Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry: Best Itinerary Without It
Are you planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park without a timed entry in hand? Don’t fret! There are so many options available without timed entry. One of those options is this fun and scenic itinerary to fill your day with mountain beauty all day long and the national park for the afternoon.
Start in a Beautiful Mountain Town
You’ll start in the beautiful mountain town of Nederland. If you’re staying in Estes Park, it will be an hour drive to reach this quaint town along the awe-inspiring Peak-to-Peak Highway. Coming from Boulder (30 minutes away) or Denver (60 minutes away) brings you up the stunning Boulder Canyon. This rugged mountain town is oozing with charm as you walk down its old western main drag. It has a great place for breakfast, New Moon Bakery. You can grab a coffee and pastry as you take in this town surrounded by mountains. Or you can stay for lunch and check out two of my favorites, Busey Brews Smokehouse and Brewery and Crosscut Pizzeria and Taphouse. In the mood for just beers? Check out Knotted Root Brewing Company.
If you have some extra time in Nederland, check out some of the beautiful hiking and strolling areas nearby. One of my favorite is Mud Lake. Rainbow Lakes Trailhead is also a local favorite, but requires 4WD to get there.
Majestic Peak-to-Peak Highway
If you started your morning in Estes Park, you’ve already gone along Peak-to-Peak Highway. Now you’ll get to go the opposite direction and see even more views. If you started in Boulder or Denver, then you’re in for a great treat. Peak-to-Peak Highway is amazingly scenic. There will be towering peaks along the road and alpine views for miles in all directions. If you have a few extra minutes and planned a little ahead, you can check out Brainard Lake National Recreation Area. This amazing recreational area has beautiful scenic views over alpine lakes, trails of all lengths, and, if there at the right time, moose. It does require timed entry, but it is far easier to get than Rocky Mountain National Park. You can easily get it the day before.
Estes Park
I recommend planning on lunch in Estes Park as it will give you perfect timing for entering the national park without timed entry. If you’re a beer fan, check out Rock Cut Brewing Company and order a pizza from down the street at Sweet Basilico Cafe. My family also loves Smokin Daves BBQ.
If you have some extra time before the timed entry ends for the main part of the park at 2 pm, then check out the cute downtown in Estes Park. There are tons of shops and a world renown taffy place, the Taffy Shop.
Entering Rocky Mountain National Park
The timed entry for the main part of the park ends at 2 pm. I don’t recommend getting there right at 2 pm, as the line will be long. Get there more like 2:30 pm. Or hit up Beaver Meadows Visitor’s Center first. It is outside the entrance to the park. They have great exhibits about the park and a small gift shop.
When the line has receded, head into the park. Bear Lake Corridor won’t be open yet. It has a separate timed entry. Instead follow highway 36 through the park until you get the junction with highway 34. Turn right and continue to Alluvial Fan. Going up Alluvial Fan, you will start up Old Fall River Road. This is a dirt road, so make sure that your car can do it. If it can’t, it would be better to go along Trail Ridge Road. You’ll end up at Alpine Visitor’s Center, which is definitely worth the stop and a little hang out.
At this point, you have a decision. You can continue along Trail Ridge Road to the western side of the park. Please be aware that it will take you out the Grand Lake Entrance, which is the opposite side of the park from Estes Park. The western side of the park is beautiful and definitely worth checking out, if you have the chance.
The other choice is returning back to the eastern side of the park. There is a lot still to do. Follow Trail Ridge Road east and experience being on the top of the mountains. This paved road is the highest paved road in the nation at 12,000 feet.
Alluvial Fan
Take the extra time you have before the Bear Lake Corridor opens and enjoy Alluvial Fan and Sheep Lakes to the north of Trail Ridge Road. This area is a beautiful valley that has tons of wildlife and views to see and take in. You can go out the Fall River Entrance, if you’d like and check out the much bigger gift shop and the other visitor’s center there.
Bear Lake Corridor
Once 6 pm hits, Bear Lake Corridor no longer requires timed entry. Don’t worry about getting there at 6 pm. The line will dissipate quickly, because no entrance fees are taken at this entrance. You will be part of a big group going into the corridor. They will mostly go straight to Bear Lake. You can do this too. Just know that parking can be limited there, so it is a risk, especially on a weekend.
There is tons to see along this corridor. Moraine Park is one of my favorites. You can see much of this valley along Bear Lake Road, but if you want to see more, check out Fern Lake Road. You turn onto it at the turn off for Moraine Park Campground. Sprague Lake is also along this corridor. This lake has a great short trail that loops around the lake and majestic views of mountains towering over the lake.
Lily Lake
Want to do something other than wait for Bear Lake Corridor to open? Perhaps you need to leave the park before the timed entry ends for Bear Lake Corridor? In that case, Lily Lake can be a great spot to check out on your way out of the park. It is technically in Rocky Mountain National Park, but is not accessible through the entrance. It is instead along Peak-to-Peak highway. This gorgeous lake has a great loop trail, along with some trails off of it with great views. It’s timed entry ends at 2 pm as well and is just outside Estes Park.
Want a unique way to capture your time in the park? Try family photos.
I navigate doing family portraits in the park every summer when timed entry is in place, so I know how to navigate it well for family photos. With the majestic views and awesome wilderness, nothing beats Rocky Mountain National Park as a backdrop to your family photos. Check out the session below that I did within the park:
Sara Herkes is a maternity, newborn, family, and senior photographer based in Longmont, CO. She serves the the Denver Metro Area, the Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Front Range and captures your pregnancy amidst the Colorado wilderness. Learn more about her services here.
Scheduling Your National Park Family Portrait Guide
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