National Parks of the Rocky Mountains + FREE Checklist (2024 Update)

Welcome to the National Parks of the Rocky Mountains. This region is home to some of the most recognizable and famous National Parks in the United States.

As the name suggests, all the National Parks of the Rockies are all nestled within the Rocky Mountain Range. The Rocky Mountain Range runs from north New Mexico to western Canada. These parks are a captivating showcase of Mother Nature’s grandeur that features dramatic peaks, verdant forests, and pristine lakes; these parks provide a sanctuary for a diverse range of flora and fauna.

The article is a guide to the Rockies National Parks of the United States, including parks in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Colorado.

There are five national parks to explore in the Rockies. Suppose we include national monuments, historical sites, memorials, and much, much more. This gives the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States a total of 23 national parks to explore.

• Tips on Visiting the Rocky Mountains National Parks
• Rocky Mountain National Parks Region Map
• National Parks in the Rocky Mountains by State
• List of Rocky Mountains National Parks by Unit

Planning to explore the Rockies? Download your free National Parks of the Rockies Checklist HERE.

How many National Parks are in the Rocky Mountain Region?

There are five National Parks of the Rocky Mountain Region. They are divided between Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Colorado. For geographical reasons, we have not included all the Colorado National Parks on this list.

If we want to talk about all the National Park Service units in the Rocky Mountains, there are 23 national parks in the region. They are divided as follows:

• 5 National Park
• 6 National Monument
• 2 National Preserve
• 5 National Historic Site
• 1 National Historical Park
• 1 National Battlefield
• 1 National Recreation Area
• 1 National Reserve
• 1 Parkway

Tips on Visiting the Rocky Mountains National Parks

Best Time to Visit the National Parks in the Rockies

Given the mountainous nature of the Rocky Mountain Regions, these parks are generally best visited from late spring to early fall unless you like cold, snow, and general winter weather. But like any other region, the best time to visit depends a lot on you and your expectations and the activities you’d like to do.

However, here are some general guidelines for the optimal times to explore the Rockies National Parks:

• Summer – The summer is peak season for all these parks. All the park roads are open, and tourism is in full swing. The temperatures are warm, and the days are long. Most of these parks are very busy during the summer.
  • My favorite Rockies National Parks to visit in the summer are Glacier and Yellowstone.
• Fall – Fall is one of the best times to visit the Rockies. These parks put on stunning but short-fall foliage displays. Wildlife is more active than in the summer, and the crowds diminish. But the roads and services will start to shut down for the season.
  • My favorite Rockies National Parks to visit in the fall are Rocky Mountains and Glacier.
• Winter – Expect limited access with cold and snow-covered landscapes. Services within the parks will be limited or closed. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular activities.
  • My favorite Rockies National Parks to visit in the winter are Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
• Spring – Spring comes slowly in the Rockies. There will still be snow at the higher elevations, while the rivers will be full of snowmelt. The animals will start breaking their winter hibernations and become more active. Wildflowers will begin to bloom in the late spring.
  • My favorite Rockies National Parks to visit in the spring are Grand Teton and Great Sand Dunes.

How much does it cost to visit the Rockies National Parks? – National Park Fees & Passes

In terms of charging an entrance fee, most National Parks of the Rocky Mountains charge an entrance fee. For the National Parks, its typically $35 per vehicle for 7 days. For the other units its $3 to$15 per person or per vehicle. These fees are covered by the America the Beautiful Pass.

I always recommend getting the $80 America the Beautiful Pass. The pass covers the entrance fees to all National Park Service units as well as more than 3,000 other federal lands. It is a steal if you plan to visit more than just one park in a twelve-month period.

>>> You can get the America the Beautiful Pass from REI.

Map of the Rocky Mountains National Parks

Planning to explore the Rockies? Download your free Rockies National Park Checklist HERE.

States of the Rockies

• Colorado
• Idaho
• Montana
• Wyoming

National Parks of the Rocky Mountains by State/Territories

Colorado

Within the Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado has two National Parks and four units. There are a total of four National Parks and nine units in Colorado.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve sits at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Sangre de Cristo is the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. The park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, reaching heights of up to 750 feet. These majestic dunes sprawl about 30 square miles, creating a mesmerizing desert-like landscape flanked by rugged mountains.

