2023 Rocky Mountain National Park Travel Guide

Adapted from Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Guide

Located in northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park protects some of the most beautiful scenery in the West. With elevations ranging from 8,000 to 14,000 feet, “Rocky” is the highest national park in America. It protects over 100 peaks taller than 11,000 feet. Cool streams tumble down from the mountains, feeding pristine lakes and drifting through lush meadows. For those who love dramatic alpine scenery, it’s hard to beat Rocky Mountain National Park.

Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in America, twists through the heart of the park, topping out at 12,183 feet. Roughly 11 miles of Trail Ridge Road lies above treeline, exposing a dazzling expanse of delicate alpine tundra. Along the way, Trail Ridge Road passes Alpine Visitor Center — the highest national park visitor center in America — and crosses the Continental Divide. On either side of Trail Ridge Road there are dozens of great hikes. All told, over 350 miles of hiking trails crisscross the park.

And then there’s the epic story behind the scenery — a tale of colliding continents, erupting volcanoes, and Ice Age glaciers. Today abundant wildlife roams the park’s 415 square miles. Elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep are just some of the animals you might see. For many people, wildlife watching is one of the highlights of the park.

With so much to see and do, Rocky Mountain National Park can be overwhelming. My full-color guidebook, Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Guide, makes visiting easy. It covers the basics and puts the best of the park at your fingertips. Although I’ve saved the best travel tips for my book, listed below are some helpful resources to help you plan an amazing trip.