Bring a pair of sunglasses when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, a shining beacon of pristine wilderness blended with outdoor recreation. Since 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park has welcomed visitors from all around the world to day trip and enjoy the beauty of the Rocky Mountain range and share a message of stewardship and appreciation for natural resources. The 416-square-mile park features five visitor centers, 350-plus miles of trails and 150 lakes.
Hiking
Experience the grandeur of the park by hiking on foot. Short hikes of less than 6 miles round trip include The Loch Trail, Ouzel Falls Trail and Emerald Lake Trail.
Grab your backpack for longer hikes of 7 to 8 miles such as Fern Lake Trail, Green Mountain Loop Trail and Chasm Lake Trail.
Easy walking tours with great views and waterfalls include Bear Lake, Cub Lake, Albert Falls and Adams Falls.
When hiking wear sunscreen and drink lots of water because of the extreme elevations.
Mountaineering
Experienced technical climbers will appreciate the challenges presented by Longs Peak, the highest mountain in the park at 14,259 feet. The park offers a variety of climbing opportunities from sport climbing to Alpine mountaineering.
Popular climbs include Pear Buttress, Lumpy Ridge, Spiral Route, Northcutt-Carter and South Face. If you want to stay for more than a day, bivouac permits are available to climbers for up to seven days in the summer and 14 days in the winter.
Wildlife Viewing
The park features a thriving ecosystem filled with much life. The largest animals in the park are elk, bighorn sheep, bears, moose, deer, mountain lions and bobcats. Keep an eye out for smaller wildlife such as foxes, coyotes, marmots, picas and squirrels.
Birdwatchers grab your binoculars for a chance to glimpse some of more than 260 species of birds that have been reported including such favorites as the Arctic loon, Western grebe, tundra swan, osprey, bald eagle and blue grouse. Respect all wildlife and do not feed or touch them.
Horseback Riding
Horses have played an important role as pack and service animals by providing low impact transportation in the mountains. Rocky Mountain National Park features two stables: Moraine Park Stables and Glacier Creek Stables.
There are more than 250 miles of trails for horseback riders to enjoy. Popular trail rides include Lost Lake Trailhead, East Inlet Trailhead, Thunder and Finch Lakes Trailhead and Big Meadows. Llama packing is allowed in the park as well as burros, mules and ponies.
Winter Activities
Fitness enthusiasts enjoy the chance to strap on snowshoes or cross-country skis for winter day-trip adventures.
The east side of the Continental Divide offers the most ski opportunities such as Bear Lake Loop, Loch Vale, Sprague Lake, Dream Lake, Thunder Lake and Alberta Falls.
Trails on the west side of the Continental Divide include Timber Lake, North Inlet Falls, Tonahutu Creek Trail and Big Meadows. Rocky Mountain National Park offers sledding in Hidden Valley and limited snowmobiling along the North Supply Access Trail.
