Rocky Mountain National Park
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.
About 1.5 hours from Denver by car.
Alerts
- ClosureNPS ↗Trail Ridge Road is temporarily Closed at Rainbow Curve and at Milner Pass
Due to ice and snow, Trail Ridge Road is temporarily closed at Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park and at Milner Pass on the west side of the park. Call the Trail Ridge Road recorded line at 970-586-1222 for the most up-to-date conditions.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGlacier View Acb Rx
30 mi from the park's reference point
- PrescribedSlackweiss Rx
35 mi from the park's reference point
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Private Vehicle1-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass. This pass is valid for one private vehicle to enter RMNP for one day only. All passengers inside the vehicle are covered. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $30 | |
| Private Vehicle7-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass. This vehicle entrance pass is valid for one vehicle to enter RMNP for 7 consecutive days. All passengers inside the vehicle are covered. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $35 | |
| Per Person1-Day Per Person Entrance Pass. This park entrance fee is for individuals, walk-ins, bicycles, and non-commercial groups to enter RMNP for 1-day only. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $15 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 1 day. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $25 | |
| MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $30 | |
| Per Person7-Day Per Person Entrance Pass. This park entrance fee is for individuals, walk-ins, bicycles, and non-commercial groups to enter RMNP for 7 consecutive days. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $20 | |
| NonresidentEach non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Rocky Mountain National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group. | $100 | |
| Passes | ||
| Annual Entrance - ParkRMNP Park-specific Annual Pass. This park pass is valid for entry to RMNP only for 1 year. One pass is good for one passholder and may be used in any personal vehicle. Park entrance passes may be purchased in person at the any of the park's entrance stations or in advance online at www.recreation.gov. | $70 | |
A valid entrance fee or park pass is required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes, but is not exclusive to, outer locations like Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet, and North Inlet. Entrance passes are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park? Depending on where you would like to visit and what time of day you plan to arrive, you might need a timed entry.
Hours
| Rocky Mountain National Park | Daily · All Day |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and February the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Campgrounds
| Aspenglen Campground | 55 sites | |
| $35 a night · Closed Sep 28 to May 25 | ||
| Glacier Basin Campground | 158 sites | |
| $35 a night · Glacier Basin Campground is closed for the 2026/2027 winter season. If planning to camp inside RMNP, please check for availability at Aspenglen, Timber Creek… | ||
| Timber Creek Campground | 99 sites | |
| $35 a night · Timber Creek Campground is open for the summer! Campsites are available for tents and RVs. Campsites are available by reservation only. | ||
| Moraine Park Campground ↗ | 244 sites | |
| $35 a night · Moraine Park Campground is open for the summer! Campsites are available for tents and RVs. Campsites are available by reservation only. · 244 reservable | ||
| Longs Peak Campground | 27 sites | |
| $30 a night · Longs Peak Campground is closed for the 2026 season. If planning to camp inside RMNP, please check availability at Aspenglen, Timber Creek, or Moraine Park… | ||
Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works
Visitor centers
- Information Office ↗
Have questions about Rocky Mountain National Park? Call the Information Office! NPS staff and volunteers are available to help your plan your trips, learn about the park, and more! Call us at 970-586-1206 or email us at [email protected].
- Fall River Visitor Center
The Fall River Visitor Center is located west of the town of Estes Park on U.S. Highway 34, just before the Fall River Entrance to RMNP. Find park information, learn about programs, and more. Explore Rocky Mountain Conservancy's Nature Store.
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is open year-round. This visitor center is located on the east side of RMNP near the town of Estes Park, along U.S. Highway 36 approximately 1 mile east of the Beaver Meadows Entrance to RMNP.
- Kawuneeche Visitor CenterPassport stamp
Open daily, the Kawuneeche Visitor Center is located along U.S. Highway 34 on the west side of RMNP, north of the town of Grand Lake.
- Wilderness Office ↗
Have questions about planning for an overnight backpacking camping trip? Ready to pick up your backpacking permits? Visit the park's Wilderness Office or call 970-586-1242.
