2019 Hours September is also great for wildlife because of the elk rutting season (peak mid-September to mid-October). Summer and fall are the busiest seasons in the park. Answer 1 of 13: We are arriving late in the evening on Sunday June 10th and will just check into the hotel and rest that night. Stargazing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plan Your Visit. What is a good itinerary for a day trip to RMNP in the winter? Rocky mountain national park is absolutely beautiful. Rocky Mountain Backpacking Trips. At only an hour and a half drive from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park, the park is a memorable summer day trip — and at $25 per automobile per day, it's also a very affordable one. No lodging is available in the park, but there are hundreds of lodging choices in nearby communities. Rocky Mountain National Park Vacation and Travel Information However, snow is possible at both times. Located just a few miles from downtown Grand Lake, the Kawuneeche Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, year-round, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Ranging from snowstorms in the winter to hot, clear days in the summer, Rocky Mountain’s got it all. Ranging from snowstorms in the winter to hot, clear days in the summer, Rocky Mountain’s got it all. We plan on being at the National Park early Monday morning but will need to purchase a park pass. Trail Ridge Road runs through the park (open May to October), and free shuttles run to trailheads and to downtown Estes Park. Hours Rocky Mountain National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, although certain roads and facilities may be closed seasonally. Visitor Centers Stop by one of Rocky's visitor centers to ask questions, watch the park movie, view exhibits, join a ranger for a program, shop for books and other educational items, and more. Trail Ridge Road crests over 12,000 feet. On the east side of the park, the Wilderness Office is adjacent to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The view is in unbelievable. On the east side of the park lies the Beaver Meadows Entrance, the most direct entrance from Estes Park, which lies right outside Rocky Mountain National Park.An hour’s drive from Boulder and two hours from Denver, the lively Estes Park is the closest town to the park on the east side of the park. It’s a place where wildlife thrives and where visitors can reconnect with nature and experience the many … The weather in RMNP is extreme—and unpredictable. 2019 Hours Weather at Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather in RMNP is extreme—and unpredictable. Camping, recreation, services and programs are offered throughout the year as well. With majestic mountains, tundra wildflowers, abundant wildlife, Trail Ridge Road (the highest paved road in the US), and over 350 miles of trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is spectacular! This is a high elevation park. Parking lots can be full and roads congested. Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Sweet spot months in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) without the heavy summer crowds, open Trail Ridge Road and a good chance of nice weather are late May until early June or September after Labor Day (mid-week) until mid-October. Our Colorado backpacking trips take you high to alpine basins, mountain lakes, craggy peaks, glaciers, forests and the wildflower-filled meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park. “ If you are looking for the best nature photo opportunities in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, I highly recommend Jared over at Yellow Wood Guiding out of Estes Park, Colorado. Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. The visitor centers offer access to nature guides and park rangers as well as share the latest in special programs and park information. Do's and Don'ts When Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park; How long does it take to drive Trail Ridge Road?