Last Updated on: 17th May 2025, 08:24 am
Though Rocky Mountain National Park may be a hiker’s paradise, the park is also home to one of the country’s most thrilling scenic drives. In the following guide to Trail Ridge Road, we’ll be covering the main highlights you can expect to see along the way, including overlooks, short hikes, and maybe even wildlife.
For more general information about Rocky Mountain National Park and where to stay in the area, be sure to check the very end of the article.
About This Drive
THE BASICS: Trail Ridge Road stretches out to about 55 miles (89 km), connecting the east and west ends of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s regarded as the country’s highest continuous paved road, and its highest point reaches up to 12,183 feet (3,713 m) above sea level.
Rather than simply a means to get from one end of the park to the other, driving Trail Ridge Road is considered one of Rocky Mountain’s top experiences.
In addition to numerous overlooks and a Visitor Center, the road is also home to numerous trailheads for hikes of varying lengths. As such, everyone’s completion time is going to vary based on how much they want to hike.
All in all, the itinerary described below took me roughly six hours – not including driving time between my hotels and park entrances.
WHICH DIRECTION?: Driving the entirety of Trail Ridge Road would be a great way to spend either your first or final day in the park. For example, if you’re coming from Denver and plan to stay in Estes Park on the east side of Rocky Mountain, you could spend your first day driving the entirety of the road from west to east. That’s the route we’ll be describing below.
Conversely, those planning to spend some time in Denver after their visit to the park can do the opposite.
And if you’re only able to drive the Trail Ridge Road as an out-and-back drive from Estes Park, don’t feel like you have to do the whole thing. Driving to the Alpine Visitor Center before turning back again seems like a good way to go about it.
TIMED ENTRY PERMITS: While you can read more details below, Timed Entry Permits are currently required for Rocky Mountain National Park during the warmer months. But even if you fail to obtain one, you’d still have until 9:00 to enter the park without one.
STAY SAFE: Note that Trail Ridge Road lacks guardrails, while you’ll frequently be driving along the edge of steep cliffs. Be sure to always drive the suggested speed limit, and if you’re feeling nervous, stop at the next pullover to allow other drivers to pass.
Altitude sickness is another potential issue, so you may want to obtain the right medication in advance.
Grand Lake
As mentioned above, I experienced Trail Ridge Road from west to east, departing in the morning from Denver and finishing the day by checking into my hotel in Loveland to the east of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Departing Denver around seven, it wasn’t until around 9:30 that I made it inside the park, entering via the Grand Lake entrance in the southwest.
Before entering the park proper, I made a brief stop to check out Grand Lake itself. The town of Grand Lake is sometimes mentioned as a potential base for those exploring Rocky Mountain.
But despite its proximity to one of the entrances, a large majority of the remarkable hikes and lakes are located at the opposite end of Rocky Mountain.
While you can learn more below, most people should consider basing themselves in Estes Park or a town further east.
Coyote Valley
While overall, this is more of a driving day than a hiking day, Trail Ridge Road has numerous short and interesting hikes which branch off of it.
One such hike is Coyote Valley, and you can find the trailhead at the western part of Trail Ridge Road, not long before you reach the Holzwarth Historic Site.
As a whole, Trail Ridge Road is known for its thrilling twists and turns as visitors look down at stunning mountain vistas. But this part of the road is still at a low elevation, and Coyote Valley could best be described as a tranquil walk along the Colorado River.
If you’re in a rush, I wouldn’t consider it essential – especially compared with all the other amazing hikes that Rocky Mountain has to offer.
But if the weather’s nice, the Coyote Valley trail is a pleasant way to spend 20-30 minutes before getting back on the road.
The Holzwarth Historic Site
While most visitors flock to Rocky Mountain National Park for its nature and hiking trails, history lovers shouldn’t miss the Holzwarth Historic Site. It’s not far down the road from the Coyote Valley Trailhead.
While I’d expected this to just be a brief stop, the walk to the cabins takes around 10-15 minutes each way from the parking lot. Overall, however, the main site is not especially large.
But what is, exactly, the Holzwarth Historic Site?
Located in the Kawuneeche Valley, the site was originally a homestead established by German immigrants in the early twentieth century. The Holzwarth family had previously run a saloon in Denver, but they came out here when prohibition laws forced their business to close.
Over time, it gradually transformed from a ranch to tourist lodging, with numerous guests coming each year to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Though Rocky Mountain had already been a National Park since 1915, this area was formally absorbed into the park in 1975.
Today, visitors can explore the old homestead buildings and rustic cabins where guests stayed. While I encountered several accessible buildings, there seemed to be an additional area that was closed for restorations during my visit.
Moving on, the Trail Ridge Road will begin to take you higher and higher. While there are too many to mention by name here, the road is home to a plethora of pullouts and overlooks.
Those not in a rush will enjoy stopping at most of them over the course of their day.
Milner Pass
As you begin to reach the higher elevations, you’ll encounter Milner Pass and Poudre Lake. This area is significant for being the location of the continental divide.
In other words, this area separates the flow of drainage and whether water flows into the Pacific or Atlantic.
