She was introduced to John Holzwarth by her younger brother who was his coworker at Tivoli Brewing.
The two were married in 1894, in Denver, Colorado, at St. Elizabeth Church.
John Sr. and Maria had five children: Christina (1895-1895; died in infancy) Julia (1896-1967), Maria (1898-1919), Sophia (1900-1971), and Johnnie (John Holzwarth Jr.) (1902-1983).
John Sr. and Sophia both demonstrated a substantial amount of courage and determination in their lifetimes, establishing a stable life for themselves in the United States. This determination and courage was tested again when they began their homesteading journey in 1917.
Holzwarth Historic Site - Wood Shed & Ice House
What the Rocky Mountains may lack in agricultural value, they make up for in natural resources such as timber, wild game, and ice. There are two buildings, the Wood Shed and the Ice House, which were both used as storage areas for some of these materials, used to sustain the family.
The Ice House
Located next to the Taxidermy Shop, the Ice house structure was used to keep wild game and other perishable foods cool, using blocks of ice that averaged 100-125 pounds. The ice was primarily obtained from Grand Lake, located eight miles south of the homestead and hauled up and down the valley by horse drawn sleds. However, some blocks were cut closer to the homestead from the surrounding beaver ponds.
Johnnie Holzwarth referred to it as the hardest work he had ever done in his life. He was paid $3.50 a day to prepare horses and drive them to Grand Lake to haul the blocks. He and other workers were paid an additional 4 cents for every ice block they cut, with an additional penny added if they took the ice block out of the lake.
The Wood Shed
Look across the path from taxidermy shop to view the woodshed. It was used to store chopped logs, used for heating and building the homestead, and sourced from nearby lodgepole pines.
The lodgepole pine is a quality building material for the construction of primitive cabins such as these, due to their narrow straight trunks. The family harvested and processed all logs used in the constructing the homestead with their own personal sawmills. There were two sawmills: a smaller one on the north end of the homestead, which produced an average of 300,000 boards annually and was used for their personal buildings; and a larger, commercial operation that was located down valley, which processed an estimated 5 million feet of lumber in its lifetime.
The business practices and personalities of the Holzwarth family made them influential and interesting to guests and neighbors, but none of them were quite like Johnnie Holzwarth, the temporary resident of the next building.
Horseshoe Park
Horseshoe Park is a low-land meadow with small lakes, great views of the Mummy Mountain Range, and top-notch wildlife viewing opportunities.
West Horseshoe Park Pullout: This pullout contains limited parking spaces that can be used to access the surrounding horseshoe park meadow. Please be aware and follow meadow closures that are often in place May-October.
Upper Horseshoe Meadow Pullout:Use this pullout to see aerial views of Horseshoe park meadows and the Mummy Mountain Range. Bighorn Sheep, Moose, and Elk in the meadow below can be spotted from this location.
Sheep Lakes pullout:Use this pullout to check if Bighorn Sheep, Moose, or Elk are taking a dip in the water or to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Please check and respect meadow closures that are typically in effect May-October. Most meadow closures indicate visitors can watch wildlife from the pavement, but may not enter the meadows in order to help protect Rocky’s native wildlife species.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Lake Irene Picnic Area
The Lake Irene Picnic Area is an ideal location to enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park’s sub-alpine ecosystem.
There are several picnic tables available at this location and it is just a short walk to Lake Irene. After your picnic, stroll the 0.5 mile loop around this scenic lake to look for wildflowers in mid-summer. At this elevation, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce are the iconic trees to see.
Directly across Trail Ridge Road from the picnic area is Sheep Rock. Look closely at the top of this rock formation and you may find Bighorn Sheep perched upon it.
Tables: 8
Fire Grates: 0
Use of Portable Grills*: Yes
* The use of disposable or portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and gas grills is allowed for food preparation as adjuncts to fire grates provided by the park in auto campgrounds and picnic areas. Where portable grills are allowed, the used charcoal and ash must be completely extinguished and disposed of in trash receptacle.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Lava Cliffs
Lava Cliffs features a rare section of volcanic rock in Rocky Mountain National Park.
This area is the result of a lava flow that traveled from the Never Summer Range around 28 million years ago. Many years later, glaciers moving through the area cut open the hillside and revealed the lava cliffs seen today.
Look closely for sightings of wildlife perched along the cliffs. Prairie Falcons and American Pipits can be seen in the area. In mid-summer, look to the valley beneath the cliffs for elk enjoying the cold, alpine air.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes from here west to Colorado River Trailhead mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Many Parks Curve
Get panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park!
