Let’s talk about how to spend five days exploring Rocky Mountain National Park!
As avid hikers, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) had been high on our list to visit for a couple years. We had planned to visit in September of 2020, but the pandemic nixed those plans. When we got the idea to take a four-week RV trip west to celebrate our 10-year anniversary, I knew Rocky Mountain National Park was going to be one of our key destinations (“rocks” as we call them).
I was ecstatic to reserve six nights at Manor RV Park for mid-May. Now, I’ll be honest May is not the best time of the year to visit RMNP. However, due to the timing of my leave of absence and work schedules, May was it for us. We knew the infamous Trail Ridge Road wouldn’t be fully open, some trails would be covered in snow pack, and that we might still encounter winter weather while we were there. Despite all this, we decided to go for it. We’ve learned you can’t always wait for the perfect time when it comes to well, anything.
Needless to say we had an amazing visit, and learned so much! One of the biggest challenges when trip planning is deciding what you are going to do once you get to your destination. We created this guide to show how you can use four to five days to explore RMNP. Our visit was a good mix of scenic drives, easy to moderate hiking, and exploring Estes Park where we stayed. If you enjoy hiking, I encourage you to stay at least four full days in the area.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day One
We arrived at Manor RV Park on Saturday morning, after driving in from Wyoming. It was a beautiful sunny day, in the 70s, and were thrilled to have a site right along a stream! We picked up sandwiches from Scratch in Estes Park, and stopped to let our crazy pup run around the dog park along Estes Lake. The views of the lake and mountains were stunning. There was also a walking path around the lake, which we took advantage of.
From the lake, we drove to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center to talk to a park ranger about recommended hikes and get our park and trail map. We drove some of the Trail Ridge Road, and spent the rest of the day at our campsite, sitting outside along the stream.
Day Two
We were ready to hit our stride and explore the park! We dropped the pup at doggy daycare, and hit Estes Park Mountain Shop to rent microspikes. From our discussions with the park ranger and staff at the shop, most of the trails we wanted to hike would be snow covered and icy.
For the nominal daily rental fee, the spikes turned out to be a life saver and absolute no-brainer. If you haven’t used them before, they strap on to your hiking boot and give you amazing traction on snow and ice. They are lightweight and easy to get on and off.
Being a Sunday, we knew the park would be busy. We decided to try Gem Lake for our first hike. We pulled into the parking lot trailhead right at noon (not our usual MO), which was packed. Luckily we were able to get a parking spot. This hike had amazing views of Estes Park and the mountains. It is mostly a climb, with nearly 1,000 feet in elevation gain. You do not want to attempt this hike if you haven’t acclimated to the elevation! I would rate the overall difficulty as moderate with lots of climbing and steps. The view from the top was worth it though!
We got back to the truck around 2:30p. The total time out was about 2.5 hours, including spending a lot of time at the lake taking pictures and exploring. From there we drove to Sheep Lake, where we heard there had been a recent moose sighting. No moose for us!
Moving on, we enjoyed a short walk to the Alluvial Fan, a gorgeous stream flowing down a boulder field. From there we were able to spot big horn sheep on the mountain side with our binoculars. After picking up the pup, we grabbed dinner at La Cocina de Mama to enjoy great Mexican food and yummy margaritas.
Hell bent on seeing a moose and wanting to make the most of our day, we packed up the pup in the truck and drove 30 minutes to Sprague Lake for sunset. Word around the park was Sheep Lake and Sprague Lake were good areas to spot moose. While we didn’t see a moose at the lake, we did enjoy seeing an elk play around in the lake.
Not ready to give up, we decided to drive to the Bear Lake Trailhead. We drove slowly, and were rewarded with spotting a young bull moose grazing on the side of the road. A great way to end our first full day!
Day Three
Monday, big plans! We decided we would hike Lake Loch and Mills Lake. We dropped the pup off first thing, and headed to the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Parking was a concern since the trailhead has a smaller parking lot. We pulled into the second to last parking spot at 9:30a, packed up our hiking backpacks, went to the restroom, and headed out on the trail at 9:45a.
We quickly realized it was time to use the microspikes due to the snow and ice covered trail. This was our first time hiking in packed snow and ice, and it proved to be a challenging dynamic. The weather was on our side though with a sunny day and mid-70’s. We were wearing tank tops amidst feet of snow all around us! Hiking to the Loch includes an elevation climb of over 1,000 feet, so this hike was difficult for us with the snow pack. We were slow going. The views were incredible though with the snow melt, and Alberta Falls was roaring.
One challenge we did not anticipate was losing the trail due to the snow pack. Despite using offline Google maps (no cell service), at one point we thought we lost the trail and turned around. We could see footsteps in the snow on another path, and decided to go that route despite knowing it was off the marked compared to our GPS.
We ended up hiking over a frozen stream! We could hear the water flowing underneath us. Not our proudest moment, but thankfully the snowpack was so thick we were able to make it up, albeit extremely steep.
Around this time we also pulled out our hiking poles to help with stability and traction. The frozen ice and snow was melting with the sun, proving to be extra slippery and treacherous.
