Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits: What you need to know for Summer 2022

Post Summary: Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits

Rocky Mountain National Park is a mountainous National Park full of mountain summits, alpine lakes, and a range of ecosystems. This popular National Parks. This mountainous National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park has decided to do timed entry permits for Summer 2022

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What are Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits?

Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits are being implemented to help the park manage park visitation. As one of the busiest National Parks in the United States, Rocky Mountain has been facing numerous challenges including Covid-19 concerns, seasonal staff housing challenges, reduced shuttle bus capacity, and fire damage, and the high numbers of visitors.

The timed entry permits will help limit the number of visitors accessing the park and spread the use of the park out through the day and hopefully helps minimize crowding at the trailheads and parking lots.

Timed entry permits will be required from 5 am / 9 am to 3 pm / 6 pm.

Types of Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Permits

Bear Lake Road Corridor Permit

The Bear Lake Road Corridor Permits will allow visitors to access Bear Lake Road as well as the rest of the park. These permits will be required from 5 am to 6 pm.

Popular hiking destinations from the Bear Lake Road Corridor:

• Alberta Falls
• Bear Lake
• Bierstadt Lake
• Black Lake
• Cub Lake
• Dream Lake
• Emerald Lake
• Fern Lake
• Flattop Mountain
• Lake Haiyaha
• Lake Helene
• Mills Lake
• Nymph Lake
• Sky Pond
• Sprague Lake
• The Loch
• The Pool

Rocky Mountain National Park excluding Bear Lake Permit

Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits allow access to all of Rocky Mountain National Park but Bear Lake Corridor. This pass covers Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.

This timed entry pass is required to enter Trail Ridge Road from 9 am to 3 pm.

Other Important Information about the Rocky Timed Entry Permits

• Permits are expected sell out within a few minutes of being released. So you need to be ready to purchase at the time they are released.

• There is a $2 service fee per reservation.
  • Rocky Mountain Entry fee
    • 1 Day – $25 per vehicle per day
    • Rocky Mountain Annual Pass – $70
    • America the Beautiful (The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes) – $80

• One reservation per vehicle.

• You will need a timed entry permit for each day you wish to explore the park.

• Tickets must be printed or downloaded.

• Tickets are good for entry during a two-hour window.

• Park visitors staying at the Rocky Mountain campgrounds do not need timed entry tickets.

• Do not miss your entry window. There is NO guarantee you will be allowed in.

• Timed entry permits do NOT guarantee parking.

How do you get a Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permit?

Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permits are obtained from Recreation.gov. One permit per vehicle.

Park capacity will be capped at 75 to 85% of the parking capacity.

Advanced Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Permits

Advanced Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Permits are released on the first day of the month for the following month at 8 am MDT at These ticket reservations can be made at Recrecation.gov.

75% of the permits will be released in advance.

Permits are release dates:

• Open on May 1 at 8 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park from May 28 through June 30.
• Open on June 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of July (and any remaining days that have not been booked for June).
• Open on July 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of August (and any remaining days that have not been booked for July).
• Open on August 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of September (and any remaining days that have not been booked for August).
• Open on September 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of October (and any remaining days that have not been booked for September).

One Day In Advanced Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Permits

The second block of permits is released at 5:00 pm MDT every day for the following day. Such as tickets for May 30 are released on May 29. These ticket reservations can be made at Recrecation.gov.

25% of permits will be released one day in advance.

These tickets will be shown as “Not Yet Released” on the Recreation.gov website or app until they become available.

Final Thoughts on the Rocky Mountain Time Entry Permits

I hope you found this guide helpful. If you have any questions or comments let me know in the comments below.

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