Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park

[swamper]

Looking for any tips or suggestions as I plan a first trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Some questions I have are:

1. We want to hear and see elk so I am debating what week to go in September so I hit the rut and maybe fall color.
2. Any suggestions on places to stay?
3. Any must see's within a couple hours of the park?

My wife is not a big hiker but we will do some small hikes like a mile or less.

Thanks for any help!

[rtarcher]

Have you looked into anything in Estes Park?

Todd

[GS91]

We actually prefer staying in Grand Lake versus Estes Park. Way less people and less commotion. We have always seen moose, bear, and elk on our stays. There are some great hikes in the area that would not be too strenuous. We typically only stop and stay for a few days and are not cooking our meals, so we do not require a condo or house. We have always enjoyed staying at the Black Bear Lodge. It is more of a motor lodge style, but has always ben clean and nice folks. There are tons of houses for rent though and condos, if that is more what you are wanting.

[swamper]

Well I don't like a ton of people. Our main goal will be to see a lot of wildlife. We have no issues getting up before dawn and staying out until dark. We also don't have to stay near the park if there are areas with a lot of wildlife as that is the goal not exploring a certain park. I will research Grand Lake area.

[flywise]

You won't have any trouble seeing wildlife. Been many years since I was there so can't remember any places to stay. Go see the Stanley hotel, don't find yourself on the interweb getting chased down by a big bull although those do make for good entertainment. We saw many bulls, good mule deer bucks, bighorn and mtn goats. Probably saw more wildlife there then Yellowstone come to think of it.

[Mudslinger]

Rockmount Cottages. Sept or early October. Elk will be around the cabins. It has happened everytime we have been. Better book now! Book to get into RMNP also or you will be turned away.

[Mudslinger]

You said you do not like crowds, Estes Park is not the place to go for seeing wildlife. It will be jammed packed. A ton of people and traffic. This is the reason you have to book your entry time to get into the park. Too many people!

[Mudslinger]

I still love to go and will go but the wife has learned the ropes on where to stay and when and how to get into the park. It is quiet at Rockmount Cottages along the Big Thompson river but it will be crowded in Estes Park and RMNP. Beautiful with a ton of elk, mulies and possibly Bighorns!

[wytex]

Come on up into Wyoming too. Laramie is a great little town and the mountains are 30 minutes away, The Snowy Range.

[bbbuck]

One of our favorite places to visit. On the east side of the park (Estes Park) you will find it touristy with plenty of people but elk/wildlife everywhere, it is drier arid on the east side. On the west side (Grand lakes) you will find elk, moose, deer, etc. One of our favorite vacations was on a cabin on sun valley lake. We caught endless trout, 4x4 trails, hiking multiple trails and wildlife everywhere. There was a bad fire that in 2020 that burned most of the park and surrounding area including numerous homes. The fire actually jumped the continental divide and changed the landscape of the park. You can watch videos of the fire aftermath that will raise your eyebrows.

[chongo]

I would stay on the west side in Grand Lake, less people and it's a cool town. You'll likely see moose as well. There is more moose activity on the west side of the park.

There are a lot of cool overlooks/spots to pull over between Empire and Winter Park (especially Berthoud Pass) if you take State Hwy 40 north from i-70.

Berthoud Pass Sunset by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

You'll need to get timed entry permits for the Bear Lake Corridor (https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910). The best place to see elk and rut activity is Moraine Park. It gets busy during the evenings especially but, the timed entry permits do help cut down the number of people.


Old Fall River Road is a must drive from Estes up to the Alpine Visitor Center
Chasm Falls, Old Fall River Road, RMNP by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

Timing: I would plan for the 3rd week of September for the best rut activity.
Moraine Park_RMNP Elk Rut by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

untitled20200918-IMG_6868-Edit.jpg by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

Things to do:
West side there are some longer trails but an easy one is Adams Falls, its right on the edge of Grand Lake. It's a short trail but awesome water fall.
This was shot from the very bottom of the falls. The upper part of the falls are more impressive!
Adams Falls - RMNP-2.jpg by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

White Buffalo Pizza and Grand Pizza are both good eats in Grand Lake. Rockies is good too.

Erik Stensland Photography (imagesofrmnp.com) has a studio in Grand Lake, amazing artwork on display.

East Side another easy hike is Sprague Lake, you might see a moose here as well.
Sprague Lake Sunrise in RMNP.jpg by Chris Jeans, on Flickr

Bear Lake is also an easy hike - both Bear Lake and Sprauge Lake will require timed entry permits for the Bear Lake corridor. The parking lot at Bear Lake fills up quickly but they have a shuttle available as well.

If you like tacos, Rosa's Tacos (taco truck) has the best in Estes Park.

Estes also has more stores/shopping that your wife will probably enjoy.

[Shane]

We were in Estes Park last week. Saw lots of elk and some bighorn and mule deer. If you decide to stay on the east side, a friend of mine (Mark Powell) and his wife own Seven Keys Lodge. It's about 10 miles outside Estes Park, so not in the middle of the crowds in town. Check them out.

[ShredLikeRed]

Come on up into Wyoming too. Laramie is a great little town and the mountains are 30 minutes away, The Snowy Range.

Man you need to quit telling folks how good Wyoming is. I’m planning on moving back eventually and the less people that know how badA** the state is the better lol

[unclefish]

Look into the timed entry permits for going to certain areas (Bear Lake road)....or you can get up at the crack of dawn and get in without the timed entry permits. Hike up to the alpine lakes and catch greenback cutthroats til your sick of it. Our fave lake of Loch Vale.

Estes is full of people but still a cool town....the Grand Lake side is pretty awesome too. Rent a boat and go out on the lake.....incredible beautiful.

[dclifton]

Was in estes Park mid october last year we got a 7-8am entry. We same hundreds of elk. Bugling bulls all around the herd. Saw some crossing one of the roads. Saw a ton of mule deer, 2 bucks fighting and some bighorn south of estes Park down around Parkdale Texas Creek area driving along the Arkansas River.

My Parents went in Early September the year before and saw just a handful.