Rocky Mountain National Park is no hidden gem.
that’s all 4.1 million people I visited the park last year, making it the fifth most-visited national park in America, according to National Park Service statistics.
It gets very crowded in the summer, so timed entry reservations are required for a significant portion of each day.
Here’s what draws so many people to the Rocky Mountains and what travelers need to know about the national parks in the latest in USA TODAY’s annual series.
What’s so special about Rocky Mountain National Park?
If you close your eyes and think about the southern Rocky Mountains, “Rocky Mountain National Park has it all,” says park spokesman Kyle Patterson.
“Snow-capped mountains, great recreational opportunities 12 months of the year; Wildlife that can be observedand scenic grandeur,” she said, which is what visitors always admire.
She added that the Continental Divide flows right through the park, and the park is the headwaters of numerous major rivers.
When is the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park?
The answer depends on your interests.
“Do you want to see snow and ice, or do you want to see wildflowers and greenery?” Patterson asked. “Are you interested in hiking? Are you interested in snowshoeing?” Over 350 miles of hiking trails.
The peak season is from late May to mid-October, when temperatures are mild, all roads are open and reservations are required for admission at certain times of the day.
“What I love most about the Rockies is that it looks so different depending on the season you visit the park,” Patterson said.
Which city is closest to Rocky Mountain National Park? Which town should I stay in?
“We have two great communities right next to Rocky Mountain National Park,” Patterson said. “Estes Park is on the east side and Grand Lake is on the west side.”
She added that about 80 percent of visitors enter through Estes Park, which is also close to Denver and its international airport. However, she said visitors enjoy both Gateway her communities.
“Estes Park and Grand Lake have great amenities, from lodging to restaurants to other activities you can do when visiting the area,” she said.
Can I drive through Rocky Mountain National Park without a reservation?
Yes, but it depends on the time of your visit.
Timed entry reservation You must access the majority of the park from May 24th to October 14th between 9am and 2pm.
However, if you want to access the park’s busy Bear Lake Road, you’ll need a different type of reservation called Timed Entry+. This reservation allows access to all roads in the park, but specifically Bear Lake Road, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 24 through Oct. 20.
Reservations are not required for after-hours admission, but please note that this is a popular park. Trail Ridge RoadThe bridge connecting the east and west sides of the park is closed during the winter.
How long does it take to drive through Rocky Mountain National Park?
“If someone is coming during Trail Ridge Road opening hours, we recommend that they allow at least three hours to get down to the top of the park,” Patterson said.
This also allows you time to stop and admire the views or take a short hike along the way.
“You never know what you’re going to see when you’re driving along the road, so you want to give yourself plenty of time,” she said. “And you have to travel at a slower speed on the road…you’re not driving on a highway.”
How long does it take to visit Rocky Mountain National Park?
“We’re so close to a lot of Colorado’s population that we have people coming here for even two hours,” Patterson said. Although locals can visit anytime, she says it was “disappointing” to only spend a few hours inside the park on her first visit.
She says the average stay is about two days, but you can stay longer to get more out of the experience.
Which Native American tribe is associated with Rocky Mountain National Park?
“Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the country. The Rockies were established in 1915,” Patterson said, but she and the park are also familiar with the history of Native Americans who have lived on this land for thousands of years. points out that it has been managed.
“Today’s Rocky Mountain National Park is part of the traditional homelands and territories of many of today’s tribal nations. Assiniboine and Sue Tribe of Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. Cheyenne and Arapaho Oklahoma tribe. comanche tribe Nation of Oklahoma. Eastern Shoshone A tribe from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Kiowa oklahoma indian tribe Northern Arapaho A tribe from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. northern cheyenne A tribe on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation in northern Montana. southern ute An Indian tribe on the Ute Reservation in southern Colorado. ute indian Utah’s Uintah Tribe and Ouray Reservation.and ute mountain ute “Tribes of the Ute Mountain Reservation in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah,” the park acknowledges on its website.
What else should travelers know about the Rocky Mountains?
It can still feel like winter in the park well into May, but winter can quickly turn into fall.
weather It can also change quickly and vary dramatically depending on elevation. High altitudes can also affect unaccustomed travelers.
“They can become dehydrated quickly here, so it’s very important to give them enough time to adapt to their environment and take care of them by drinking plenty of water,” she said. “Being prepared for a trip to a place like the Rockies can make all the difference in the world.”