Route Overview
Colorado's alpine wonderland: Trail Ridge Road (highest continuous paved road in US), elk watching, alpine tundra, and dramatic peaks. Accessible adventure above treeline.
Itinerary
Sunrise at Sprague Lake
Sprague Lake is located along Bear Lake Road. Enjoy a walk around Sprague Lake, picnic tables, and restroom facilities.
Easy wheelchair-accessible 0.5-mile loop around a pristine lake with mountain reflections.
Calm mornings = perfect reflections. Often see elk near the lake at dawn.
Bear Lake Trailhead
Bear Lake Road ends 9.2 miles from the junction with Trail Ridge Road at the Parking Area for Bear Lake. From the parking area, take a short walk on a marked path to reach Bear Lake itself. Bear Lake offers spectacular scenic views of Bear Lake, Hallett Peak and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Easy 0.6-mile loop around Bear Lake with stunning views. Starting point for many hikes.
Timed entry reservation required! Book at recreation.gov. Arrive early - lot fills by 7am in summer.
Emerald Lake Trail
From Bear Lake Trailhead, pass by Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and steadily climb in elevation to scenic Emerald Lake.
3.6-mile roundtrip passing Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and ending at Emerald Lake. One of the park's best hikes.
Steady elevation gain but not too steep. Dream Lake is the star - turquoise water below Hallett Peak.
Lunch at Estes Park
Transit from Estes Park Visitor Center, located in Estes Park, Colorado to Rocky Mountain National Park
Gateway town with many options. Bird & Jim, Smokin' Dave's BBQ, or Rock Inn for mountain views.
Town is walkable. Saltwater taffy shops are fun for souvenirs.
Trail Ridge Road Scenic Drive
Enjoy scenic views and wildlife viewing opportunities while driving on Trail Ridge Road. This is a 48 mile scenic drive that connects the communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Cresting at an elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States.
48-mile road crossing the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet. Multiple scenic overlooks and tundra walks.
Check if open - closes for snow. Bring layers - temperature drops 20-30F from base! Allow 3-4 hours with stops.
Alpine Visitor Center
Today, we encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Look at the Cor-ten steel that makes up its structure. It weathers to a rich red color that matches the trunks of the ponderosa trees nearby. The architect of this building, E. Thomas Casey, chose Cor-ten "so that the structure of the building itself becomes its primary architectural expression." Cor-ten was a new material in 1967, when Beaver Meadows Visitor Center was constructed. In addition to exposing the structural steel, Mr. Casey designed the horizontally-oriented building to fit into its surroundings and wanted people to connect with the park through architecture. Mr. Casey told us "this is the way [that] architecture ought to be. You know, that what you see is what you get." If this kind of passionate talk about architecture sounds familiar, it is because Mr. Casey was a fellow of Frank Lloyd Wright. Through the visible stone, steel and glass construction, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is an example of the continued influence of Wrightean design principles and mid-20th century modern architecture in national parks. This building is also a National Historic Landmark!
Highest visitor center in the National Park System. Exhibits on alpine tundra. Cafe with average food, great views.
Walk slowly - altitude can cause shortness of breath. Short Alpine Ridge Trail behind the building.
Rock Cut & Tundra Walk
Short 0.5-mile nature trail through fragile alpine tundra. Highest point you can easily walk on Trail Ridge.
Stay on trail - tundra plants can take decades to recover from footsteps. Look for pikas and marmots.
Elk Watching at Moraine Park
Get awe-inspiring views of the Rocky Mountains! Moraine Park is located and accessed off of Bear Lake Road.
Large meadow where elk herds graze. During fall rut (September), bulls bugle and compete.
Stay 25+ yards from elk. September-October rut is spectacular. Dawn and dusk best.
Sunrise at Kawuneeche Valley
West side of park - peaceful meadows along the headwaters of the Colorado River. Moose territory!
Less crowded than east side. Moose often seen in willows along the river.
Coyote Valley Trail
The Coyote Valley trail is a wide, wheelchair and stroller accessible trail. It is perfect for anyone looking for amazing views of the Kawuneeche Valley or to see the mighty Colorado River.
Easy 1-mile loop along the Colorado River. Great for wildlife and wildflowers.
Wheelchair accessible. Prime moose habitat - look in the willows!
Holzwarth Historic Site
Take a step back in time at the Holzwarth Historic Site, the spot where the Never Summer Ranch, Holzwarth Trout Lodge, and family homestead was operated by the Holzwarth family for multiple generations from the 1910s to the 1970's. The Holzwarth Historic Site is located on the West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park eight miles (12.8 km) from Kawuneeche Visitor Center.
1920s dude ranch preserved in time. Short walk to historic cabins with ranger talks.
Free ranger-led tours in summer. Step back in time.
Alberta Falls
Glacier Creek thunders down this spectacular waterfall.
1.6-mile roundtrip to a beautiful 30-foot cascade. Popular but beautiful.
Park at Glacier Gorge trailhead. Can extend to The Loch (5.4 miles RT) or Mills Lake (5.6 miles RT).
Lunch at Glacier Basin
Pack a picnic to enjoy in this alpine meadow. No facilities - bring everything in/out.
Pick up food in Estes Park. Marmots may try to steal your lunch!
Old Fall River Road
Original road to Alpine Visitor Center - one-way gravel road with historic character. 9 miles, max 15 mph.
Only for adventurous drivers - narrow, no guardrails. Connects to Trail Ridge Road at top.
Sheep Lakes
A few miles from the Fall River Entrance, Sheep Lakes offers a dramatic view of Horseshoe Park.
Bighorn sheep often come to this mineral lick. Roadside viewing area.
Sheep are unpredictable but often present spring through fall. Stay on your side of the fence!
Final Sunset at Many Parks Curve
Get panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park! Along the Trail Ridge Road, use this pull out to see a scenic vista of ‘many parks’, meaning low-land meadows.
Overlook with views of multiple glacially-carved valleys. Beautiful sunset spot.
Look for elk in the meadows below as shadows lengthen.
Creates a copy you can customize
2
Days
16
Stops
moderate
Difficulty
Best Season
June-September. Trail Ridge Road open late May-October (weather dependent).
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