A Day in Rocky Mountain National Park
Here’s your spot if you’re looking for perspective. With massive views from the top of the world - this park is simply breathtaking.
The view is lovely but the fresh air is even better.
Our itinerary:
-Woke up in Longmont, CO and drove straight to the park, entering through Estes Park
-Went straight to the Alpine Visitors Center after a failed attempt to see Bear Lake
-Alpine Ridge Trail
-Picnic Lunch and short hike around Lake Irene
-Short hike on the Colorado River Trail to the river
-A stop at the Kawuneeche Visitor’s Center
-Onward to Breckenridge
I’m on a quest to see as many National Parks as possible, and with a recent trip to the Grand Canyon, we were ready for another one. Denver is easy to travel to from St. Louis so this was a naturally easy long weekend choice. We paired this trip with Breckenridge after the park, and it made for such a refreshing reset to kick off my 30th birthday month in August. The weather was perfect this time of year! We aren’t hikers - but we love some scenic views - so these little points we stopped at were beginner friendly. Here’s what we learned from our visit:
Go early. We didn’t mind having to skip the popular Bear Lake spot because we got to Alpine Visitors Center with plenty of time before the lot filled, but we quickly learned that during the summer months, the traffic lines fill quickly and the lots close off. I highly recommend staying in Estes Park to have early access in, but we were coming from Longmont so we had to switch from our original plan after waiting in the line to enter.
West Side Best Side. Once we made it to Alpine Visitors Center (at nearly 12,000 ft.), the ranger told us that the views were better on the west side of the park anyway, and we saw that the their lot also fills up quickly, and they won’t let anyone else even try to look for a spot if it’s full. We loved (well, I kind of hated) the drive to Alpine Visitors Center and loved the short climb on Huffer’s Trail - just beware the steep drop-offs without guard rails. It’s terrifying! Look out for friends along the way.
Plenty of friends to make here.
Find the River. Our little jaunt to the Colorado River after our picnic lunch was amazing. We stopped at a trailhead with easy access to the river, and just taking a moment to dip my hands into the fresh, cool water and listen to it rushing by was amazing.
Fresh, cool water and relaxing sounds.
A day in the park spent stopping and going is exhausting but we loved being here before heading to Breckenridge. Plus, adjusting to the altitude beforehand was ideal. If you’re planning time in Denver or one of the many ski towns in Colorado, try to work this in - even if it’s just a brief stop at the Visitor’s Center - you will be SO glad you did it. Our National Parks are gems, each one different from the others. They’re true treasures that we’re lucky to have preserved and I appreciate visiting them so much.