The park is not just about the sand dunes; it also features diverse environments such as alpine lakes, forests, wetlands, and tundra, each offering unique wildlife viewing opportunities. Activities at the park are plentiful and vary with the season. Popular activities include sandboarding, hiking, and wildlife viewing.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Range. The park is home to spectacular mountain scenery in the country. There are over 100 peaks above 11,000 ft in elevation. Longs Peak is the most prominent peak in the park at an imposing 14,259 feet. Beyond the peaks, the park includes a diverse range of ecosystems, including alpine meadows and dense forests.

The park is renowned for its diverse wildlife, including elk, moose, black bears, and a wide variety of bird species. Equally diverse are the park’s ecosystems, ranging from lush meadows and dense forests to rippling streams and glaciated peaks. Visitors can hike over 350 miles of trail, go fishing in pristine mountain lakes and streams, or partake in winter sports such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. .

Other National Park Units in Colorado

Here are the Colorado Units within the Rocky Mountains Region:

• Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
• Great Sand Dunes National Preserve
• Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Here are the Colorado Units in the Southwest Region:

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
• Colorado National Monument
• Curecanti National Recreation Area
• Dinosaur National Monument (CO, UT)
• Hovenweep National Monument (CO, UT)
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Yucca House National Monument

Learn more about the Colorado National Parks.

Idaho

Idaho shares Yellowstone with Montana and Wyoming and has six other National Park Service Units.

Yellowstone National Park

Idaho has a small strip of Yellowstone National Park. This remote section of the park has limited trails and access routes. Its most famous claim to fame is that it is considered to be the Zone of Death (aka the train station from the TV series Yellowstone).

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. Please DON’T test this legal theory. Odds are you are going to lose after spending years and a couple of million dollars on lawyers. But for the sake of general interest, I’m going to try and simplify as much as I can.

The Zone of Death, in theory, is a lawless area in the US where one could get away with any crime due to a quirk in US Federal Law. Since Yellowstone is a National Park, it is exclusively under federal jurisdiction, so all crimes are federal and must tried in federal courts. According to the Sixth Amendment, all federal trials must be made of a jury of residents from the state and district where the crime has occurred.

Unlike the Montana and Wyoming sections of Yellowstone, almost no one lives within the Idaho district, so the US government convenes a jury of Idaho residents who live within the Yellowstone Federal District.

Yes, it’s a legal loophole in theory, but like I said, it’s just a theory. An elk poacher tried to use this argument, but he ended up dropping the fight and taking a plea deal to drop the fight.

My personal theory is that the courts will ultimately find this loophole isn’t within the spirit of the law, and you will go to jail for whatever crime you committed.

Other National Park Units in Idaho

• City of Rocks National Reserve
• Craters of the Moon National Monument
• Craters of the Moon National Preserve
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
• Minidoka National Historic Site
• Nez Perce National Historical Park
  • Ant and Yellowjacket
  • Asa Smith Mission
  • Camas Meadows Skirmish Site
  • Camas Prairie
  • Canoe Camp
  • Clearwater Battlefield
  • Confluence Overlook
  • Cottonwood Skirmishes
  • Coyote’s Fishnet
  • Craig Donation Land Claim
  • Fort Lapwai
  • Hasotino
  • Heart of the Monster
  • Lenore
  • Lewis and Clark Long Camp
  • Lolo Pass and Trail
  • Looking Glass’ 1877 Campsite
  • McBeth House – Not open to the public and directions not provided out of respect for the land owners.
  • Musselshell Meadow
  • Northern Idaho Indian Agency
  • Pierce Court House
  • Spalding Sites
  • St. Joseph’s Mission
  • Tolo Lake
  • Weippe Prairie
  • Weis Rockshelter
  • White Bird Battlefield

Learn more about the Idaho National Parks.

Montana

Within the Rocky Mountain Region, Montana has two National Parks and five NPS units within the Rockies Region. There is a small sliver of the sixth NPS unit that is counted within another region.

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is called the Crown of the Continent, and the park certainly deserves the title. It is a gem on a list of gems. The park boasts breathtaking landscapes featuring glacial carvings, clear azure lakes, and verdant forests. Its most iconic feature is the Going-to-the-Sun Road, an engineering marvel that traverses the park and offers unparalleled views of snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows.

Glaciers, though receding, still cling to the rugged slopes, shaping the landscape and feeding the numerous pristine lakes and rivers. Beyond the breathtaking scenery, the park is a haven for diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, mountain goats, moose, and over 300 species of birds.

