Rocky Mountain National Park
415 square miles of tundra, lakes, elk and moose just west of town
- (970) 586-1206
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
- Hours not confirmed
About
Past the Beaver Meadows and Fall River entrances west of town lie more than 415 square miles of meadow, forest and alpine tundra. Longs Peak and Mount Meeker sit above all of it.
The animals are what people talk about most. Elk and moose come up about equally, then marmots, bighorn sheep and mule deer, and the tundra gets nearly as much attention as any of them. On foot, the Bear Lake Trailhead is the common starting point, with Dream Lake and Emerald Lake the walks that follow from it. Sprague Lake is the quieter mention.
Plan before you drive up. From late May to mid-October a timed entry reservation is required during certain hours of the day, and entrance fees apply. September into early November is the Park Service's own pick for a visit, and the elk are loud about it. Camping, ranger programs and a Junior Ranger program fill out the rest, and it works with kids.
