Since it’s only about 2 hours from Denver, a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park is perfect for a quick getaway from the city. You’ll be smelling the fresh Rocky Mountain air and exploring the vast wilderness before you know it. I spent a few days in Denver and couldn’t pass up the chance to see a national park that was so close to the city. I set aside a day to head to Rocky Mountain National Park and I was so happy I did. The scenery is breathtaking! Like with any day trip to a national park, you’ll want to do a little planning up front to ensure you’re making the most of your limited time there.
Table of Contents
Arrive Early
Rocky Mountain National Park is close to the city but there is still a wide area to explore. Many trailheads in the park are not very close to each other and you might find yourself driving an hour or more within the park to reach them. The key is to choose your trailhead before arrival and ensure you leave Denver early to take advantage of the day and avoid rushing up and down the trails.
From Denver, follow route 36 west to Estes Park and follow the signs to the park entrance. There are two entrance station options when driving from Denver and Boulder, so keep a map handy to know which entrance is closer to your intended in-park destination. Trust me on this one, I’m speaking from experience. I used the wrong entrance and ended up driving far longer than I needed to. One of the main reasons for getting an early start to the day is that parking spots at the trailheads are very limited. If you can’t find a parking spot or don’t want to worry about looking for one then use the park’s shuttle bus to get to your trailhead.
Parking
To avoid the stress of finding a parking spot I suggest using the Park and Ride. While it’s not the most convenient option for those who like to have their own cars, you won’t waste time looking for parking or need to worry about taking a wrong turn within the park. The shuttles are well-marked with their travel routes and the drivers and park rangers are happy to help you find the right shuttle if you’re unsure of which one to take.
If you’re like me and didn’t follow the advice of starting with the Park and Ride, there is another option. I drove into the park and headed towards the Bear Lake area. While at the Moraine Park Discovery Center, I discovered parking was going to be a problem. Instead of driving all the way back to the Park and Ride, a park ranger suggested parking at the Moraine Lake campground. There is a shuttle stop at the campground entrance and there is room to park on the side of the road near the entrance.
To get there, follow the signs to the campground from the main road, and just before the campground entrance take a left on the road that runs along side of the large moraine. Don’t forget to check for the huge elk that roam the moraine. Parallel park on the left side of the road in the gravel areas and then walk back uphill to get to the campground’s shuttle stop. Once on the shuttle, take it to the Park and Ride stop to transfer to the shuttle that will take you to your trailhead. I went to Bear Lake, so I transferred to the Bear Lake shuttle. This might sound like more of a hassle than driving your car, but, trust me, it’s far less aggravating and time consuming than driving around in circles looking for a place to park. Plus, you’ll be helping to lower the overall carbon footprint of the park.
Geography and Trailheads
Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful but it’s also a harsh environment. Due to the high altitude, the ecosystem is fragile, the growing season lasts only six weeks and there are no trees at the peaks. There are still glaciers within the park but they’re slowly melting so see them while you can! If you plan your day trip right, you can catch a glimpse of the varied ecosystems in the park. Most visitors will see the Montane region, which is the park’s gateway. This is the region below 9,000 ft. that has the tallest trees and most abundant wildlife. You can also explore the sub-alpine region which receives a high amount of precipitation and is filled with spruce and fir trees. Only the most experienced hikers and adventurers should venture to the alpine region which is above 11,000 ft. and has the harshest, least predictable weather.
You could explore the park by driving on the famous Trail Ridge Road, but to make your day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park truly memorable I suggest hiking. The closer you can get to nature without use of an automobile, the better you will feel. Nature, especially the forest, provides a unique energy boost and calming feeling you don’t get anywhere else. Hiking has the added benefits of helping to maintain strength, healthy bones and a healthy heart.
As I mentioned before, I decided to explore the Bear Lake area, which is one of the more popular spots for day trippers. A visit here provides you with views of moraines created by glaciers, and short but challenging hikes that offer stunning views of glacial lakes, the continental divide and a view of Long’s Peak, the highest mountain in the park.
Hiking a few short trails that are all accessible from the Bear Lake trailhead provides excellent views of the park. Start by heading towards Dream Lake and then continuing on to Emerald Lake for a 1.8 mile trip. In addition to the lakes, you’ll catch a glimpse of Long’s Peak, with its signature flat top, as well as a view of the continental divide. As you loop back down, take a detour to Lake Haiyaha to tack on a couple more miles. This is a lesser traveled trail but well worth the detour for the beautiful lake and glacier views. The last part of the trail that takes you to the lake is all rocks and it’s hard to tell where the trail is, so ask your fellow hikers which way they recommend you travel.
Upon arriving back at the Bear Lake trailhead, take a quick break (there are bathrooms if needed) and then walk the flat path around Bear Lake. It’s about a .5 mile loop trail. To finish out your day trip to Bear Lake, take the .8 mile long trail to Alberta Falls. When you come back from Alberta Falls, you have the option of cutting the hike short by catching the shuttle at Glacier Gorge Trailhead, or you can head back to Bear Lake.
Food and Drink
During your day trip to Rocky National Park, you’ll spend a few hours in the park hiking and exploring so you’ll need to adequately prepare by bringing water and food and consuming adequate amounts of both before you start. Proper fuel and hydration will help you fend off altitude sickness, which can come on easily for some. If you start to feel dizzy, get a headache or feel more fatigued than normal, stop where you are. You might need to consider turning around.
There aren’t many place to purchase food, so you will definitely have to bring your own. Trail mix with salted nuts, dark chocolate and dried cherries is a good option. Protein bars with natural sugars are also good to pack, and the old standby peanut butter and jelly sandwich will carry you through as well. Watery fruits and veggies will also help keep you hydrated and fend off altitude sickness.
Staying hydrated while hiking, especially at high altitude is super important. As soon as you arrive in Colorado and before you start hiking, sip on water with a dash of salt in it to keep your electrolytes up. At high altitude, many people don’t feel as thirsty as normal, so be conscientious about drinking water consistently. While you’re hiking, sip on a hydration/ electrolyte drink with sugar, sodium and potassium. Avoid Gatorade because it is loaded with sugars that won’t help you. Also avoid drinks with large amounts of low cal sugar substitutes like Stevia and sugar alcohol. Try Osmo, Liquid IV or Skratch Labs hydration drinks.
Despite the fragile and, at times, harsh environment, a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park will not disappoint! It’s one of the country’s most popular parks for a very good reason. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip!
Bonus Tips
- Stanley Hotel– The hotel was made famous by Stephen King and was supposedly where he was staying when he was inspired to write his spooky novel, The Shining. It’s located in Estes Park, and if you want to walk the grounds or stop for dinner, parking will cost you $10. With that, you’ll receive a coin worth $5 for spending on the property.
- Side trip to Boulder- If you’re headed back to Denver, stop in Boulder to stroll the vibrant downtown area and pick up dinner. If you haven’t done enough sight seeing you can go to Eldorado Canyon State Park for a short, easy hike around the canyon. You might also catch a glimpse of rock climbers scaling the canyon’s walls.
- Twin Owls Steak House– After burning off all those calories in Rocky Mountain National Park, refuel with a steak dinner. Be sure to also include plenty of veggies with your steak. Best to start with a salad and/or order sides of carrots, asparagus or roasted potatoes.