- Alpine Visitor Center
Alpine Visitor Center is open for the 2026 summer season. Located at the top of Fall River Pass and accessed via Trail Ridge Road, Alpine Visitor Center is the highest elevation visitor center in the National Park System at 11,796 feet above sea level.
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- Holzwarth Historic SitePassport stamp
Explore the Holzwarth Historic Site, where the Never Summer Ranch and the Holzwarth Trout Lodge was operated by the Holzwarth family through multiple generations from the 1910s to 1970s.
- Moraine Park Discovery Center
The Nature Store in the Moraine Park Discovery Center is open daily. This store is managed by Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Ranger-led activities have ended at Moraine Park Discovery Center for the season. We look forward to seeing you again next summer!
- Sheep Lakes Information Station ↗
Sheep Lakes, located in Horseshoe Park, is a great place to view wildlife. This parking area and viewpoint are open year-round daily 24 hours a day. The Sheep Lakes Information Station is open daily from mid-May to mid-August from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley ↗
Junior Ranger Headquarters has closed for the season. We invite you to get out and explore the Hidden Valley area on your own with your family. Hidden Valley is located on Trail Ridge Road approximately 7 miles from the Beaver Meadows or Fall River Entrances.
Explore
Things to do
- Hidden Valley is a Place for Junior Rangers
Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley is closed for the winter season. Open from late May to mid-August, Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley is a great place for Junior Rangers of all ages and their families to explore the wonders of…
Opens on the Park Service site - Enjoy a Scenic Drive on Old Fall River Road
Built between 1913 and 1920, a drive up Old Fall River Road is an incredible 9.4-mile scenic drive. This unpaved road begins next to Endovalley Picnic Area and ends at the summit of Fall River Pass and in the parking area for Alpine Visitor Center.
Opens on the Park Service site - Enjoy a Scenic Drive on Trail Ridge Road2-2 Hours
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 Lake and Estes Park during the summer season.
Opens on the Park Service site - Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park
Snowshoeing
Opens on the Park Service site - Fishing in RMNP
Fishing
Opens on the Park Service site - Wildlife Viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park
Wildlife Viewing Tips
Opens on the Park Service site
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- Hiking with Traction Devices
Enjoy the winter wonderland that Rocky has to offer from late October to early June. When there is hard-packed snow and ice on the trails, don't forget to use traction devices!
Opens on the Park Service site - Cross-Country Skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park
Cross-country skiing can be an enjoyable way to experience the winter season at Rocky. There is typically enough snow for skiing beginning in December through late March.
Opens on the Park Service site - Winter Driving in RMNP
Learn About Winter Driving in Rocky Mountain National Park
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the Holzwarth Historic Site
Take a step back in time at the Holzwarth Historic Site, the spot where the Never Summer Ranch, Holzwarth Trout Lodge, and family homestead was operated by the Holzwarth family for multiple generations from the 1910s to the 1970's.
Opens on the Park Service site - Watching Elk
During the months of September and October, elk herds are gathering in lower elevation areas for fall mating season. This time is also known as the elk rut! Bull elk can be very aggressive as they protect the cows and young in their herd.
Opens on the Park Service site - Picnicing in RMNP
Rocky Mountain National Park has many wonderful picnic areas to choose from on both the east and west sides of the park.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Webcams
Alpine Visitor Center
Kawuneeche Valley
Longs Peak
Fall River Entrance/U.S. Hwy 34
Beaver Meadows Entrance/U.S. Hwy 36
Grand Lake Entrance/ U.S. Hwy 34Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies
News
- Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Parking Area Closure Beginning September 28 through Early October ↗2026-09-09
Beginning Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Oct. 1, and then again Monday, Oct. 5 through Thursday, Oct. 8, the Glacier Gorge Parking area and Glacier Gorge Trailhead will be closed to all uses including vehicle and…
- Rocky Mountain National Park to Implement Another Phase of the Poudre Headwaters Project; Some Areas in the Kawuneeche Valley Will Be Closed August 24-30 ↗2026-08-05
Rocky Mountain National Park will be implementing another phase of the Poudre Headwaters Project during the week of August 24-30, 2026.