I won’t lie. I may have had a meltdown in the middle of climbing up the frozen stream, concerned we would be lost in the wilderness and off the trail. My husband told me to channel my inner Jess Sims (IYKYK) and up we climbed, finally able to tell we were almost to the Loch.
The views were jaw dropping with the sun and snow. We enjoyed a lunch of PB&J sandwiches, Cheese-Its, and beef jerky. We may also have watched as a couple girls remove their clothes and jumped in the frozen lake! Needless to say, we abstained.
Reenergized, we started making our way back down the trail. We stopped to talk to a group we had passed earlier, and they had succeeded in finding the actual trail and pointed us in the right direction. It was then we realized how much danger we could have been in hiking over the frozen stream. We slowly made our way back down, staying on the trail this time.
At the intersection to take head towards Mills Lake, we were pretty tired. We decided we had made it this far though, and headed to Mills Lake, which added about an extra mile to our total hike. This time we were able to stay on the trail, and the hike wasn’t as steep. When we arrived, the sun had clouded over, but it was still a beautiful view.
In retrospect I wish we had hung around to enjoy the view, but the truth was the hike was taking much longer than we anticipated, and we had to get back to pick up the pup by 4:30 in Estes Park. Off we went!
The hike back to the truck felt like it would never end. I knew hiking in snow and ice would be a different dynamic, but we were surprised at how much it slowed us down. We arrived back to the truck at 3:40, meaning we had been out for nearly 6 hours! Our feet were soaking wet and we were exhausted. I logged over 30,000 steps that day!
Day Four
Tuesday was much more of a rest day after the long hike the day before. After a slow morning, we ventured into the park in the early afternoon. On our way to the Visitor Center to get our National Parks Passport Book stamped, we were welcomed by a moose. He caused quite a commotion, just chilling on the side of the road near the entrance.
We decided to do a stroll around Bear Lake. The weather wasn’t great, and it actually started raining while we were on the trail. We also couldn’t get over the number of people wearing flip flops despite most of the trail still covered in snow pack.
No thanks! Our microspikes were on.
After Bear Lake we decided to walk around Sprague Lake. A storm blew up and we ran back to the truck. We drove around the park, hoping to spot a moose at Sheep Lake, but again, no luck. The Trail Ridge Road was open up to Rainbow Curve, so we drove up and took in the views. It was still cloudy. We called it a day, picked up the pup, and grabbed dinner at Dave’s Smoking BBQ. The jalapeno hush puppies were the star of the meal, along with the pulled pork.
Day Five
What is a vacation without an ungodly wake up call time to see sunrise? Not a vacation I want to be on, anyway! Who’s with me?
Wednesday the alarm went off at 4:30a, and we stumbled around to get dressed and get ourselves, along with the pup, in the truck. Off we went to Sprague Lake, moose hunting again.
While we didn’t see a moose, we witnessed one of the most amazing sunrises I have ever seen. The lighting was unbelievable. It was magical. There was a professional photographer taking photos too, and he was so kind to take some shots of us with the sunlight hitting the mountains.
For those wondering, the pup was in the truck sleeping while the vehicle was running, nice and safe. We stayed for a bit, watching the sun come up and the light change across the lake and mountains.
Convinced we weren’t going to see a moose, we made a quick stop at Sheep Lake. There were tons of elk, but no moose.
We headed back to Estes Park to hit up the Donut Haus. They are famous for apple fritters, but we also had to get a pine cone, cinnamon roll, and a donut. Let me tell you, just skip all that and buy ALL the apple fritters. They were amazing, so much so I may have went back the next morning just for more apple fritters. Coffee and pastries made working a couple hours at our campsite more enjoyable.
Knowing this was our last full day in Rocky Mountain National Park, we still had Emerald Lake on our must-do list of hikes. The pup went to daycare, and we managed to get a spot in the Bear Lake parking lot around 9:40a.
The weather was on our side, mid-70’s and sunny. Fueled by coffee and pastries, we set off, quickly donning our backpacks, micro spikes and using our hiking poles from the start.
The hike to Emerald Lake is a popular one, since you first stop at Nymph Lake and then Dream Lake on your way. We noticed the trail was much busier compared to the Loch trail, which is not our preferred situation. I cannot imagine how packed these trails would be like in the prime season; which, is why we prefer to travel in the off-season when possible.
Nymph Lake wasn’t much to look since it had clouded over, so we moved on towards Dream Lake. Dream Lake was truly dreamy. It may have been my favorite lake of our visit; every shot we took was just gorgeous! We waited in line to take pictures, especially as we first approached the lake because it was packed with people. As we moved along Dream Lake, we were able to get great photos with less people around.
We continued the climb to Emerald Lake, trudging through deep snow in places. We kept reminding ourselves this hike was less than half the mileage of Lake Loch and Mills Lake. A walk in the park, hah!
Upon arriving, we picked a spot overlooking the lake and enjoyed another PB&J lunch with snacks. Beware the chipmunks! I couldn’t believe the lake was still mostly frozen over. Lots of people were coming and going to take photos.
