The TOP 12 Things to Do in Rocky Mountain National Park | Best Hikes, Views, and Drives

You don’t want to miss these top things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park! With amazing hikes, gorgeous views, and incredible scenic drives, this park has something for everyone!
If you’re a first-time visitor looking to experience the best of Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ve come to the right place. My name is Ash, and I visit Rocky Mountain a lot - I’m so excited to show you around!
Hit all of these places with this full Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary Schedule: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/rocky-m...
It takes about 3 days to get through this entire list.
1:09 Trail Ridge Road
3:55 Emerald Lake
5:23 Tundra Communities Trail
7:13 Alberta Falls
8:51 Forest Canyon Overlook
10:28 Chasm Falls
12:55 Holzwarth Historic Site
14:43 Bierstadt Lake
17:16 Alpine Visitor Center
18:41 Coyote Valley Nature Trail
19:45 Bear Lake
22:16 Adams Falls
My goal is to make national park trip planning easy!
⭐️ Rocky Mountain Can’t-Mis List: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/12-thin...
⭐️ Rocky Mountain Ultimate Trip Planning Guide: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/rocky-m...
⭐️ Rocky Mountain Itinerary: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/rocky-m...
Connect with Ash at Dirt In My Shoes
KZbin: @DirtInMyShoes
Podcast: anchor.fm/exploringthenationa...
Website: www.dirtinmyshoes.com
Instagram: / dirtinmyshoes
Facebook: / dirtinmyshoes
#dirtinmyshoes #nationalpark

[@askssk715]

Spectacular video. Although I'm hoping to go next September 2024, I've already downloaded your itinerary and appreciate the level of detail and all the videos. I'm a great trip planner, but you saved me hours of time. Now I can concentrate on just stuff to do outside of the park.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

I'm so excited for you!

[@askssk715]

@DirtInMyShoes Thx. Your materials and level of detail are a wealth of info. It's on the top list for my next fall trip...so next September time frame. I just came home (Miami, FL) from a trip to NC. Already dreaming of my next fall trip. Hoping my daughter will be able to come with me.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

September in Rocky is my FAVORITE. You're going to love it! @@askssk715

[@carmenkaledo7607]

Thank you so much Ash .This info is so useful

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You're welcome!

[@janeice8264]

For your #8 list, I did a long way and from other site. I got to bear lake at 11:00pm and have to use my emergency blanket because of cold and rain.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Wow, that's crazy!

[@thecarters3656]

Thank you for this video! Can you take the old fall river road up to Alpine, check out the west side of the park and then take trail ridge road back to glacier basin?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Yes! You have to do it in that direction because it's a one-way road, so your plan is great!

[@thecarters3656]

@@DirtInMyShoes Thank you!

[@connorhudak290]

Rocky Mountain looks amazing to it’s so hard to pick what one I want to go to I will be honest I kind of want to go Yellowstone but that park is busy so maybe glacier or rocky would be less busy

[@DirtInMyShoes]

They are all quite busy, but the itineraries on my site will help a lot with that!

[@connorhudak290]

Thank you again I think that itineraries are helpful I started looking into it my state has some really cool places to door county Wisconsin

[@kumaramit6356]

Awesome video. Do we need an AWD vehicle for trail ridge road??

[@DirtInMyShoes]

No, it's paved! If you go in the off-season when there's a possibility of snow, then you'll want to think about AWD, chains, etc. though.

[@ChristopherGarges]

We are going to Rocky in mid June. We did buy timed entry for 8am - 10am (traveling with two teenagers), but will that be too late from a congestion standpoint to get out to Bear Lake and find parking?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

The Rocky Itinerary on dirtinmyshoes.com is where you'll find specific timing info if you're hoping to avoid the crazy crowds in this park!

[@janeice8264]

We booked a comping and no limit to get in and out

[@Brick1978]

Are bus tours available to take you around to view different areas of the park ?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

The park runs shuttles through the Bear Lake area but nowhere else. You'll need to look into privately run tours for that -- I've never taken a tour like that through this park, so I don't have any specific recommendations, but I hope you find what you need!

[@Brick1978]

@@DirtInMyShoes Thank you!

[@martacruz1788]

We plan to go to Gleenwood Springs after Rocky Mountains NP. Would it make sense to drive trail ridge road with some stops, go to Grand Lake and then continue to Gleenwood Spring. If we leave early I was hoping to be in Grand Lake by the time thunderstorms hit and have enough time to drive to our next location. Thoughts?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Definitely possible...I have driven that way a few times and it makes sense to do it that way!

[@benjaminrohrey6260]

How far is it (and how long would it take) to go from the far east end around bear lake all the way around to grand lake section?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

I'd plan for about 2 hours

[@alexp5838]

Hi! Is carrying bear spray necessary at RMNP? I haven’t seen it mentioned at all in all my research.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

I would!

[@ScottuFD]

We pulled over near the coyote valley trail as there were cars all over. We grabbed camera and were taking pictures of a moose and her calf out in a meadow area. All a sudden a ranger popped out of the trees and shouted you need to get out of here now. Confused I asked are we trespassing or something? He said there's a moose right over there and he's not happy having all of us here, please get to your vehicle. And just then he appeared a short distance away through the trees. Ohhhh, my first time seeing a moose up close! He escorted us, very swiftly to the road and our vehicles. Scary, but very cool at the same time. We've been to all the areas you spoke of as my brother lives in Ft. Collins so if they're at work we head up Big Thompson and into the park. My family doesn't care for old fall river road as much as myself, I love it. Planning a trip to Glacier, probably next year as your videos helped with suggestions about reservations and vehicle passes, I had no idea of that pilot program. Thank you for that. Adventure on!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Wow, very cool!!!!

[@PavewayJDAM]

So is getting inside the park before 5am a way to circumvent the Timed Entry Permit system?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Yes :)

[@terryhemmes6210]

Or after 2pm

[@jimmyburnett2245]

Is Trail Ridge rd one way or two lane?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Two lane

[@janeice8264]

My son and I did mummy marathon trail and at the end, the police took us back to our car because we were exhausted. I was 59 years old woman.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Glad you found someone to help you out!

[@philiphill6697]

It's a terrible place. Stay away.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Haha, millions of people already know how great this park is :)