For example, Beaver Creek takes water west into the Colorado River and ultimately into the Sea of Cortez, while neighboring La Poudre Creek flows into the Missouri River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
Interesting geological facts aside, this area is also the starting point for one of Rocky Mountain National Park’s most epic hikes: Mt. Ida.
But if you’re driving the entirety of Trail Ridge Road and stopping at most of the landmarks on this day, it’s best to save Mt. Ida for another time. Learn more in our dedicated guide to that hike.
Medicine Bow Curve
Trail Ridge Road will eventually make a sharp U-turn, and at the edge of it you’ll find a small parking lot. This is known as the Medicine Bow Curve. It’s around this elevation that Rocky Mountain’s alpine tundra ecosystem begins.
While it hadn’t come up in my research, I encountered a little hiking path near the parking lot. Though it seemed to go on for quite awhile, I spent about fifteen minutes exploring the area before turning back.
The Alpine Visitor Center
The next landmark in this guide to Trail Ridge Road is arguably its most well-known: The Alpine Visitor Center.
If you’ve previously visited Glacier National Park, this stop is equivalent to Going-to-the-Sun Road‘s Logan Pass. But in stark contrast to Logan Pass, I visited the Alpine Visitor Center a few different times and never had a problem finding a parking space.
The Visitor Center itself is indeed worth a visit, as it contains interesting information about the ecology and geology of the park. It also has a small gift shop, though you’ll find an additional massive gift shop in the next building over.
Just behind the Visitor Center, meanwhile, is a platform from which you can take in some of Trail Ridge Road’s most impressive views.
What’s more, is that the parking lot serves as the starting point for the Alpine Ridge Trail.
The Alpine Ridge Trail is a somewhat steep but short hike. But if you’re not used to such high elevations, you’ll likely find yourself getting out of breath more quickly than normal.
On that note, another reason why exploring Trail Ridge Road might be a good idea on your first day is that it can be a good way to acclimate yourself.
The Alpine Ridge Trail should take you just about twenty minutes to complete. And incredibly, it takes you to an elevation of 12,005 ft (3659 m).
But this is not highest elevation of Trail Ridge Road, while the highest point in the entire park is the top of Longs Peak at 14,259 ft.
You’ll likely want to linger in the area for a while to take in the scenery in all directions. But as we’ll cover shortly, there are plenty of stunning overlooks right after the Alpine Visitor Center as well.
various Overlooks
As this is one of the highest sections of Trail Ridge Road, there are no shortage of stunning viewpoints here. One of them is known as the Gore Range Overlook, named after Irish aristocrat George Gore.
Not far away, meanwhile, is the Lava Cliffs Overlook. The cliffs here were formed millions of years ago when lava hardened in this area. Also be sure to turn around to admire the views in the other directions.
The Tundra Communities Trail
The Tundra Communities Trail should be regarded as one of Trail Ridge Road’s main highlights. It’s not merely comprised of flat tundra, but also some unique rock formations that are well worth admiring from up close.
Expect the full roundtrip hike to take 30-40 minutes, though much of that will be spent observing the formations and the views.
Interestingly, despite being at an elevation of over 12,000 ft, this area hardly ever sees any snow. Well, snow may fall, but strong winds (sometimes in excess of 150 mph) sweep it away. As such, the area is referred to as an ‘alpine desert.’
Notice how most of the plants grow very low to the ground, which also protects them from the harsh winds.
Moving along, you’ll encounter some fascinating mushroom-like formations that are comprised of schist topped with granite. Though comprised of different stone, they resemble some of the hoodoos you’ll encounter in the arid Southwest.
At the end of the Tundra Communities Trail is large outcrop that visitors are free to climb up on top of. Known as the Rock Garden, it overlooks amazing views of both the surrounding tundra and the distant mountains.
When finished, it’s time to head back to the parking lot the same way you came.
Continuing east, you’ll drive through a notable Trail Ridge Road landmark known as Rock Cut. As the name suggests, this rock was indeed cut by humans to make way for this road.
Wildlife
While not an official stop on the Trail Ridge Road, just before reaching the Forest Canyon Overlook, we encountered a massive herd of elk.
The largest member of the deer family, elk are far from a rare sight in the western US, but it was still fascinating to see so many at once – and especially in front of such a stunning backdrop.
All in all, Rocky Mountain National Park is an excellent place for wildlife spotting. Other common mammals include bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, and smaller animals like marmots and pikas.
If you’ve traveled to Wyoming or Montana, you may have noticed that bears are absent from this list. While there are technically a couple dozen black bears in the park, your chance of an encounter are so low that bear spray is generally considered unnecessary.
Moving on, we stopped at the Forest Canyon Overlook, which features a short trail leading to a dedicated viewing platform.
The Ute Trail
The next stop in the Trail Ridge Road guide is far from mandatory, but I did find it interesting. East of the Forest Canyon Overlook is a spot marked on Google Maps as the Ute Trailhead.
Confusingly, however, there’s a map marked on AllTrails with the same name. But it wasn’t until arriving here that I realized that that trail was further west and I’d already passed it.
