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One of the main reasons I was so excited to plan this somewhat spontaneous trip to Colorado was the prospect of visiting one of the many national parks there. Since we were flying into Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) was obviously at the top of our list of things to do. However, we were going to be going in the off season which is how we ended up with super cheap flights. The weather in the Rockies this time of year made me a bit apprehensive about visiting, but I think it was more than worth the trip, regardless of season.
When is the Off Season in Rocky Mountain National Park?
As deep snow in the mountains causes some roads in the park to close in the winter, the busy season is obviously summer. One of the main roads running through the park, Trail Ridge Road, is often closed due to snow from about October to May. The road stretches from the eastern side near Estes Park to Grand Lake to the west. The road is only one way, but without Trail Ridge Road open it can take over 3 hours to get from one side of the park to the other. As a result, if you’d like to visit in the colder months you’ll likely only be able to do one side of the park on a day trip.
However, if you are considering visiting in the off season, the landscapes are certainly worth it with fewer crowds. Less people also means a greater likelihood to see wildlife and fewer people on the trails, making it the perfect time to really get lost in nature. In particular, I think November is a great time to go because it is just after the elk rut (aka the mating season for elk which is between September and October), but before many of the deep snows that would make it difficult to get around the park. With over 250,000 acres and 150+ lakes in the park, there is far more to explore than you can in a day or a few days. I don’t think you are missing out by not being able to make it to both sides of the park on a short trip because there is far too much to see.
Since we were only planning a day in the park, we did a quick itinerary around the main sights before heading back to Denver. However, you also can camp within the national park. Rocky Mountain National Park is open 24/7/365 weather permitting so you could spend several days here or stay in Estes Park or on the western half of the park near Grand Lake. If you are planning to come in the busy season, it is recommended by the National Park Service that you make a reservation if you’d like to camp.
Getting There: Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
On our first day of our trip to Colorado, we decided to make our way from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park. Instead of taking Route 470 up to the northwest, we chose to take the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway along the sides of the mountains. We made our way across Denver and up through Boulder and joined the byway around Nederland before turning north towards Estes Park. While it does take a bit longer, I HIGHLY recommend some of the jaw-dropping landscapes along the byway. Some of my favorite photos from the trip are pictures I took just out of the passenger’s window of the rental car.
After traveling along the byway we came past Lily Lake and made our way towards the town of Estes Park and the Fall River entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. You can also stop in at the nearby gift shop and visitors’ center for postcards or other souvenirs before entering the park. If you prefer, tours are also offered departing from Union Station in Denver on an 8 hour guided tour of the park.
Estes Park, CO
Estes Park, Colorado is a charming little town nestled in these majestic mountains. It’s a place where nature meets civilization…as evidenced by the herd of elk that came walking through the gas station as we were filling up the tank from our drive. The town also happens to be home to the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining. While horror novels are definitely not my cup of tea, it’s hard not to mention one of the most iconic hotels in the world thanks to the famous book.
Rocky Mountain National Park Natural Attractions
The main reason anyone comes to Rocky Mountain National Park is the views along the lakes and from the peaks and fields between the mountains. There is something about being in a place so big that makes you feel so small and at peace with the world. Even if you are visiting in the off season, there is more than enough to see as you drive around the park or take a few short hikes around the lakes.
Alluvial Fan
We started our journey through Rocky Mountain National Park with a stop at the Alluvial Fan. An alluvial fan is a fancy name for a delta that forms when intermittent water streams (like melting snow from the mountains) pushes rocks and sediment down and allows it to pile up in a fan-like triangle. It is slightly different from river deltas in that there may not always be water flowing as it is not formed from the continuous stream of a river. For the best views of the fan and waterfall, I recommend stopping at the first of two parking lots to the right of the fan. We spent some time walking around here and taking pictures, but besides climbing on the rocks there isn’t much of a trail to follow so the time needed here is minimal.
Sprague Lake
It started getting significantly colder as we made our way up towards Sprague Lake and Bear Lake. We actually didn’t even bother to stop at Bear Lake because the wind and the snow were so bad that it was a bit precarious to drive. It was also absolutely freezing to attempt to walk around and with so much swirling snow there wasn’t much of an opportunity to take photos. That’s one of the negatives of visiting in the fall and winter is that some areas are closed off to you, or if they aren’t it may not be the most comfortable weather. If you’re wary about driving just be sure to take precautions and go slowly, especially around some of the tighter turns near the lakes.
RMNP Wildlife
We loved getting a chance to see all the nature and wildlife throughout the park, including a few deer and a herd of elk we caught near the Moraine Park area of RMNP. We spent a lot of time looking for big horn sheep not only here in the park near Sheep Lakes but also in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Unfortunately, they eluded us on this trip, but we hope to be back again to find them another time and explore some more of the park.
All in all I would say my first visit to a US National Park was a huge success. Even with the cold and the limited activities that we did, it was worth the drive for the incredible scenery. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of 59 National Parks in the United States. After visiting this one, I can’t wait to see some of the others! Unfortunately most are not located on the East Coast so it looks like there will be some more traveling in my future to explore this beautiful country!
Have you been to a US National Park? Which one is your favorite?
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