Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park lies in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado, about two hours by road northwest of Denver. The town of Estes Park is the eastern gateway and Grand Lake the western one. The park was established on 26 January 1915 and covers about 1,075 square kilometres.

The Continental Divide runs through the park from north to south, so rivers on its east side drain toward the Atlantic and those on the west toward the Pacific. The headwaters of the Colorado River rise in the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side. Ute and Arapaho peoples used these mountains long before the park was created.

Trail Ridge Road crosses the park for about 77 kilometres between Estes Park and Grand Lake and reaches about 3,713 metres, making it the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Long sections run above the tree line across alpine tundra, with views of more than 60 peaks above 3,650 metres. Longs Peak, at about 4,346 metres, is the highest summit in the park.

Bear Lake, Dream Lake and Emerald Lake are reached by short trails on the east side and are among the most visited spots. Elk graze in the meadows of Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, and their autumn rut draws crowds in September and October. Bighorn sheep, moose and marmots also live here.

As of October 2026 the National Park Service charges 30 US dollars for a one day vehicle pass or 35 US dollars for seven days, and non US residents aged 16 and over pay an added 100 US dollar surcharge. From late May to mid October a timed entry reservation may also be needed, so check the park website before travelling. Trail Ridge Road usually closes from mid October to late May.

Water shapes much of the park. It holds about 150 lakes and some 450 miles of rivers and streams, linked by roughly 350 miles of trails, which suits both short lake walks and multi-day backpacking routes. Elevation runs from 7,860 feet in the valleys to 14,259 feet on Longs Peak, so weather can change sharply on a single hike.

The park drew about 4.17 million visitors in 2025, which is why a timed entry system has been used since 2020 for most of the May to October season. The elk herd swells to around 2,000 to 3,000 animals in summer and drops to 800 to 1,000 in winter, when the National Park Service culls about 50 elk to keep the herd in balance with the vegetation.