Oddly, the two trails don’t connect with one another, so there do seem to be two distinct ‘Ute Trails’ along Trail Ridge Road.
According to the sign near the trailhead, the Ute Meadow (perhaps a campground) was 3.8 miles away. Not intending to hike that much, I simply turned around after twenty minutes.
Again, while indeed pretty, I wouldn’t consider the small section I saw to be essential.
More Overlooks
Ultimately, the Trail Ridge Road will start taking you back down to lower elevations. But before that, you’ll pass by a few stunning overlooks that shouldn’t be missed.
The first is the Rainbow Curve Overlook, which is widely regarded as one of the park’s most impressive. The overlook offers views of distant mountains and glaciers, not to mention the twisting and turning lower portions of Trail Ridge Road itself.
A bit further east is the Many Parks Curve Overlook. This overlook is quite unique and unlike any other I’ve seen. Rather than a single vantage point, you’ll find a long overhanging boardwalk attached to the edge of the road.
Walk all the way to the end, and you’ll find an additional parking lot next to a rocky outcrop. If you have the right shoes on, be sure to climb up it for even more spectacular views.
This guide to Trail Ridge Road didn’t cover every single hiking trail branching off of it, though the east part of the road is home to trailheads for Deer Mountain, Lawn Lake, and more.
But if you’ve stopped at all the points mentioned above, you’ll probably be feeling pretty tired at this point. Past the Many Parks Curve Overlook, the road splits into two, with both US 36 and 34 taking you to Estes Park, the best base for Rocky Mountain.
But if Estes Park is out of your budget, be sure to learn about alternative options below.
Additional Info
Presently, Rocky Mountain National Park is implementing a Timed Entry Permit System during the peak summer season (specifically May 24 – Oct 24) to reduce overcrowding.
Compared to many other National Parks, however, this system is a lot more flexible, as it’s only in place from 9:00-15:00.
However, if you plan on doing any of the hikes along Bear Lake Road, you’ll need to reserve a special version of the permit known as Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road. These permits are required to access Bear Lake Road from as early as 6:00, so they’re especially important to obtain.
From my experience, compared with securing permits for Glacier National Park, I had no issues getting all the permits needed for Rocky Mountain on the day they went on sale. Still, it would be wise to purchase them as soon as possible so you don’t experience any major disappointments.
You can purchase the permits online here.
Both versions of the permit go on sale on the first day of the month before the month you plan on visiting the park. For example, if you plan on visiting any time in August, Timed Entry Permits for that month will go on sale on July 1.
The most convenient base for Rocky Mountain National Park is the town of Estes Park, located just to the east. Most of the park’s significant hikes and landmarks are also located in the east of the park, so staying in Estes Park would allow you to get an early start.
Furthermore, it’s quite a charming town with plenty of restaurants and amenities to choose from. However, in regards to hotel prices, the town is far from budget-friendly.
Popular mid-range options include Olympus Lodge and Coyote Mountain Lodge. Those with bigger budgets might want to consider private lodgings such as the Fall River Casita or Old Man Mountain.
But if Estes Park is out of your budget, what are the next best options?
One option is the town of Lyons, which is about 30 minutes southeast of Estes Park. I originally booked a hotel here, but had to cancel due to a slight scheduling alteration. I did drive through Lyons at one point, and while it seems like a fine base, it does seem a bit lacking in terms of restaurants and shops.
Ultimately, I ended up staying in the city of Loveland at the Travelodge by Wyndham. The positives of Loveland are that it’s a sizable town with plenty of hotels, shops and restaurants to choose from. And the hotels are surprisingly affordable.
The main downside is the distance from the park. Each morning, we had to drive through a scenic yet winding canyon, with the journey to Estes Park lasting nearly an hour, not to mention additional driving to that day’s trailhead. Nevertheless, it was still nice to be able to stay near Rocky Mountain for such a cheap price.
As mentioned above, the town of Grand Lake is just outside the southwest boundary of the park, and it seems to be a lot more affordable than Estes Park. But with the exception of a hike like Mr. Ida, using Grand Lake as your base would mean you’d have to do a lot of driving each day – mainly down Trail Ridge Road. As thrilling as that road is, it’s probably not something most visitors would want to have to deal with daily.
At the time of writing, Rocky Mountain National Park costs $30 per vehicle per day, or $35 per vehicle per week (learn more here).
US National Parks parks typically charge per vehicle rather than per person. However, if you’re traveling by bicycle instead, Rocky Mountain will charge you for an individual pass which costs $25, while those on motorcycles will be charged $30.
Considering how many National Parks and National Monuments there are to see in the Southwest alone, the best option for most will be to buy an ‘America the Beautiful’ Annual National Parks Pass.
These cost $80 for the year. In most cases, you’re already saving money by just visiting four National Parks/Monuments anywhere in the country within a full year.
What’s more, is that only one person in your vehicle needs to have the pass. Additionally, seniors can buy the pass for just $20. So if you have someone over 62 in your party, just have them get the annual pass and everyone else will be set.
As for where to get the pass, you can purchase it in person at most National Parks or Monuments. But you can also order it in advance online.