This destination guide provides information on select trails and overlooks within Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as details on Explorer Tours.
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
This guide weaves together information on Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and Explorer Tours. RMNP was a must-see destination during my trip to Denver, but since I didn’t feel comfortable driving on mountain roads, I opted to participate in a day tour. I chose Explorer Tours based on the company’s positive reviews, reasonably priced tour, and the convenience of the excursion departing from Union Station, a location just a few blocks from my hotel. The tour offered transportation via a van with large windows, a private guide (who also served as the driver), bottled water throughout the day, and a picnic lunch by the lake.
The drive from Denver to RMNP is approximately 1.5 hours. The tour was scheduled to run from 9:30 AM through 5:00 PM, but as we encountered very long lines to enter the park (it was Labor Day Weekend) and no one had plans after the tour, the guide kindly extended our tour until 6:00 PM! RMNP is one of the more popular national parks, so it can become very crowded during the summer and major holiday weekends.
The group’s first stop was Lyons; this was a brief 10-minute stop for participants to use the restroom and grab a coffee at the café. Then, we headed to Estes, where we stopped at the Stanley Hotel, the site where The Shining and Dumb & Dumber were filmed. I love The Shining, but the hotel visit was a bit underwhelming; not much in terms of movie memorabilia.
RMNP offers a complimentary shuttle that transports visitors from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park-n-Ride lot within the park. From there, you can take two other shuttles to explore sites along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
When we arrived at RMNP, the guide drove the group to Sprague Lake, where we had our picnic lunch and an opportunity to hike around the lake. This section of RMNP was breathtakingly beautiful, especially since the skies were clear and the sun was shining brightly. The tour doesn’t provide sufficient time to hike the full loop (.7 miles), but there was enough time to hike portions of it and to take some wonderful pictures.
Sprague Lake Loop is accessible, and there are several benches along the way.
Across the street from the lake, there are picnic tables, restroom facilities, and a parking lot.
The next stop was Many Parks Curve, one of many overlooks along Trail Ridge Road. This overlook featured a boardwalk that offered panoramic views of the meadows and, in the distance, a glimpse of Longs Peak, one of the tallest mountains in the range, at 14,256 feet. Then, we visited Rainbow Curve, an overlook with a rocky outcrop that visitors can climb for great views and nice photo opportunities. We also briefly stopped by Upper Horseshoe Meadow Pullout (first picture on this page). The group’s final stop in RMNP was Forest Canyon, an overlook that provided awe-inspiring views at 11,716 feet! Even in the summer, patches of snow were visible on some of the peaks around Forest Canyon.
The outlooks mentioned above are all accessible.
Another wonderful aspect of RMNP is its abundant wildlife. Everywhere you looked, there was a creature flying, trotting, eating, or staring at the tourists!
Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
As I mentioned, RMNP is one of the more popular national parks, and it can become quite crowded during peak travel season. I visited RMNP on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and the wait to enter the park was about 25 minutes. Based on my experience that day and comments from our guide, Trail Ridge Road draws larger crowds as it is more scenic and has many overlooks. The overlooks I shared in the section above were all on Trail Ridge Road. Sprague Lake was located on Bear Lake Road.
Important: Starting May 23, 2025, RMNP will implement the “Timed Entry Reservations” system, which requires visitors to purchase a timed permit to enter the park during the summer and fall seasons. Several U.S. national parks have implemented timed entry systems to alleviate overcrowding and prevent overburdening park resources.
If you are interested in visiting Sprague Lake and nearby Bear Lake, be sure to register for the permit that includes access to both Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road.
One thing to be mindful of when visiting RMNP is the risk of altitude sickness. I am from Florida, and during my time at RMNP, I experienced a minor headache, and my ears were also bothering me a bit. A fellow tourmate from Georgia was also experiencing headaches and, at one point, felt dizzy. Take it easy if you are not accustomed to great heights, especially when hiking!
Another thing to keep in mind is that the air is considerably thinner and drier at higher altitudes. Regardless of the season, remember to pack sunscreen, a hat, chapstick, and plenty of water!
Sprague Lake
Resources
For additional information, visit the Rocky Mountain National Park website.
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