Hike the Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park. Brendan Leonard

Ridge Road, the park’s paved “highway to the sky,” climbs more than 4000 feet (1219 m) from either side of the park to its high point at 12,183 feet (3713 m), passing through a variety of mountain environments on its way to the alpine tundra. It’s a winding, adventurous drive with multiple pull-offs and viewpoints along its 48-mile length from Estes Park to Grand Lake. It can be taken as quickly or as slowly as you’d like, treated as simply a scenic drive (allow 2 to 4 hours, depending on traffic), or an all-day sightseeing tour by stopping at all the points of interest along the way.

       ALPINE VISITOR CENTER

      The Alpine Visitor Center, at Fall River Pass at 11,796 feet (3595 m), is the highest visitor center in the National Park system, and is the turnaround point for many visitors who have driven up Trail Ridge Road from either side of the park. It has educational displays about the tundra environment, wildlife and plant life, and human history, as well as mountain views inside and out. Rangers are available to answer questions, and a small gift shop sells maps, books, and some souvenirs (the Trail Ridge Store, next door to the Alpine Visitor Center, has a larger gift shop and a café).

       SHEEP LAKES

      It’s certainly not guaranteed that you’ll see a bighorn sheep on your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, but your best shot is visiting Sheep Lakes (not just a clever nickname) in Horseshoe Park, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) west of the Fall River Entrance Station on US Highway 34. Generally, if groups of sheep are in the area, they’ll appear near Sheep Lakes between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm as they make their way down from the Mummy Range to graze and then head back when they’re done. As always with wildlife, stay at least 75 feet (23 m) from sheep.

       Helpful signage on the Fern Lake Trail (Hike 9)

       FOREST CANYON OVERLOOK

      There are many places in the park that provide views of mountains, but the Forest Canyon Overlook is one of the more dramatic views. A few steps off Trail Ridge Road, the viewpoint looks from the tops of the peaks across the canyon all the way down into Forest Canyon, 3000-plus feet (914 m) of relief, not to mention the panorama of peaks all the way to 14,259-foot (4346 m) Longs Peak to the east. The Forest Canyon Overlook is on the west side of Trail Ridge Road, 10.9 miles (17.6 km) west of Deer Ridge Junction.

       OLD FALL RIVER ROAD

      Before the completion of Trail Ridge Road in 1932, Fall River Road carried visitors into the park’s interior up to Fall River Pass (11,796 feet/3595 m), linking Estes Park on the east side to Grand Lake on the west side. The one-way road is still open seasonally, but the sparser traffic, tight turns, lack of guardrails, and dirt surface (only the first third of the road is paved) give it an adventurous, backcountry feel. Old Fall River Road begins 2.1 miles (3.4 km) west of the Fall River Entrance Station on US 34, and heads west 11 miles to the Alpine Visitor Center. The speed limit on the road is 15 miles per hour (24 kmph), so expect to take at least an hour for the drive, even if you don’t stop to get out and take photos.

       BEAR LAKE INTERPRETIVE HIKE

      The hike around Bear Lake (Hike 1) is one of the most popular hikes in the park because of its ease of access, friendly grade, and short length. To learn more about the area, stop at the NPS booth at the Bear Lake Trailhead and pick up the Rocky Mountain Conservancy guide booklet to the trail (for a small fee)—it details the plants, animals, geology, and human history of Bear Lake, through thirty marked stops along the path.

       TUNDRA COMMUNITIES TRAIL

      Just over 15 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, the 1-mile Tundra Communities Trail (Hike 27) enables close-up access to the plants and wildlife of the alpine tundra in the thin air and harsh climate above 12,000 feet (3658 m), as well as expansive views of the roof of Rocky Mountain National Park and other peaks along the Continental Divide. A short, kid-friendly rock scramble leads up to the best viewpoint here.

       A hiker on the trail climbing up to Bierstadt Lake (Hike 10), with the peaks of the Continental Divide off in the distance

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

      This section covers the resources and information you need to plan a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, including suggested itineraries, locations of visitor centers, weather, campground details, fees and permits, and park rules and regulations.

       GETTING TO THE PARK

      During the busy season, the park recommends using the shuttle system (open May 23 to October 18) to access busy trailheads on the east side of the park, where several parking lots fill quickly and early in the morning. The shuttle will get you to trailheads for many of the most popular hikes, including Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, Cub Lake, Fern Lake, Sprague Lake, and Bierstadt Lake.

      During summer and fall weekends, when the lot for the park’s shuttle also fills up quickly, minimize frustration by parking at the Estes Park Visitor Center and then taking the Hiker Shuttle Express bus to the Park & Ride lot; from there you can take the Park & Ride shuttle to your trailhead.

      Shuttle schedules vary with more runs during the heart of the day and fewer in the early morning or evening hours. Most park-operated shuttles are wheelchair accessible. Fullytrained service animals are allowed on shuttles, but pets are not. There is no park-run shuttle service on the west side of the park.

       SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

      These itineraries are designed to pack a wide variety of experiences into either a one- or three-day visit.

       ONE DAY

      Hopefully you’ve got more than one day to explore Rocky Mountain National Park, but if you don’t (or you just want some suggestions), here’s an ambitious-butdoable itinerary that provides a tour of a couple of the best spots in the park.

      •Watch the sunrise at Sprague Lake.

      •Hike the Four Lakes Loop (Hike 7) or the Bear Lake Trail (Hike 1).

      •Drive Trail Ridge Road to the Forest Canyon Overlook and then the Alpine Visitor Center.

      •Hike the Tundra Communities Trail (Hike 27), weather permitting. Be aware that this trail is fairly exposed—not ideal if the forecast calls for an afternoon thunderstorm.