VIEWPOINT: Rocky Mountain National Park

LONG STORY SHORT
The Rockies get better farther north, but Colorado's slice of the mountain range is no slouch.

By Jason Clark

Here’s a tip for travelers looking to explore the Rocky Mountain range: Hit this national park first. You’ll appreciate it more. We first visited Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2017 as part of a vacation that also included Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, and with its smattering of fall colors, Rocky Mountain was a highlight of that trip.

Our second visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, however, came less than a year after we hiked through Glacier National Park, Banff National Park, and Jasper National Park in 2023. These parks also fall within the Rocky Mountain range, which extends from New Mexico to British Columbia, Canada—and we found their features noticeably more striking than those of Rocky Mountain National Park.
​
That’s not to say that Rocky Mountain National Park isn’t worth a visit, though. I just recommend starting here and working your way north, if you intend to see much of the Rockies. That way, the views only get better.

NATURE: INCROYABLE!
The Rocky Mountains are, in fact, Rocky

Just like Glacier, Banff, and Jasper, Rocky Mountain National Park has no shortage of alpine lakes and mountain peaks. What sets it apart are its explorable tundra and scattered rock formations.
These features provide an ever-changing backdrop to the park’s best amenity—its roads. Trail Ridge Road takes visitors up and over the Continental Divide, to an altitude rarely visited by commuter vehicles (so don’t be alarmed when that check-engine light turns on), and offers access to incredible views and unique hiking trails.

EXPERIENCE: MIGHTY FINE
Distinct Regions Provide Diverse Hiking Options

The aforementioned alpine lakes are always going to be the best hiking destinations. Those in the Bear Lake region are especially scenic, and the trails are unexpectedly forgiving for mountain terrain. (On our hike to Sky Pond, the 1,700 feet of elevation gain was sprinkled with stretches of flat trail, allowing us to catch our breath regularly in the thin air.)
Moving higher, there are a few short trails in the tundra off of Trail Ridge Road. While the scenery mostly consists of moss, lichen, and rocks, this region is also home to our favorite alpine critters: pikas and marmots.

Marmots sure know how to sploot.

VISITING: EASY
…as Long as You Get a Timed-Entry Reservation

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of a few national parks located fairly close to a major metro area. The drive from the Denver suburbs can be less than two hours, which means crowds are inevitable.
Timed entry is not unique to Rocky Mountain National Park—Yosemite and Glacier use similar crowd-management systems—and the long lines to get in the park outside of timed-entry hours justify its use here. If you’re proactive enough to snag a reservation, it’ll mean the difference between an easygoing day in the park and a day of driving around looking for parking.

STUPIDITY INDEX
The Stupid May Get Hurt

It’s the mountains. The weather is unpredictable, and hiking at altitude can be a shock to the system, so this terrain requires more caution than some Stupid may be capable of. There are also plenty of not-so-friendly animals that would send a message to any tourists getting too close for a photo.

CATSBY’S TAKE
It Was Fine

I can’t believe we’re still doing this.