Along the Trail Ridge Road, use this pull out to see a scenic vista of ‘many parks’, meaning low-land meadows. Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, and Horseshoe Park meadows are visible with a backdrop of Deer Mountain and Longs Peak.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Note: Trail Ridge Road closes from here west to Colorado River Trailhead mid-October to Memorial Day. Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Medicine Bow Curve
Medicine Bow Curve provides a great location to view the northernmost areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Looking to the horizon, visitors will see the Medicine Bow Mountains and the state of Wyoming. The Cache la Poudre river can clearly be seen flowing through the valley beneath the lookout area. From this viewing area, visitors can see two tree lines. The uppermost tree line separates the sub-alpine ecosystem from the Alpine Tundra ecosystem. The lower tree line, seen near the bottom of the valley, highlights the valley floor which is too wet for trees to grow. It is also common to see Rocky Mountain Elk and small alpine animals like Ptarmigan and Marmot in this area. But please keep your distance and help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own.
Note: Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Milner Pass
At 10,759 feet, this mountain pass has exceptional views of Poudre Lake, and is located on the continental divide!
The divide traverses the Americas from Alaska to Cape Horn in Chile. As it rains on the divide, the future course of a drop of water depends on a matter of feet. All water east of this pass will flow towards the Atlantic Ocean while all water on the west side will flow towards the Pacific Ocean. Look for a descriptive brown sign in the parking lot. Milner Pass is named for T.J Milner, an ambitious railroad promoter who surveyed a rail route across the divide. Like many surveyed routes of the 1880s, the railroad line was never built. This pass provides access to one end of the Ute Trail that leads to the Alpine Visitor Center.
Note: Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
Altitude Warning: Altitude sickness affects many visitors every year. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Altitude can also aggravate pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. Take your time, drink water, eat, and rest. The only cure for altitude sickness is to go down to a lower altitude.
Moraine Park
Get awe-inspiring views of the Rocky Mountains!
Moraine Park is located and accessed off of Bear Lake Road. Here, you can find trailheads for both Cub Lake and Fern Lake.
A relic of geologic history, Moraine Park was carved by ancient glaciers that flowed through the region. At the beginning of the park’s history, it was used as a golf course and resort. Following the removal of these artificial structures, Moraine Park has returned to its natural state as a meadow.
During the elk rut, from September to October, Moraine Park offers excellent views of the elk mating ritual. It is also a beautiful place to view wildlife and the sunset.
Help keep wildlife wild. Never approach or feed wildlife. Animals that learn people are a source of food can become aggressive or stop hunting or foraging on their own. Keep your distance - it's the law! You could be hurt or issued a fine.
Park & Ride
Why Should You Take the Park Shuttle Bus?
Access many destination and loop hikes along the Bear Lake Road corridor. Cut down on vehicle emissions in the park. Enjoy the beautiful scenery without the distraction and hassle of traffic congestion and limited parking. Parking areas along the Bear Lake Road fill most days during the summer and the buses provide the only access during those peak hours each day.
Notes and Tips:
There are no shuttle bus services on the west side of the park or across Trail Ridge Road. There are several commercial shuttle tours in the Estes area. Contact the Estes Park Visitor Center for information. There are no bike racks on shuttle buses. Most shuttle buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs. Contact shuttle staff or rangers if accommodation is needed. Pets are not allowed on shuttle buses except service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities. (Emotional support and service-animals-in-training are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.)
Planning Your Winter Trip to Rocky
Are you planning a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park between November and late May? If so, be prepared for snow! With elevations ranging from 7,800 feet to over 14,000 feet above sea level, winter conditions can greatly vary in the Rocky Mountains.
This is magical time to visit the park. A time when there are fewer crowds and it's easy to enjoy both solitude and snow on a winter wilderness adventure.
Be prepared for snowpacked trails, cold temperatues, and winter fun! Remember to pack warm layers of clothing, traction devices and possibly snowshoes, and be comfortable with winter routefinding skills.
RMNP - Overview of Timed Entry Permit Reservations
Planning a Trip to Rocky This Summer? You Might Need a Timed Entry Reservation
Rocky Mountain National Park will implement a pilot timed entry permit reservation system during specific hours of the day, beginning on May 24 through mid-October. This system applies to all areas of the park.
There are two different timed entry permit options to choose from: Timed Entry or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road.
To learn more and to make a resevation for a timed entry permit, visit https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910.
RMNP Park & Ride Transit Hub
Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub is located on Bear Lake Road, across from Glacier Basin Campground.
For visitors planning to explore destination along the Bear Lake Road Corridor, this is a convenient place to stop and park your vehicle. Once at Park & Ride, visitors can board the park's free shuttle buses to reach destinations throughout the Bear Lake Road Corridor, such as Moraine Park, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake. There are two in-park shuttle routes to choose from: the Bear Lake Route and the Moraine Park Route.
Passengers who choose to ride the park's Hiker Shuttle from the Town of Estes Park Visitor Center to Rocky Mountain National Park will be dropped off at the Park & Ride Transit Hub. For more details, visit the park's shuttle and transit webpage at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses-and-public-transit.htm
RMNP Shuttle Routes
The Bear Lake and Moraine Park Shuttles
Inside Rocky Mountain National Park there are two free shuttles that provide service along the Bear Lake Road corridor: the Bear Lake and Moraine Park Shuttle Routes.
Passengers will transfer between shuttle routes at the Park & Ride Transit Hub, located inside Rocky Mountain National Park on Bear Lake Road.