Glacier National Park makes up one-half of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, which combines Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park with Glacier National Park. The Peace Park is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yellowstone National Park

Montana’s portion of Yellowstone National Park is best described as the entrance to Yellowstone. Three of Yellowstone’s five entrances are in Montana as well as two of the most popular gateway cities. The most famous feature in the Montana section of Yellowstone is the Roosevelt Arch. The Roosevelt Arch is crafted from basalt and limestone and inscribed with the inscription with the iconic phrase “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” The Roosevelt Arch is named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid its cornerstone.

Other National Park Units in Montana

Here are the Montana Units within the Rocky Mountains Region:

• Big Hole National Battlefield
• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT, WY)
• Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
• Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
• Nez Perce National Historical Park (ID, MT, OR, WA)
  • Bear Paw Battlefield
  • Canyon Creek

Here are the Montana Units in the Midwest Region:

• Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (ND, MT)

Learn more about the Montana National Parks.

Planning to explore the Rockies? Download your free Rockies National Park Checklist HERE.

Wyoming

Wyoming has two National Parks and five other NPS units.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is home to one of the most iconic subranges of the Rockies. Most of the park’s skyline is dominated by the majestic Teton Range. These towering granite peaks stand in the backdrop to pristine alpine lakes and lush valleys. The Snake River winds its way through the park.

Grand Tetons is a playground for hikers, climbers, and wildwatching. If you are looking to see moose, this is the place to be.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is many things. It is a natural spectacle of geothermic wonders. It is the Serengeti of North America and home to a diverse and iconic range of wildlife. While three states claim this amazing park, most of Yellowstone National Park is in Wyoming (including the best bits).

Home to the legendary Old Faithful geyser and the majestic Grand Prismatic Spring, this part of the park presents breathtaking scenes of nature’s raw power. The park’s wildlife is equally impressive, with species such as grizzly bears, elk, and herds of bison freely roaming the landscapes. For outdoor enthusiasts, the park offers a myriad of activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife watching.

Other National Park Units in Wyoming

• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
• Devils Tower National Monument
• Fort Laramie National Historic Site
• Fossil Butte National Monument
• John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway

Learn more about the Wyoming National Parks.

List of the National Parks in the Rockies by Unit

National Parks of the Rocky Mountains

• Glacier National Park (MT)
• Grand Teton National Park (WY)
• Great Sand Dunes National Park (CO)
• Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
• Yellowstone National Park (ID, MT, WY)

National Monuments of the Rocky Mountains

• Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (MT)
• Craters of the Moon National Monument (ID)
• Devils Tower National Monument (WY)
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (CO)
• Fossil Butte National Monument (WY)
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (ID)

National Preserves of the Rocky Mountains

• Craters of the Moon National Preserve (ID)
• Great Sand Dunes National Preserve (CO)

Planning to explore the Rockies? Download your free Rockies National Park Checklist HERE.

National Historic Sites of the Rocky Mountains

• Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site (CO)
• Fort Laramie National Historic Site (WY)
• Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (MT)
• Minidoka National Historic Site (ID)
• Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (CO)

National Historical Parks of the Rocky Mountains

• Nez Perce National Historical Park (ID, MT. OR, WA)

National Battlefields of the Rocky Mountains

• Big Hole National Battlefield (MT)

National Recreation Areas of the Rocky Mountains

• Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT, WY)

National Reserves of the Rocky Mountains

• City of Rocks National Reserve (ID)

Parkways of the Rocky Mountains

• John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway (WY)

Associated Units of the Rockies

Associated National Trails of the Rocky Mountains

• California National Historic Trail (CA, CO, ID, KS, MO, NE, NV, OR, UT, WY)
• Ice Age Floods Geologic Trail (ID, MT, OR, WA)
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MT, NE, ND, OH, OR, PA, SD, WA, WV)
• Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail (IL, IA, NE, UT, WY)
• Old Spanish National Historic Trail (AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT)
• Oregon National Historic Trail (ID, KS, MO, NE, OR, WA, WY) Pony Express National Historic Trail (CA, CO, KS, MO, NE, NV, UT, WY)
• Santa Fe National Historic Trail (CO, KS, MO, NM, OK)

Planning to explore the Rockies? Download your free Rockies National Park Checklist HERE.

Final Thoughts of the National Parks of the Rocky Mountains

I hope you have learned a little bit about the National Parks of the Rocky Mountains and are ready to get out and explore the Rockies National Parks. If you are interested in the National Parks of other regions, click below;

• Midwest National Parks
• Rockies National Parks
• Southeast National Parks
• Southwest National Parks
• West Coast National Parks

Pin for Later: Rockies National Park