Hike the Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park. Brendan Leonard

      The Glacier Basin Campground, 5.8 miles (9.3 km) west on Bear Lake Road from the Beaver Meadows Entrance on the east side of the park, has 150 campsites (all reservable), trash and recycling receptacles, food storage lockers, staff on site, an amphitheater, flush toilets, drinking water and an RV dump station available seasonally, and ice and firewood for sale seasonally. There is no cell phone reception.

       MORAINE PARK CAMPGROUND

      The Moraine Park Campground on US 36, 2.2 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance on the east side of the park, has 244 campsites (239 of which are reservable during the season), trash and recycling receptacles, food storage lockers, staff on site, an amphitheater, drinking water and an RV dump station available seasonally, and ice and firewood for sale seasonally. Flush toilets are available seasonally, and vault toilets are available year-round. There is no cell phone reception.

       LONGS PEAK CAMPGROUND

      The Longs Peak Campground, located just north of the Longs Peak Trailhead, 9 miles south of Estes Park on Colorado Highway 7, is first come, first served, and has 26 tent-only sites. It has trash and recycling receptacles, food storage lockers, drinking water available seasonally, and vault toilets. There is no cell phone reception.

       TIMBER CREEK CAMPGROUND

      The Timber Creek Campground, the only park service campground on the west side of the park, is located 8 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance Station on US 34. It has 98 campsites, all first come, first served. Because of a pine beetle infestation, almost all the trees at the Timber Creek Campground had to be removed, so there is no shade at campsites. It has trash and recycling receptacles, staff on site, an amphitheater, flush toilets, drinking water and an RV dump station available seasonally, and firewood for sale seasonally. There is no cell phone reception.

       PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS

      Rocky Mountain National Park is the third most visited national park in the United States. Such popularity calls for everyone to follow some commonsense regulations.

       FEES

      Entry to Rocky Mountain National Park requires paying fees when entering the east side of the park at the Beaver Meadows Entrance on US 36, the Fall River Entrance on US 34, and the Wild Basin Entrance off of CO 7, and on the west side of the park at the Grand Lake Entrance on US 34. Hikes using the Cow Creek Trailhead, Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, Longs Peak Trailhead, Lily Lake Trailhead, and Twin Sisters Trailhead do not require paying entrance fees. See the Fees & Passes page on the park’s website for details.

       A sign at the top of the Keyhole Route (Hike 25) on the summit of Longs Peak

       DOGS

      As wonderful as it can be to have your best four-legged friend along with you, dogs are prohibited on all the routes within this guide. As with most national parks, dogs are allowed on paved and unpaved roads in Rocky Mountain National Park so long as they are leashed, and they are also welcome within campgrounds and picnic areas. If you find this restriction onerous, bear in mind that the park has deemed that pets pose a threat and disruption to wildlife and, given the park’s mandate to protect the flora and fauna within it, wildlife gets priority. It is prohibited to leave a pet unattended and tied to an object.

       FISHING

      With the exception of Bear Lake, where it is prohibited, fishing is allowed throughout Rocky Mountain National Park, but requires a Colorado fishing license for anyone sixteen years or older. In addition, those twelve years old or younger may use bait in waters open to fishing, except in designated catchand-release areas. For a list of lakes that are known to have fish, as well as details of fishing regulations, visit www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fishing.htm.

       THE FIRST ENTRANCE FEE

       The first person to pay an entrance fee to Rocky Mountain National Park was Abner Sprague, in 1939. Sprague homesteaded in the Moraine Park and built Sprague’s Ranch near the present-day parking lot of Sprague Lake (named after Sprague), with his wife, Alberta, for whom Alberta Falls is named.

       You pass through dense forest on the trail up to the Twin Sisters Peaks summits (Hike 23).

       BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING

      Large parts of the park are open to public use, specifically backcountry camping, outside of daylight hours. Camping in the park is subject to a fee and is restricted to designated campgrounds or in the backcountry with an overnight wilderness permit. Permits are available at park Wilderness Permit and Information Offices—the Wilderness Office on the east side of the park is adjacent to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, and on the west side of the park, the Wilderness Office is located inside the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Campfires are allowed only in certain areas where metal fire rings are provided.

      When backcountry camping below tree line or in the Boulderfield of Longs Peak between April 1 and October 31, the park requires that all food items and garbage be secured inside a hard-sided commercially made carry-in/carry-out bear-resistant food storage container.

      Always select a durable surface to camp on, and pack out everything that you bring in, including used toilet paper; toilet paper takes some time to decompose in the alpine environment and may even be dug up by animals, ruining another hiker’s experience. As for solid human waste, always bury it in cat holes at least 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) deep. For more information on backpacking and backcountry permits, visit www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/wilderness-camping.htm.

       FIREARMS

      Federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms to carry them within the park provided they comply with state laws and regulations. Firearms are not permitted in certain facilities, and those facilities are always marked.

       DRONES

      Drones are remote-operated, unmanned aircraft that people often use for videography or for fun. However, to limit noise pollution, protect habitats, protect wildlife, and preserve scenic and wilderness values, the park forbids the use of drones. The only exception is if you have written permission from the park’s superintendent.

       WILDLIFE

      The park has a large population of free-roaming wild animals, some of which are unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Wildlife viewing is encouraged but only from a safe distance. Approaching within 75 feet (23 m) of any wild animal, including nesting birds, or within any distance that disturbs or interferes