- Trail Ridge Road Opens For The Season Timed Entry Reservations Required For Trail Ridge Road 9 am to 2 pm ↗2026-05-29
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season
- Temporary Trail Closure Above Nymph Lake For Bridge Replacement Impacting Access to Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha ↗2026-04-22
Beginning Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14, and then again Monday, May 18 through Thursday, May 21, trail access will be closed above Nymph Lake to the Dream Lake/Lake Haiyaha junction for a bridge replacement…
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Rocky Mountain. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for Rocky Mountain National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Guide to the Geology of Rocky Mountain National Park, ColoradoCarol Wegemann, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
- Fly Fishing Guide to Rocky Mountain National ParkSteven Schweitzer and Rick Takahashi, 2023Find at Bookshop.org
Local history books for Rocky Mountain National Park
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Wildlife
Seen this monthAmerican Pika 29× · Moose 20× · Dusky Grouse 6× · White-tailed Ptarmigan 5× · Bald Eagle 5× · Yellow-bellied Marmot 4× · Pacific Marten 4× · Coyote 1×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist
Full checklist: 256 birds, 65 mammalsHide
Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · Bald Eagle · Boreal Owl · Broad-winged Hawk · Cooper's Hawk · Eastern Screech-owl · Ferruginous Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Horned Owl · Harlan's Hawk · Krider's Hawk · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Northern Harrier · Northern Pygmy-Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture
Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Barrow's Goldeneye · Black-crowned Night-Heron · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Common Loon · Common Merganser · Eared Grebe · Great Blue Heron · Greater White-fronted Goose · Green-winged Teal · Horned Grebe · Least Bittern · Lesser Scaup · Northern Pintail · Pied-billed Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Ruddy Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret · Virginia Rail · Western Grebe · White-faced Ibis · Wood Duck
Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · Baird's Sandpiper · Black Tern · Bonaparte's Gull · California Gull · Forster's Tern · Franklin's Gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Herring Gull · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Lesser Yellowlegs · Long-billed Curlew · Marbled Godwit · Red-necked Phalarope · Ring-billed Gull · Solitary Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · Western Sandpiper · Willet · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Snipe
Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Dusky Grouse · Mourning Dove · Rock Pigeon · White-tailed Ptarmigan · Wild Turkey
WoodpeckersAmerican Three-toed Woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis’s Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker
Hummingbirds & swiftsBlack Swift · Black-chinned Hummingbird · Broad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Ruby-throated hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift
Also on the checklistAmerican Crow · American Dipper · American Goldfinch · American Pipit · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Audubon's Warbler · Baltimore Oriole · Barn Swallow · Bay-breasted Warbler · Belted Kingfisher · Bewick's Wren · Black Rosy-Finch · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-billed Magpie · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-throated Blue Warbler · Black-throated Gray Warbler · Black-throated Green Warbler · Black-throated Sparrow · Blackburnian Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Bobolink · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown Creeper · Brown Thrasher · Brown-capped Rosy-Finch · Brown-headed Cowbird · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cape May Warbler · Cassin's Finch · Cassin's Vireo · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Clark's Nutcracker · Clay-colored Sparrow · Cliff Swallow · Common Grackle · Common Moorhen · Common Nighthawk · Common Poorwill · Common Raven · Common Redpoll · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Dusky Flycatcher · Eastern Bluebird · Eastern Kingbird · European Starling · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Golden-winged Warbler · Grace's Warbler · Gray Catbird · Gray Jay · Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch · Gray-headed Junco · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Harris’s Sparrow · Hepatic Tanager · Hermit Thrush · Hooded Warbler · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Macgillivray's Warbler · Magnolia Warbler · Mallard · McCown's Longspur · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Myrtle Warbler · Nashville Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Mockingbird · Northern Parula · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Northern Shrike · Northern Waterthrush · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned Warbler · Oregon Junco · Ovenbird · Palm Warbler · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pink-sided Junco · Pinyon Jay · Plumbeous Vireo · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Sage Sparrow · Sage Thrasher · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Scarlet Tanager · Song Sparrow · Sora · Spotted Towhee · Steller's Jay · Swainson's Thrush · Tennessee Warbler · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Veery · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Virginia's Warbler · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood-Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · White-eyed Vireo · White-winged Crossbill · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Winter Wren · Wood Thrush · Worm-eating Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-billed Cuckoo · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small mammalsAbert's squirrel · Colorado chipmunk · Fox Squirrel · Wyoming ground squirrel · beaver · bushy-tailed woodrat · deer mouse · dwarf shrew · golden-mantled ground squirrel · heather vole · least chipmunk · long-tailed vole · masked shrew · mexican woodrat · montane shrew · montane vole · muskrat · northern pocket gopher · nuttall's cottontail · pika · porcupine · pygmy shrew · rock mouse · rock squirrel · snowshoe hare · southern red-backed vole · uinta chipmunk · water shrew · western jumping mouse · white-tailed jackrabbit · yellow-bellied marmot
PredatorsBobcat · Mink · badger · black bear · coyote · ermine · gray fox · long-tailed weasel · lynx · marten · mountain lion · raccoon · red fox · river otter · striped skunk · western spotted skunk · wolverine
Hoofed mammalsMoose · Pronghorn Antelope · bighorn sheep · mule deer · white-tailed deer
BatsFringed Myotis · Western small-footed myotis · big brown bat · hoary bat · little brown bat · long-eared myotis · long-legged myotis · mule-eared bat · silver-haired bat
Also on the checklistchickaree · domesticated cattle · wapiti
Activities
Activity guides for this park Camping in the national parks · Fishing in the national parks · Hiking in the national parks · Rock climbing in the national parks · Skiing in the national parks · Stargazing in the national parks · Wildlife watching in the national parks
Weather & climate
Weather can change quickly in Rocky Mountain National Park due to the mountains and elevation. Elevation in the park ranges from 7,800 feet above sea level to over 14,000 feet at the top of the tallest mountain peaks. Weather conditions can change quickly throughout the day. For detailed weather information, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/all-about-weather.htm For the most up-to-date weather forecasts, visit the National Weather Service webpage for Rocky at https://www.weather.gov/bou/rmnp
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Rocky Mountain?
Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person on foot or bike. 1-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass.
Source: National Park Service
Which passes work at Rocky Mountain?
The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Rocky Mountain-only annual pass is $70.
Source: Is the pass worth it
Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?
No. Rocky Mountain takes cards only at the entrance.
Source: National Park Service
Do international visitors pay more at Rocky Mountain?
Yes. Visitors who are not US residents, age 16 and up, pay a $100 surcharge on top of the entrance fee, or carry the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass.
Source: The nonresident fee, explained
When is entrance to Rocky Mountain free?
Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.
Source: Free entrance days
Is Rocky Mountain open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Can I camp in Rocky Mountain?
Yes. The Park Service lists 5 campgrounds in Rocky Mountain: Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Timber Creek, Moraine Park, and Longs Peak. 5 take reservations through Recreation.gov.
Which Rocky Mountain campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?
Dump station: Glacier Basin, Timber Creek, and Moraine Park. Electric hookups: Moraine Park.
Source: Campgrounds
Do camping fees at Rocky Mountain include the entrance fee?
No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Aspenglen is $35 a night.
Source: Campgrounds
When do Rocky Mountain campgrounds close for the season?
Aspenglen is closed Sep 28 to May 25.
Source: Campgrounds
Is anything closed at Rocky Mountain right now?
1 active alert as of October 14, 2026: Trail Ridge Road is temporarily Closed at Rainbow Curve and at Milner Pass.
Source: Alerts
How busy is Rocky Mountain?
4,171,431 recreation visits in 2025, number 17 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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