If you're in the park during those months, this road is definitely worth driving. It is the original park road and a 9-mile one-way road. Opens at Alpine Visitor Center. Driving down Fall River and then Trail Ridge will give you a full view of the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park roads are generally well maintained and are easy to drive. Even the least-improved roads are easily passable. You don't even need a 4X4 or a special vehicle. As long as you have a reliable car, you can drive around the park with no problems.
Continue driving north to Rocky Mountain National Park via Trial Ridge Road and watch for some great viewpoints along the way. If you decide to drive all this picturesque pass to Estes Park, the trip will take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Alternatively, you can stop along the way to take a walk for a few miles of the approximately 355 miles of trails maintained in the park, turning around at any point to return to Grand Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park Scenic Loop is 164 miles of pure mountain adventure.
This four-hour drive will take you from Denver to Estes Park, through Rocky Mountain National Park on the magnificent Trail Ridge Road, and then through Grand Lake, Granby and Fraser to Winter Park. Along the way, you can take in the alpine views, take a hike, or try to spot the wildlife of Forest Canyon Overlook. To help you make the most of this scenic drive, we've put together a list of three must-see places and activities. No other national park offers the dramatic experience of a long journey through the Alpine Tundra region, and few offer such a wide variety of experiences.
Driving through Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful way to experience this extraordinary place. The Alpine Visitor Center is a great place to stop for a meal and learn a little more about the tundra, which makes up one-third of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you plan to do a lot of hiking and driving down Trail Ridge Road, plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park between memorial day and mid-October. If you are on a road trip through Colorado, I recommend driving the Peak to Peak Scenic By-way, either before or after your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park.
