Planning on heading to Rocky Mountain National Park this fall? You’re going to love it! Just imagine those cool, crisp fall mornings in the Rocky Mountains. Coffee in hand, aspens showing their gorgeous yellow leaves, and hearing an elk bugling in the distance. Yep, Colorado and the park really are that awesome in the fall! Not only that but Estes Park is a charming, small mountain town AND it is home to the spooky inspiration behind Stephen King’s The Shining, The Stanly Hotel.
2021 Information:
- As recommended by the CDC, remain 6 feet apart from those not in your party, wear a mask, wash your hands.
- Cloth face coverings must be worn while in park visitor centers, park restrooms, and on shuttle buses. Masks are also required throughout Rocky Mountain National Park when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, parking lots, pull-offs, and overlooks.
- If you want a National Park Cancellation Stamp you can find it here and print it for your passport (it’s at the bottom of the page).
Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry:
- May 28 – October 11
- You will need Timed Entry Reservation, Park Pass, or Entrance Pass
- Rocky Mountain National Park Entrance Fees and Pass
- 1-Day Automobile – $25
- 1-Day Pass – Per Person – $15
- Motorcycle – $25
- Annual Pass – $70
- America the Beautiful Passes Annual – $80
- Open on July 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of August (and any remaining days that have not been booked for July)
- Open on August 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of September (and any remaining days that have not been booked for August)
- Open on September 1, at 10 a.m. (MDT) = reserve to enter the park for the month of October (and any remaining days that have not been booked for September)
The Basics:
Where Is Rocky Mountain National Park?
Rocky Mountain National Park in northern Colorado spans the Continental Divide and encompasses protected mountains, forests and alpine tundra.
What Wildlife Can I See?
- Elk
- Bighorn Sheep
- Black Bear
- Moose
- Coyote
- Mountain Lion
- Mule Deer
According to NPS, Rocky Mountain National Park has an elk herd numbering between 600 to 800 in the winter, “about 350 bighorn sheep, numerous mule deer and a small population of moose calling the park home, it’s no surprise that wildlife watching is rated the number-one activity by a vast majority of Rocky’s three million annual visitors.”
Wildlife Distances:
- 75 ft from elk and bighorn sheep
- 120 ft from moose and bear
- If wildlife photography is your thing, then it is suggested that you bring a zoom lens and a tripod.
- NPS suggests, “When photographing from a safe distance, skilled photographers suggest lining up the horizon of the landscape along with the lower third of your frame and lining up the animal(s) to one of the four intersection points.”
- Be aware, especially if you are visiting in the fall, that this is elk rut, which is one of the reasons you SHOULD visit in the fall. BUT bull elk can be aggressive during this time of year so it’s just not a good idea to get all up in their space.
- DO NOT feed any of the animals in the park. Feeding junk food to wildlife reduces its ability to survive the long mountain winter.
- Be careful when you are driving through the park. When wildlife panhandles by roadsides, these animals fall easy prey to automobiles.
- Also, it’s illegal (harassing or feeding). As they become habituated to humans and lose their natural fear, the animals become aggressive and may be destroyed.
How Much Ground To Cover?
Rocky Mountain National Park covers an impressive 415 square miles. It encompasses and protects a truly spectacular mountain environment. The most popular attraction is Trail Ridge Road, which crests at over 12,000 feet. Trail Ridge includes many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds. The park also offers over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, and amazingly starry nights.
Know Before You Go:
- Rocky Mountain National Park is busy (as many National Parks tend to be) but especially in the fall. Parking lots and trailhead parking tend to get congested early and often. Be prepared to wait. It’s best to hike early or late.
- Prepare yourself for the higher altitude. You may not think it will hit you but hiking at altitudes like these is completely different than hiking at lower altitudes.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Weather can change very quickly. Have a rain jacket and be prepared to change your plans.
- Dress in layers and don’t forget those hiking boots!
- There are pull-offs along the road for wildlife viewing. Don’t be one of those people who completely block the road because you want to look at elk. Find a spot to pull over just like everyone else.
8 Reasons to Visit Rocky Mountain National Park in Fall
1. Amazing Weather –
Colorado weather can be pretty erratic, so I realize this is a bold statement, but fall in Colorado is amazing. You get all 4 seasons in 1 trip. My trip was the last week of September and the first week of October. There were some days that I was in fleece and others I was in a t-shirt. Some days were in the ’80s, others in the ’60s and by the end of my trip it had snowed on the peaks, and Trail Ridge Road was closed.
Check Out: Rocky Mountain National Park Bucketlist
2. Elk Rut! –
Need I say more? The elk, numbering between 600-800 in the park, are incredibly active at this time of year because it is their rut. You will also get to hear those amazing bugles that I am obsessed with. It’s the coolest noise/thing to witness in person.
3. Foliage Colors –
The Aspens do make fall in Rocky Mountain National Park so different from, let’s say, fall in New England. Just as gorgeous but so different. You will get all those glorious reds, oranges, and the yellow of the aspens!
Check Out: Is Rocky Mountain National Park Dog Friendly?
4. Perfect For Hiking –
While crowds can be crazy during the fall, I have found that they are not as bad as summer crowds at Rocky Mountain National Park. I had more luck when I hiked more popular trails during the week and early in the morning. Again, still crowded but not so much that it’s not enjoyable!
Check Out: The Best Easy Hikes In Rocky Mountain National Park
5. Gorgeous Kayaking –
While this isn’t technically inside the park, it is just outside park boundaries in Estes Park. I kayaked Lake Estes for what was supposed to be 2 hours and ended up being 5 hours. There was a herd of elk that joined me and even ended up coming in the water. It was awesome!
6. Estes Park Itself –
Estes Park, Colorado has got to be one of the most charming mountain towns that also works as the perfect base for all of your adventures in Rocky Mountain National Park. The town has shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and anything else that you could need. Make sure to take at least a day to just explore all that Estes Park has to offer!
7. Colorado In General –
It’s not just Rocky Mountain National Park that’s this stunning during the fall. The entire state of Colorado is gorgeous any time of the year, but it really shines during fall. I day trips to Pike’s Peak and Colorado Springs and they were absolutely gorgeous! Watch out for bigfoot at Pike’s Peak 😉
8. The Stanley Hotel –
The Stanley is gorgeous. It’s got those awesome time machine qualities of transporting you back in time. I’ll be writing an entire post on my experience on the Night Spirits Tour at the Stanly Hotel. It was so much fun and the hotel itself is gorgeous! If I ever get back to Estes Park without the pups I will absolutely be staying here. It’s worth a visit especially in the fall/close to Halloween!
There are so many reasons to visit Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park in the fall! I can promise, you won’t regret it! Just imagine sipping your coffee on the deck of your cabin looking at all of those lovely colors. Dreamy, right? Have you been to Rocky Mountain National Park In Fall? What was your favorite thing about your visit?
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