It can be mindboggling trying to decide what to do at any National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park certainly doesn’t make that easier with the timed entry reservation system. What options are available if you can’t get into the park? You’re in the park, what now? While most blogs post one-time experiences, I have the advantage of living in Northern Colorado. I frequently visit Rocky Mountain National Park [RMNP] and while each visit was not the same, I’m putting together this list of things I enjoy doing while visiting RMNP. If you are looking for some ideas or suggestions, continue reading this post until the end!
10. Get cancellations for your national park passport at four different visitor centers.
If you have a Passport to Your National Parks book, you can get a cancellation stamp at Beaver Meadows, Old Fall River Road, Alpine, and Kalwuneeche Visitor Centers. Personally, I would get a cancellation at the Old Fall River Rd entrance for the first time visiting RMNP cancellation. You can get your next cancellation at the Alpine Visitor Center after driving Old Fall River Rd. Save the Beaver Meadows cancellation for after a hike at Bear Lake. Lastly, the Kawuneeche Visitor Center cancellation after visiting the west side of the park.
9. Check out Grand Lake on the west entrance to paddle board and picnic at the lakes.
If you are anywhere on the east side of the park, you’ll still need to have a reservation to cross Trail Ridge Rd to get to Grand Lake. Even if you are already on the west side of the park, I recommend checking Grand Lake out. There are two lakes – Grand Lake & Shadow Mountain Lake and plenty of water to explore! If you have a kayak or paddleboard, this area is a great place to enjoy either watersport. This is also a great spot to “waste” time before the daily timed entry reservation ends at 2PM.
8. Drive Old Fall River Road.
I do recommend your vehicle have 4WD/AWD as the name would imply, it is a dirt road. Between spring snow melt and thousands of vehicles driving the road, it is quite weathered. I have a small compact SUV that has a 4WD option and it handles the road very well. This road, first and foremost, has amazing views of the valley and gives you a great perspective as to how intense the terrain is in the Rockies. It is rare, but you have a slim chance of seeing elk near the Alpine Visitor Center and an even slimmer chance of seeing a moose. I saw a moose, once, on Old Fall River Rd two years ago and have not seen one on the road since.
7. Have a picnic near Alpine Visitor Center.
My favorite relaxing thing to do in RMNP is to pack a small charcuterie picnic with cheeses, olives, jams, and crackers along with a little bit of wine. Take Old Fall River Rd (a.k.a. Old Dirt Rd). Enjoy the gradual elevation gain in the comfort of your car. Take a quick stop at Chasm Falls. The old dirt road continues. When you’re near the end, you’ll see the Alpine Visitor Center. You’ll wind around a spot where people pull over to climb a bit of the mountain for a great view. I like to drive just past that. There is another pull-off and a great grassy spot to spread out a blanket.
6. Bugle season is from late August to October.
This is by far the most interesting time of the year for RMNP. Your best chance of seeing elk is this time of year. The male elk (bulls) will “bugle” to gather a harem of female elk (cows). Bulls with luxurious antlers and loud bugles will reward them with larger harems. Be careful though! A distant bugle can easily get closer, and an elk can pop out of nowhere. You are more likely to see bulls and their harems in meadows like Sheep Lake and open higher elevation areas like the huge open space next to Forest Canyon Overlook.
5. Visit Sprague Lake (and other bodies of water throughout RMNP) at dusk and dawn for your best chance at seeing a moose.
Moose spend a huge portion of the day eating plants and algae in lakes and ponds. The west side of the park used to be the exclusive spot to see moose. Unfortunately, due to the huge fire a few years back, much of the Kawuneeche Valley between Grand Lake and the Onahu Trailhead. My personal theory is that the limited food after the fire forced them to migrate to the east side of the park. Last summer, there were two bull moose who hung out near Sheep Lake and Horseshoe Park. They gluttoned on the willows there. “Moosettes” (mama moose) take their newborns or yearlings to Sprague Lake and it has become a prime spot for nature photographers to spend time at.
4. Horseback trail riding.
There are four options available to book a horseback ride at Sombrero Stables, National Park Gateway Stables, Glacier Creek Stables, and Winding River Resort. The first three are in or near Estes Park and the last one is in Grand Lake. I have ridden at all four places and my favorite is National Park Gateway Stables [NPGS] as it offers the most versatile ride length options with average prices. Early in the summer, I did a 2-hour trail ride and later in the summer, I did a 6-hour trail ride. The trails used by NPGS go either up in elevation or through Horseshoe Park (valley). You get great eye-catching scenery of the mountains that is just wonderful.
3. Camping under the stars.
The two most popular campgrounds at Rocky Mountain National Park are Glacier Basin and Timber Creek. While Glacier Basin gets you access to the Bear Lake Corridor, Timber Creek is a great option if you want to explore for moose or hop over to Grand Lake. One thing that is absolutely better at Timber Creek over Glacier Basin is the view of the stars. Timber Creek is in the Kawuneeche Valley so the whole sky is lit up with stars! I’ve even seen Space X’s pearly string-like satellites fly through the sky.
2. Hiking trails in the Bear Lake Corridor – Bear Lake, Dream Lake, Lake Haiyaha, and Chasm Lake.
Bear Lake is a hiker’s paradise. There are beginner hikes like the loop around Bear Lake and there are intermediate hikes like Lake Haiyaha. And for the experienced hiker, Chasm Lake offers a great challenge! My favorite hike is Lake Haiyaha as the turquoise color of the lake just makes the hike well worth the sweat!
1. Sitting down and enjoying the views!
No matter where or what you see – slow down, pull over with all 4 wheels over the line, and enjoy it! Sightings are far and few between. As someone who regularly visits RMNP, I’ve never had the same experience. The park always keeps me guessing and I do love the challenge. Embrace Mother Nature at her purest and revel in animals big and small.
Learn more about Scenic Byhorse here.
Scenic Byhorse 