Limited shuttle service will be available on Sat, Nov 4 and Sun, Nov 5, 2023
Bear Lake Shuttle Route:
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The first bus will depart from Park & Ride at 8 a.m.
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Last bus of the day will depart from Bear Lake Trailhead at 4 p.m.
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It is recommended to be at the Bear Lake Trailhead well before 4 p.m. The last bus of the day could be crowded.
Moraine Park Shuttle Route:
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The first bus will depart from Park & Ride at 8 a.m.
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Last bus of the day will depart from the Fern Lake Bus Stop at 4 p.m.
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It is recommended to be at the Fern Lake Bus Stop well before 4 p.m. The last bus of the day could be crowded.
Rocky Mountain National Park does not provide shuttle service to any destinations or hiking trails located outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
RMNP Timed Entry
Are you interested in taking a scenic drive over Trail Ridge Road, visiting Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley, exploring the Kawuneeche Valley, hiking at Wild Basin, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, or any other outlying areas of Rocky Mountain National Park? Then this is the timed entry permit option that is best for you!
Beginning on May 24 through October 14, Rocky Mountain National Park will implement a pilot timed entry permit reservation system between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Timed Entry permits provide access to all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, not including access to Bear Lake Road. To make a reservation for Timed Entry permits, visit https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910. Timed entry reservations are only available through Recreation.gov. They are not available in person at Rocky Mountain National Park's entrance stations or visitor centers.
RMNP Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road
Beginning on May 24 through October 20, timed entry permit reservations will be required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during specific hours of the day. There are two different reservation options available to choose from: Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road or Timed Entry.
For those interested in visiting destinations like Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, Moraine Park and more that are located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor, then this is the best option for you! Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road Permits also provide access to all other areas of the park.
These timed entry permits are required between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. They are only available through Recreation.gov. To learn more and to make a timed entry reservation, visit https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910.
Timed entry reservations cannot be made in person at Rocky Mountain National Park's entrance stations or visitor centers.
RMNP Timed Entry - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions for Rocky's Timed Entry Permit Reservation System
Why is Rocky Implementing a Timed Entry Permit Reservation System?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest national parks, third in the country in 2019 with over 4.6 million visitors. This represents a 42 percent increase in visitation in seven years.
Visitor crowding and congestion at RMNP have led to increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity. The park has piloted various visitor use management strategies over the last six years, including managing vehicle access to first-come, first served (2016-2019) in highly congested areas. These first-come, first-served restrictions had some limited success initially, but over time began to lose effectiveness: length of time they were necessary kept expanding and impacts were pushed elsewhere.
The park piloted different park wide timed entry permit reservation systems (2020-2021) and will be piloting a system again in 2022.
The park is learning from these different actions since 2016, to help inform long range day use visitor access strategies.
What Types of Reservations Are Required to Access the Park?
There are two different options available for Timed Entry Permit Reservations. Choose one of these options, based on where you would like to visit inside RMNP.
- Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Road. This Timed Entry Permit Reservation provides access to all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, including destinations along the Bear Lake Road Corridor (from the Trail Ridge Road junction to the Bear Lake Trailhead). For Bear Lake Road, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road provides access to all areas of RMNP, not including destinatons along the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This Timed Entry Permit Reservation window is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When in effect, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are available in 2-hour blocks of time. Permit holders must enter the park during their reserved time window. If your Timed Entry Permit is from 7 am to 9 am, you cannot enter before 7 am or after 9 am.
When in effect, Timed Entry Permit Reservations apply to all areas of the park, including Wild Basin, Lily Lake, Lumpy Ridge, and Longs Peak.
When Will Reservations Go On Sale?
Timed Entry Permit Reservations will go on sale through www.recreation.gov beginning at 10 am MT on Monday, May 2, 2022. On this date, reservations will be available to enter the park for dates from May 27 through June 30, 2022.
- The next release will occur at 10 am on June 1, which will release Timed Entry Permit Reservations for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not already been booked.
- On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
How Do I Book a Timed Entry Permit Reservation?
Visit www.recreation.gov and begin by creating an account if you don't already have one.
Follow the steps on Recreation.gov to select and book your desired Timed Entry Permit Reservation. Choose one Timed Entry Permit Reservation for each day of your visit. You must pick either Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Road or Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road.
If you want to drive over Trail Ridge Road or visit destinations outside of the Bear Lake Road corridor, select Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road.
- This option is best if you are visiting the Alpine Visitor Center, Wild Basin, Sheep Lakes, Kawuneeche Valley, and Old Fall River Road.
Campgrounds
Rainbow Lakes Campground
Sleeping Elephant Campground
Meeker Park Overflow Campground
Tom Bennett Campground
Aspen Campground
Sulphur Ranger District, Near Winter Park & Granby
Sunset Point Campground
Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground
Willow Creek Group
Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
Grandview Campground
Arapaho National Recreation Area
Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground
Long Draw Campground
Aspenglen Campground
Glacier Basin Campground
Longs Peak Campground
Moraine Park Campground
Timber Creek Campground