GUIDE TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
- From Nest to Nomads
- Sep 12, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 19, 2023
Aaron and I have fallen in love with Colorado as I knew we would, and we especially fell in love with The Rocky Mountains so I thought I should do a travel guide to help anyone who is planning on traveling there in the future.
Lake Sprague, CO
First things first! You need a pass to enter the park.
1-Day Pass - Automobile - $25.00 Valid for the day that you purchase it. This covers single, non-commercial vehicle with capacity of less than 16 passengers.
1-Day Pass - Per Person - $15.00 Valid for the day that you purchase it. Applies to walk-ins, bicycles, and non-commercial groups.
1-Day Pass - Motorcycle - $25.00 Valid for the day that you purchase it. Covers one motorcycle.
Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass - $70.00
Unlimited entry for one year from the date you purchase it.
(Entrance fees may be purchased at any park entrance station.)
Timed Entry Permit System - Free From May 28 through October 11, 2021, visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park will need a timed entry permit and an entrance pass to recreate in the park. There are 2 reservation options. Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5AM-6PM which includes Rest of Park and, Rest of Park Area (Rest of park and Rest of Park Area includes Wild Basin, Long's Peak, Trail Ridge Road, Fall River Area) that has reservations from 9AM-3PM. Outside those times no reservations needed. Permit = $0, but $2 processing fee applies.
Annual passes that will get you into all National Park Service/US Fish/Wildlife sites
Annual Pass: $80
Annual Military Pass: Free*
Annual Fourth Grade Pass for US students in fourth grade: Free
Annual Senior Pass: $20
Lifetime Senior Pass: $80
Lifetime Access Pass: Free
Annual Volunteer Pass: Free (250 hours of volunteer service at any of the six participating federal agencies is required)
Pay attention to road closures & unpredictable weather
There can be snowstorms all the way into June, and some years the snow will trickle into July, which leads to the shutdown of some roads. The park offers real-time road updates on its site, so check that info frequently. Also pack for cool and warm weather because the elevation change can bring a 20-30 degree difference in temperatures as well as weather being unpredictable in the mountains with rain or high winds happening suddenly.
Lake Sprague, CO
When is the best time to visit?
The summer brings the most visitors to the park due to the fact that the weather is great for all the outdoor activities the park supports. The elevation leads to the summers being shorter lived making winters longer and snow filled roads abundant. Spring can get anywhere from 30-50 degrees which is still considered pretty cold for most tourists. For fall trails and roads usually stay open until October a lot of the time and the temperatures are pretty mild. The fall colors begin changing in mid-September (they were already starting while we were there in early September).
Things to do in the park
Here are a few common ones!
Hiking
Bicycling
Sight-seeing
Watching for wildlife
Rock Climbing
Going for a scenic drive
Trail Ridge Road, CO
Where to eat & shop
Estes Park has tons of options such as Mexican, American, Thai, Coffee houses, ice cream shops galore, and even a candy store! There is definitely no shortage of delicious places to choose from.
Estes Park, CO
A few places we tried:
Cafe De Pho Thai
La Cabana Mexican Bar & Grill
Mile High Coffee House
Munchin House
The Old Fashioned Candy Store
They were all AMAZING no complaints from any of them!
How to get to the park
Aaron and I rented a car because we drove all over Colorado for a wedding we were shooting and we wanted to explore. Although there is a daily shuttle that brings visitors from the airport to the town in Estes Park as well as the main entrance, Beaver Meadows.
The park runs a free shuttle bus from the Estes Park Visitor Center to popular trailheads but there is no public transportation into the west side of the park.
The Rocky Mountains through my lens
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