What You Can Do

Check the weather before you leave home. Knowing the expected weather will help you plan your day and destinations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a serious danger—if you plan to hike later in the day, it's critical that you know the forecast for the elevation of your destination.

Carpool and use the free park shuttle.

Visit the Alpine Visitor Center early or late in the day. The Alpine Visitor Center parking lot is busy from 10 am to 3 pm. During these busy hours, you may be unable to park at the visitor center.

Hike early or late. Trailhead parking lots fill early in the day:
1. Glacier Gorge Trailhead: 6 am
2. Bear Lake Trailhead: 8:30 am
3. Park and Ride: 10:30 am
4. Wild Basin Corrdidor: 9:30 am
Reserve campsites early. During busy times, most if not all reservable campsites are reserved well in advance, so if you're interested in staying in Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, or Moraine Park campgrounds, reserve a campsite up to six months before your visit. Rocky's two first-come, first-served campgrounds fill up fast. Timber Creek Campground, on the west side of the park, fills up last.

Explore Rocky's wild west side. More than 80% of visitors arrive through the east entrances.

Enjoy the fall on a weekday for considerably less visitation.

Check the webcams. Use the Beaver Meadows Entrance Webcam and Fall River Entrance Webcam to view current lines and vehicle flows.

Expect huge crowds on fee free days, and plan your trip accordingly

plan ahead

tips to save your sanity in the park

You are not alone. rmnp is a busy place.

More people than ever before are coming to experience the majestic mountains and valleys that comprise Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, the park typically has 4.5 million visitors a year making it one of the most visited National Parks. While this level of visitation means that new and larger audiences are learning about and experiencing this incredible place, it also presents challenges.

What To Expect

Rocky is busiest throughout the summer and on fall weekends. In these busy times, especially between 10 am and 3 pm, you should expect:

Long lines and wait times at entrance stations
Full parking lots
Congested roads and heavy traffic
Busy trails
Full campgrounds

When crowding reaches unsafe levels, vehicle access may be restricted in the Alpine Visitor Center parking area, Bear Lake corridor, and Wild Basin area. Be advised these restrictions are put in place most weekends from late June through September.