4 Rocky Mountain National Park Entrances: Everything You Need To Know
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with over four million visitors each year. The 265,000-acre park offers mountain views, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and wildlife, and you do not have to go far from your car to take in the scenery.
Rocky Mountain National Park has four park entrances that bring you to some of the most beautiful parts of the park. If you are planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with its park entrances and which ones you need to enter. This guide has everything you need to know about the Rocky Mountain National Park entrances.
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Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
Get your timed entry permit in advance. Every Rocky Mountain National Park entrance has a timed entry permit system for the summer and fall, and the slots fill up quickly. I highly recommend reserving yours as soon as they are released, especially if you want to visit Bear Lake Corridor. The Bear Lake Corridor time slots for peak season fill up the same day they are released because it is one of the most popular areas in the park. The national park service has the release schedule on its website to make it easy. If you do not have a timed entry slot, you can enter Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM and the other sections of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 AM or after 2 PM.
Trail Ridge Road is open seasonally. The iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park is not open in the winter and early spring. The park does not plow Trail Ridge Road usually until Memorial Day weekend and closes it at the end of October, depending on the weather.
Start your day early. Starting your day earlier will allow you to enjoy the park with fewer crowds and avoid long wait times at the park entrances. Rocky Mountain National Park also experiences thunderstorms in the afternoon in the summer. During the few days we were in the park, we saw a storm every day! I recommend starting your day as early as you can to avoid getting caught in a thunderstorm.
Take it slow. Many of the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park are at high elevations, and if you are not acclimated, there is a chance you could get altitude sickness. I recommend taking it slow to ensure you get used to the altitude.
Pack layers. Rocky Mountain National Park has unpredictable weather, especially on Trail Ridge Road. I recommend packing layers to accommodate any weather you may run into. Snow can also linger on some trails through June, and you should research trail conditions to ensure you have the correct hiking gear. If you need to rent microspikes, plenty of stores in Estes Park have them. We rented ours from Scot’s Sporting Goods.
Wear sunscreen. Because you are at a higher elevation in the park and closer to the sun, it is easy to get a sunburn. We learned this the hard way on our first day! Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen before heading out to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Expect crowds. Rocky Mountain National Park is among the most visited national parks, and each attraction is likely to have crowds. There is also a high chance there will be lines at the entrance stations. If you have a midday timed entry, I recommend arriving early to give yourself plenty of time in case you have to sit in traffic entering the park. When we left the park around noon one day, the line at the entrance station was over two miles long!
Be flexible. There will likely be crowds in the park, especially in the summer. Allow your itinerary to be flexible since there may be times you cannot find parking at a viewpoint or trailhead because of the crowds.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
The 4 Rocky Mountain National Park Entrances
Rocky Mountain National Park has four entrances, and each brings you to a different part of the park. Three provide access to Trail Ridge Road, and one is in a secluded section of the national park.
Beaver Meadows Entrance
Beaver Meadows is the most popular Rocky Mountain National Park entrance because it is close to Estes Park and brings you to Bear Lake Corridor and Trail Ridge Road.
Because it is the most popular entrance in the park, the wait to get in is long, especially mid-day. Even though Rocky Mountain National Park has timed entries, the wait can still be over an hour. If you do not have a timed entry, you can enter at Beaver Meadow Entrance before 9 AM or after 2 PM.
I recommend arriving before 9 AM because the wait is shorter. If you want to access Bear Lake Corridor from this entrance, you must reserve a Park Access+ entry permit. If not, can enter the Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM.
Attractions Near Beaver Meadows Entrance
Moraine Park is a beautiful area known for its wildlife. You will likely see many elk roaming the fields. You can enjoy watching herds of elk roam around the park or hike along the few trails in the area. Moraine Park also offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Bear Lake is one of the most popular hikes near the Beaver Meadows Entrance because it is short and easy, and the views of the surrounding mountains are beautiful.
If you want a longer hike to four beautiful lakes, you can hike to Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, Nymph Lake, and Bear Lake. The 4-mile trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the entire park!
Lake Haiyaha is arguably the most beautiful lake in the area because it has turquoise-colored water. You can either hike 4 miles just to Lake Haiyaha or add it to your hike with the other four lakes above for a 5-mile hike.
If you are looking for a waterfall, you can hike to Alberta Falls, a beautiful 30-foot waterfall and a relatively easy 1.6-mile hike.
Sky Pond is a beautiful 8.6-mile hike that will make you work for the views, but it is worth the effort! The trail offers mountain views while passing Alberta Falls and three lakes - The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond.
Sprague Lake is one of the best hikes if you want an accessible trail with beautiful views. The 0.8-mile trail is one of the easiest hikes in the area and has stunning mountain views across the lake.
Deer Mountain is a popular hike near the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The 6-mile trail offers beautiful views overlooking Estes Park and the surrounding mountains.
