Rocky Mountain National Park has one of the most impressive topographies in the continental United States, with altitudes of more than 12,000 feet and several alpine lakes. Just 90 miles northwest of Denver, it's the perfect trip for nature lovers or anyone who just wants to disconnect. Rocky Mountain National Park is a popular day trip for summer visitors. You can leave Denver and drive through the park and cross the Continental Divide and return when the sun sets behind the Rocky Mountains.
Around 3 million travelers visit Estes Park each year, with a wealth of activities such as theater, concerts, art galleries, horseback riding, fishing, cycling, cross-country skiing, sledding and ice skating. Near the headwaters of the Colorado River, Grand Lake is Colorado's largest natural lake, the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Year-round activities include fishing in summer, boating, camping, rafting and festivals, while in winter it's about snowmobiling, snowshoeing, downhill and cross-country skiing.
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is one of Colorado's most popular attractions, attracting 4.5 million annual visitors to its 415 square miles of mountain beauty. The Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country. With majestic peaks in every direction, wildlife roaming the valleys and some of the most incredible outdoor adventures on the planet, it's no surprise that more than three million people flock to the park every year.
The 415 square miles (265,807 acres) of Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses a spectacular variety of mountain environments. From meadows found in the mountain life zone to sparkling alpine lakes to towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover. Along the way, explore more than 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife views. North of the park, raft the Class III-IV Cache la Poudre River, the only designated wild and scenic national river in the state, passing through the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
At the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, the historic village of Estes Park offers shopping and dining in a picturesque Alpine resort setting. The Rocky Mountain Museum collection preserves artifacts and specimens that tell the story of the park, from household items that were part of historic houses in the park and historic photos to watercolors and oil paintings of the park landscape.
The park's Alpine Visitor Center is also at the highest elevation of all National Park Service sites. Motels and cabins on the Western Riviera lakefront are affordable and convenient to get to Rocky Mountain National Park. With elevations from 7,860 feet to 14,259 feet, Rocky Mountain makes you feel like you're on top of the world. The park has a free bus from the Estes Park Visitor Center to popular trails such as Glacier Basin and Bear Lake, but there is no public transportation to get to the western side of the park.
