Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and need some help planning your trip?

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

The Quick Guide to Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park Basics

Region: Intermountain / Rocky Mountain / West Coast

Park Size: 265,461 acres (414.78 sq miles) (1,074.28 sq km)

Location: Larimer, Grand, and Boulder counties

Closest Cities: Estes Park and Grand Lake, Colorado

Busy Season: June to September

Visitation: 4,670,053 (in 2019)

How much does Rocky Mountain National Park Cost?

Rocky Mountain National Park costs the following:

• 7-day Passenger Vehicle Pass – $25
• 7-day Motorcycle Pass – $25
• 7-day Individual Pass – $7

An annual Rocky Mountain National Park Pass costs $70but it is not recommended you buy this pass. For an extra $10 you can get an American the Beautiful Pass. This $80 pass offers free admission to all 116 fee-charging National Park Units.

When is Rocky Mountain National Park Open?

Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, but many of the park roads close for winter.

Are dogs allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Yes, pets are allowed in Rocky Mountain National Park but are limited to developed areas. Pets are not allowed on trails, tundra or meadows in Rocky Mountain National Park. Please review the Rocky Mountain Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Rocky Mountain.

Where are Rocky Mountain National Park’s visitor centers?

Alpine Visitor Center – May to October

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center – Open Year Round

Fall River Visitor Center – Open Year Round

Holzwarth Historic Site – Open Year Round

Kawuneeche Visitor Center – Open Year Round

Moraine Park Discovery Center – Open late Spring to mid-Fall

Sheep Lakes Information Station – Open Year Round

Land Acknowledgments for Rocky Mountain National Park

The National Park known as Rocky Mountain National Park sits on Eastern Shoshone, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) lands.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book in Rocky Mountain National Park?

The National Park Passport Book is the BEST and cheapest National Park souvenir. Every National Park Obsessed person should have one of these books.

If you are new to the National Parks, you can learn more about the National Parks Passport program here or jump right in by ordering the ever-popular Classic National Parks Passport or get the National Park Obsessed’s National Park Passport & Journal

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government-issued passport.

There are 11 official Stamps for Rocky Mountain National Park. Here is the list of National Park Passport Stamps you can get in Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Bear Lake – 9475 FT (National” is misspelled)
• Beaver Meadows Visitor Ctr.
• Continental Divide (This Stamp May Not Exist)
• Fall River Visitor Center
• Fall River Visitor Ctr.
• Grand Lake, CO
• Grand Lake, CO (Dashed-line Border)
• Holzwarth Historic Site
• Longspeak-14,259 Ft.
• Moraine Park Discovery Ctr.
• National Park
• RMNP • Alpine Visitor Ctr. Elevation 11,796 FT.
• RMNP Alpine Visitor Center Elevation 11,796 FT
• RMNP Alpine Visitor Center Elevation 11,796 FT
• Wild Basin

Bonus Stamps:

• Bear Lake With Image Of Bear
• Image Of Backwards G And H
• Junior Ranger
• Longs Peak
• NPS
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Wild Basin

Rocky Mountain National Park Passport Stamp Locations

Here are all the locations where you can find the Rocky Mountain National Park Passport Stamps.

• Alpine Visitor Center
• Bear Lake Ranger Station
• Beaver Meadows VC
• Fall River Visitor Center
• Hidden Valley RS / Junior Ranger HQ (BONUS ONLY)
• Holzwarth Historic Site Visitor Contact Station
• Kawuneeche Visitor Center
• Longs Peak Ranger Station
• Moraine Museum Visitor Center (Moraine Discovery Center)
• Wild Basin Ranger Station

National Park Obsessed’s Detailed Guides to Rocky Mountain National Park

General Information on Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park Lodging

Other Articles featuring Rocky Mountain National Park