Trail Ridge Road is the iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park, and you can access it through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The road has many beautiful overlooks and fun hikes to enjoy.
Beaver Meadows Accommodations
Estes Park is the best place to stay near the Beaver Meadows Entrance because it is less than a 15-minute drive to the entrance. It has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops.
Fall River Entrance
Fall River is the second most popular Rocky Mountain National Park entrance because it is close to Estes Park. It is smaller than Beaver Meadows and tends to have fewer crowds, but the wait times can still be long mid-day.
Fall River provides access to Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, making it easy to access the best attractions in Rocky Mountain National Park. Similarly to all entrances in Rocky Mountain National Park, it requires a timed entry permit. If you do not have a timed entry, you can enter at the Fall River Entrance before 9 AM or after 2 PM.
Attractions Near Fall River Entrance
Old Fall River Road is a beautiful 9-mile, one-way scenic drive linking Estes Park to the Alpine Visitor Center and offers incredible views of mountains and waterfalls. It is also a great place to see wildlife! Usually, it opens in mid-July and closes in October. You also have the opportunity to enjoy many hiking trails off the road, with a few of my favorites being Marmot Point Trail (easy/moderate), Ypsilon Lake Trail (strenuous), and Alluvial Fan Trail (easy).
Sheep Lakes is just past the entrance and offers beautiful views of the nearby mountains. It is also a great place to see wildlife!
Similarly to Beaver Meadows, the Fall River Entrance leads to Trail Ridge Road. This iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park has many beautiful overlooks and fun hikes.
Fall RIver Accommodations
Estes Park is the best place to stay near the Fall River Entrance because it is less than a 15-minute drive to the entrance and has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops.
Grand Lake Entrance
Grand Lake is the only Rocky Mountain National Park entrance on the west side of the park and offers fun things to do! It is often overlooked because it is on the other side of the national park, but it is a beautiful area with many fun hikes.
It also has the biggest and deepest lake in Colorado, Grand Lake. And let me tell you, the lake is stunning! Grand Lake is one of the least-visited park entrances, but you still need a timed entry permit. Similarly to the other Rocky Mountain National Park entrances, you can enter before 9 AM or after 2 PM without a permit.
Attractions Near Grand Lake Entrance
Adams Falls is one of the best hikes in the area! The 0.8-mile trail begins on the east side of Grand Lake and follows an easy path to a beautiful 55-foot waterfall. If you visit in spring or early summer, the waterfall will be gushing from the recent snowmelt.
Cascade Falls is another beautiful waterfall near the Grand Lake Entrance. Although the waterfall is not as epic as Adams Falls, the 6.8-mile hike is pretty and a great place to see wildlife.
Lake Verna is a perfect hike if you want a challenging trail! The 13.5-mile trail is breathtaking, bringing you to Adams Falls, Lone Pine Lake, and Lake Verna. Lake Verna is one of the most scenic lakes in the area.
From the Grand Lake entrance, you can access Trail Ridge Road. This iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park has many beautiful overlooks and fun hikes.
Grand Lake Accommodations
Grand Lake is the closest town near the Grand Lake Entrance. It is a quick drive to the entrance and has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops.
Wild Basin Entrance
Wild Basin is the least visited area in Rocky Mountain National Park but does not lack things to do! You still need a timed entry permit to enter the Wild Basin Entrance, but similarly to the others, you can enter before 9 AM or after 2 PM without one. Wild Basin is also the most remote area in the park but has some of the most beautiful hikes to eight lakes and three waterfalls. It is a great place to escape the crowds, especially in the summer.
Attractions Near Wild Basin Entrance
Ouzel Falls is easily one of the most beautiful waterfalls in this area of Rocky Mountain National Park! The 5-mile hike will make you work for the views of the 40-foot waterfall, but the effort is worth it.
Ouzel Lake is a few miles past Ouzel Falls and has stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The 10-mile trail makes for the perfect day hike near the Wild Basin Entrance!
If you are looking for a challenging trail, the hike to Bluebird Lake is perfect! The 13.3-mile trail connects Ouzel Falls, Ouzel Lake, and Bluebird Lake, making it a stunning hike.
Sandbeach Lake is another beautiful hike in this area and a perfect swimming spot in the summer! The 8.4-mile trail is worth the effort to relax along the lake shores.
Although Chasm Lake is outside the Wild Basin entrance in Rocky Mountain National Park, it should not be missed! The 8-mile hike is stunning as it wanders through the forest and alpine tundra to the shores of Chasm Lake beneath the iconic Longs Peak. It is a beautiful hike for sunrise.
Wild Basin Accommodations
Estes Park is the closest town near the Wild Basin Entrance. It is a 30-minute drive to the entrance and has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops. If you prefer to camp, there are campgrounds right outside the Wild Basin Entrance.
If you are visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, it is important to familiarize yourself with the park entrances. This guide has everything you need to know about the Rocky Mountain National Park entrances and the best things to do near each.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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