Rocky Mountain National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

Rocky Mountain National Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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Mummy Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Mummy Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (courtesy, National Park Serivce)
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Rocky Mountain National Park Active and Adventure Travel Tips

By Kim Lipker

  • Summit hikes are plentiful in the park, and they vary in difficulty. One of the best is the Lily Mountain hike, which is interesting enough for seasoned hikers and moderate enough for novices. It's outside the main park entrance and is usually not as crowded.
  • The Diamond Face of Longs Peak is considered one of the premier rock climbs in the park, or anywhere in the country for that matter. The numbers say it all: 1,000 vertical feet of wall, starting at 13,100 feet of elevation with 30 routes ranging from 5.10 to 5.13 in difficulty.
  • Longs Peak is the most famous of all treks in this area. It consists of 17 difficult miles, and many people start at 4:00 a.m. because it is a good idea to be off of the 14,000-foot summit before afternoon lightning storms hit. Standard hiking skills are adequate up to the "keyhole," which is a popular turnaround spot. After that point, you will be scrambling over rocks and traversing exposed ledges.
  • A great backpacking site for first-timers or families is the Old Forest Inn Campsite. The access from Fern Lake is full of surprises, including a lot of water and unique arches. The old Forest Inn Campsite is in the very spot that an inn of the same name drew visitors in the early days of the park.
  • Winter is one of the best times to explore the park because the summer crowds are long gone and the peaks are full of snow. The park maintains many of the hiking trails for snowshoeing during the winter and provides recommended winter hikes in the park's newspaper at visitor centers. Most snowshoe hikes are also suitable for cross-country skiing.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is a national icon—its rugged mountains carve out a skyline that captures the American imagination and serves as both protector and passageway to the west. One-third of the park is above timberline, the 14,259-foot flat-topped summit of Longs Peak included, there are 71 peaks here that top out above 12,000 feet. All in all, there is enough snowcapped rock, wind-whipped tundra, and thin air to make a marmot giddy. Read More

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Hotels

Stanley Hotel

333 East Wonder View Ave.
Estes Park, CO 80517 Map

Distance: 10.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Black Dog Inn Bed & Breakfast

650 S. Saint Vrain Ave.
Estes Park , CO 80517 Map

Distance: 11.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Moraine Park Campground

Bear Lake Rd. in Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO Map

Distance: 6.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
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Attractions

Onahu Creek/Green Mountain Loop Trail

expert favorite attraction
Access: Onahu Creek Trailhead, 3 1/4 miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance Station
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

From the trail head there's about a mile's climb through forests of aspen, lodgepole... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Gem Lake Trail

expert favorite attraction
Access: Twin Owls Trailhead
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Distance: 11.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: This trail leads from Twin Owls Trailhead north of Estes Park, to Gem Lake, cradled high among the... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Indian Peaks Wilderness

expert favorite attraction
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests


Distance: 29.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: The glaciers at Indian Peaks lay above ice fields, valleys, and jewel-clear lakes.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Rocky Mountain National Park

Distance (mi.)
Denver International Airport 64.5 map
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 117.4 map

Other Smaller Airports near Rocky Mountain National Park

Distance (mi.)
Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport 37.2 map
Hayden Yampa Valley Airport 62.5 map
Laramie General Brees Field 68.1 map

Flight Deals to Rocky Mountain National Park

Originating From
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Denver (DEN) $106
Albuquerque (ABQ) to Denver (DEN) $106
Oklahoma City (OKC) to Denver (DEN) $139
Omaha (OMA) to Denver (DEN) $145
Kansas City (MKC) to Denver (DEN) $146

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