While we enjoyed the view and our lunch, the clouds came in and the wind picked up a bit. We had to put on an extra layer of clothing. We began the hike back down, which was extra treacherous due to the warm temperatures and melting snow. In some places our legs would post hole in the deep snow–not the best hiking conditions.
On our way back down, the sun was shining on Nymph Lake with big puffy clouds. It was beautiful! This was the lake we had said “meh” to on our way up. How quickly our perspective changed! We sat along the lake shore taking it in.
Back at the trailhead parking lot we said goodbye to the alpine lakes. Since it was sunny we drove back up to Rainbow Curve to enjoy the view, and hit all the pull offs to take in our final views of the park. Later we returned our spikes, picked up the pup, and grabbed pizza and a salad from Antonio’s Pizza for our last meal in Estes Park. Highly recommend!
We started to mentally prepare to leave, which is always a bummer!
The Estes Park weather forecast also had us concerned, which included a winter storm watch with predicted 15+ inches of snow, starting the next day (Thursday night). Originally we had planned to leave on Friday, but there was no way we could travel with our RV in a winter storm.
Luckily we contacted our next campground and arranged to arrive a day early. We would depart Estes Park the next morning and travel to the Colorado Springs area to get out of Estes Park before the winter storm hit… Only to get snowed in with 15+ inches of snow in the Woodland Park area! But, that is a story for another day!
Planning Your Visit to Rocky Mountain National Park
There are several logistical considerations as you begin planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park.
Timed Entry & Park Fees
At the time of this guide, RMNP has a timed entry system to help control crowds in the park. Learn more here and understand how this will impact your visit, lodging, and other travel arrangements. There are also fees to get into the park. We purchased an annual America the Beautiful Pass since we knew we were visiting multiple national parks over the next year.
Where to Stay Near the Park
RMNP is a big park. Grand Lake sits at the west entrance of the park, while Estes Park is on the east entrance. Trail Ridge Road connects the two cities, and is only open certain times of the year due to weather. The popular and more well-known hikes are on the east side of the park, near Estes Park.
Make sure you arrange for lodging in the area(s) that makes most sense based on what you want to see and do.
When to Visit & Weather Considerations
Research what type of weather to expect to help with planning and packing. We were shocked to see feet of snow on trails in mid-May, and even more surprised to have to depart a day early due to a winter storm warning, predicting 15+ inches of snow in mid-May.
And, if driving all of the Trail Ridge Road is on your must-do list, be sure to understand when it opens and closes each season.
Plan to Adjust to the Elevation
Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park on the east side, and Grand Lake on the west side of the park are at high elevation (7,500 feet and higher).
Give yourself some time to acclimate to high elevation before you begin hiking into even higher elevation.
Know the signs of altitude sickness and take the proper precautions to avoid ruining your visit! Also, be sure to properly hydrate during your visit, especially during physical activity.
Pets in Rocky Mountain National Park
If you are like us, you travel and hike with your dog. RMNP does not allow dogs on trails. It’s important to make arrangements for your pets while you are out hiking.
We used Estes Park Pet Lodge doggy daycare for our pup. We dropped our pup off each morning, went to explore the park, and picked him up each afternoon. We were all tired at the end of each day, which was perfect.
Key Takeaways
Now that we’ve shared a day-by-day itinerary and planning considerations, we hope you know how to spend five days exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. Through the years we’ve found research and planning helps us manage our expectations while traveling.
Here are a few key takeaways we learned from our five days in RMNP:
- The earlier (or later in the day) you get into the park, the better. You will deal with less traffic, less people on the trails, and really get to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the park. Keep this in mind if you need timed reservations when you plan to visit.
- Familiarize yourself with a map of Rocky Mountain National Park. Loosely plan out your days in advance depending on your must-dos and group them by area in the park. You can spend a lot of time traveling between the different areas of the park, not to mention traffic, slow drivers taking in the views, shuttles, trying to find parking, etc. Save valuable time by focusing on a particular area instead of bouncing around to different areas.
- Be prepared for no cell service and plan accordingly, especially if you plan to hike.
- Plan to get up early for a sunrise and stay up later for sunset (at least once!). Besides the amazing views with the sun at different angles, wildlife is more active in the mornings and evenings. Talk to park rangers about the best places to view wildlife, as well as sunrise and sunset. We would highly recommend Sprague Lake for sunrise.
- If you don’t like crowds and are willing to take a chance on weather, consider traveling to RMNP in the off-season. Despite the snow covered trails, the tradeoff with less people was completely worth it. You may also save money! Our campground’s nightly rates were much more affordable in the off season, and we were able to book a great site with much shorter notice.
- Prepare for all types of weather! While we enjoyed a lot of sunshine and moderate temperatures, we also encountered snow, sleet, high wind, and quickly changing weather conditions. Bring layers, rain gear, and sun protection (and plenty of water!).
Are you ready to start planning your adventure to Rocky Mountain National Park?! Let me know how you spend your days in the park!
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