Square State Colorado

Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026: What to Expect

One of the most beautiful places in Colorado that I visit frequently is Rocky Mountain National Park. I love experiencing it at different times and varieties of weather whenever possible. As you would expect, summer and fall are the high seasons for visiting the park and in 2026 there are some important things to consider and plan for if you’re adding Rocky Mountain National Park to your summer trip if you’re visiting from out of town or experiences if you’re local.

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Why You Should Visit Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado has 4 national parks, out of the four Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is the closest one to Denver. If you’re renting a car, it’s between 1.5-2 hour drive depending on traffic and weather conditions to the town of Estes Park located at the base of RMNP. I’ve visited this park numerous times, hiked in it and have even camped in the Moraine Campground.

It’s majestic, beautiful and awe inspiring-especially if you make a point of driving up Trail Ridge road to the Alpine Visitors Center. Once you’re at the center you can go up “Huffer’s Hill” which is a set of steps leading up to the top of a hill that is 12,000 feet above sea level. Basically, you’re huffing and puffing as you go up those steps. I love reaching the top, being hit by the wind and feeling amazed by how quiet it is up there even if there are people around. You should visit RMNP for the following reasons.

• It’s so damn beautiful up there and I feel like we don’t always get a chance to experience how majestic nature is in the United States.

• If you’ve never seen wild animals you can often spot Elk, deer, marmots, Big Horn Sheep and other animals while in the park (No guarantees). My favorite animal to spot are moose. They’re huge. Also, stay FAR AWAY from all animals. Don’t end up on the local news because you decided to take a selfie with an elk and it gored you with its antlers.

• Plan a camping trip in the park. Some of the most beautiful night sky experiences I’ve ever had were in RMNP. There’s no light pollution and all you can see are stars on a cloudless day.

• If you’re comfortable hiking, enjoy going on an epic hike on one of the many trails that cross the terrain throughout the park. My favorite hike is Blue Lake Trail an 11 mile (roundtrip) hike that is not beginner friendly.

Double-Check the Entrance Fees

There have been some changes to the Entrance Fee structure to the National Parks System. Fees have increased and the most eye-opening increase impacts International Visitors. Go to the following link to learn more about these changes.

Book a Tour of Rocky Mountain National Park

Mountain driving requires a certain skillset. If you’re not comfortable with driving in the mountains or don’t feel like renting a car-you can absolutely book a tour from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park. The cool thing about most of the companies that run tours to the park from Denver is that they meet their guests typically in front of Denver’s Union Station (at the flag pole). I like to recommend Viator. But, most of the companies have good reviews.

The great thing about booking a tour is the following:

• Leave the driving to someone else!

• Traveling solo? You get a chance to meet new people or at least explore without being solo

• The tour guide is in charge of managing all of the important details such as knowing what the entrance fee will be and what to do and where to go if the weather changes while you’re there.

A tour is a great way to save money on gas, keep cars off the road and nice for the environment, something that Coloradans care a lot about.

Visit Estes Park

I used to work with adults learning English as a Second Language (ESL). One of my favorite things about that job was planning events so that they could experience Colorado. Taking students to Estes Park was absolutely one of my favorite things to do. Here’s a short-list of activities to experience while you’re in town.

• Walk along the River Walk from the Estes Park Visitors Center all the way to the western end of town. It’s not as far as it sounds. Bonus-Interact with all of the art, instruments and more that are installed along the path.

• Head over to Lake Estes Marina and rent a paddle boat, kayak or bike and enjoy spending time at the lake.

• Keep an eye out for the elk. You’ll often encounter herds of elk while in town. DO NOT try to take pictures with them and stay far away from them.

• Get a birds eye view of Estes Park from the Aerial Tram. Reserve your spot today.

• Visit when one of the many local festivals are happening. My favorite is the Scottish Irish Festival that happens in September. It’s a massive event so plan with that in mind.

• Check out the historical water wheel at the top of Main Street.

• Sit and relax in Mrs. Walsh’s Garden.

Or, head over to the Stanley Hotel for brunch. I once attended a wedding there and I’m convinced that place is really haunted. I’ve also met people who’ve worked there or have known people who worked there and they’ve seen things that cannot be explained.

Global Warming Could Impact Your Visit

At the time that I’m working on this post, Colorado has had a historically dry winter season. It’s important to consider how the lack of snow has the potential to impact your vacation. There are a few urgent concerns related to a bad snow season.

They are the following:

• Increased risk of fire-This could impact how you camp and whether or not there are fire bands at campgrounds. Actual fires that require parts of the park to be shut down and just lower amounts of water in the rivers and streams that are in the park.

• Water restrictions in Denver or other towns around the state.

• Extreme unexpected weather that you may not be expecting that could impact air travel into Colorado.

• Bad Air and Ozone Action days-Denver has been dealing with this more frequently in recent years.

This may feel a bit alarmist, but I do think it’s important for people to be aware of. Being aware of these issues will help you plan some contingencies in the event that unexpected things happen during your trip.

What to Bring and Wear

I almost forgot to add this section but it’s pretty important. Rocky Mountain National Park is a high-altitude location with the Alpine Visitors Center hitting almost 12,000 feet above sea level. There are several things that I like to have with me for a trip to the park.

• Layered clothing-The weather can change really quickly in the park. It could be 85 degrees in Denver and cold in the park. Always have a coat (puffy) on hand. Ideally one that is water proof.

• A filled water bottle-Even if you’ve booked a tour. Have an additional bottle of water on you.
• Extra socks just in case your feet get wet.

• Some additional snacks…even if food is included in your tour.

• Sunblock!

• Good shoes for hiking around. Ideally hiking shoes.

• A book to read. I like reading self-published romance authors like Autumn Stone.