If you read nothing else on this page, READ THIS, please! Entrance to the national park is controlled by the new timed entry permit reservation system. To enter the park over the reunion weekend, you need to have a reservation (unless you enter the park late in the day or very early in the morning).
During the pandemic, the National Park Service implemented a timed entry reservation system at many national parks. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of those that requires timed entry reservations between certain hours every day of the week:
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- If you want to go to the Bear Lake/Moraine Park area of the park, you must have a reservation to enter between 5 AM and 6 PM. No reservation is required if you enter the park before 5 AM or after 6 PM.
- If you want to go anywhere in the park except the Bear Lake/Moraine Park area, you must have a reservation to enter between 9 AM and 3 PM. No reservation is required if you enter the park before 9 AM or after 3 PM.
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Also be aware that if you plan to enter the park before 5 AM (for the Bear Lake area) or before 9 AM (for the rest of the park) without a reservation, your vehicle must pass the entrance station before those times. So if your vehicle is in the queue of vehicles waiting outside the park entrance station to get into the park when the reservations-only hours begin, you will be denied entry.
The NPS Timed Entry Reservation Permit System page explains fully how the system works and how you can make your reservations. Cheer up: it really isn’t as complicated as you might expect from a federal agency and it protects the park from being overrun during peak season.
At 10:00 a.m. MDT on 1 June 2022, the National Park Service will make available a limited number of timed entry permit reservations. The demand for them on the 4th of July weekend will be very, very high. We urge you to be on the reservation website, www.recreation.gov, the minute the reservations become available.
Be aware that there is a $2.00 reservation processing fee that you pay when you book the reservation. In addition to the reservation fee, you must either have a valid park pass or pay the daily entrance fee when you enter the park.
What hours is the park open?
The park is open 24×7. Click here for information about hours for the five visitor centers (Fall River, Beaver Meadows, Alpine, Holzwarth Historic Site, Moraine Park Discovery Center, and Kawuneeche).
What are the entry fees?
You can purchase your passes at the entrance gates or online. If you purchase your pass in advance, you can save yourself time by using the card-swipe machine at the entrance gates. Be aware that the 4th of July weekend is an extremely busy time for the park, so be prepared for long lines at the entrance stations.
Note: As of November 20, 2020, entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is free every day for all U.S. armed service veterans and Gold Star dependents. At the park entrance station, be prepared to provide one of these documents:
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- Department of Defense Identification Card
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- Veteran ID Card
- Veteran’s designation on a state-issued driver’s license or identification card
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Is there cell phone reception in the park? WIFI?
Generally, cell phone signal in the park varies from bad to downright terrible. Do not count on being able to phone for help if you get stuck part way up Long’s Peak or on one of the more remote trails.
There is free WiFi at the Beaver Meadows and Fall River visitor centers.
Are there any restaurants inside the park?
Yes, at the Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road. There are also lots of picnic areas. See the Estes Park Shops and Services FAQ for more info about grocery stores in Estes Park.
Is there lodging available within the park?
Sadly, there are no lodges within the park itself. There are several nice campgrounds within the park, but reservations are necessary. Because demand is very high and availability is limited for the reunion dates, make your reservations as early as possible.
Can I go whitewater rafting or boating in the park?
There is no whitewater rafting allowed in the park, but you can launch a canoe or kayak on any lake within the park. Motorized boats are not allowed on any lake in the park.
There is boating on Lake Estes, on Grand Lake (just outside the west entrance to the national park), and Shadow Mountain Reservoir (just south of Grand Lake). All three lakes have marinas where you can rent a boat. See the Estes Park Shops, Services FAQ for more information about these marinas.
Is it ever allowed to feed wild animals in the park?
No. Not even the cutest, widdle-bittiest, tame-iest ones that climb or fly onto your picnic table or pose with you for a selfie. Just. No.
Can I go fishing in the park?
You bet. While children under the age of 16 do not need a license, all anglers aged 16+ must have a Colorado fishing license (you can get your license online before you even leave home); no other permit is necessary. Click here to find out everything you need to know about fishing in the park.
Is there horseback riding available in the park?
Yes. Visit horseback riding info for more information. Additionally, there are park-adjacent riding stables in Estes Park:
National Park Gateway Stables
Sombrero Stables
Jackson’s Stables
Are they really picky about speed limits in the national park?
Yes. Why do they care? There are often elk or moose crossing the park roadways and hitting one of them at any speed will end badly for all concerned.