Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry
Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park from May 24 through mid-October? Rocky Mountain National Park will implement another pilot timed entry permit reservation system during specific hours of the day. This system applies to all areas of the park.
There are two different timed entry permit options to choose from: Timed Entry or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road
- Timed Entry permits are great for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road, visit the Alpine Visitor Center, explore the Kawuneeche Valley, hike at Wild Basin or visit any area of the park located outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Timed Entry Permits are required to enter the park anytime between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. MDT.
- Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road permits include access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor, as well as all other areas of the park. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road permits are required to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. MDT.
Both reservation options allow park visitors to enter Rocky Mountain National Park within two-hour windows of time during the day. Reservation holders must enter the park within their reserved window of time, for example, if your reservation is for the time period of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m, you must enter the park and the Bear Lake Road Corridor within this two-hour time frame.
Only one timed entry permit reservation is required per vehicle (not per person). A visitor may only reserve one timed entry permit during a single day.
What's New in 2024?
Rocky Mountain National Park is committed to trying new things and being adaptive. Each year that the park has implemented a pilot timed entry permit system, we have learned new ways to make improvements. There are a few key ways that the 2024 pilot timed entry permit system will be different from past years. These include:
- Timed entry permit reservations for most areas of RMNP will be in place through October 14, 2024.
- Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road Road permits will continue through October 20, 2024.
- 40 percent of available timed entry permits are released on Recreation.gov the night before a chosen arrival date. These timed entry permits will be available each day beginning at 7 p.m. MDT.
When Can I Reserve a Timed Entry Permit for Summer and Fall 2024?
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry permits will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- On May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of May 24 - June 30.
- On June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of July 1 - July 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of August 1 - August 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of September 1 - September 30, and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On Septtember 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of October 1 - October 20, and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
Why is Rocky Mountain National Park implementing a timed entry permit system?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest national parks. In 2023, it was the 5th most visited national park. Visitor crowding and congestion at RMNP have led to increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity. Rocky Mountain National Park has piloted different park-wide timed entry permit reservation systems (2020-2023) and will be piloting a system again in summer 2024. The park is learning from these different actions to help inform long- range day use visitor access strategies for the future.
Need to Know
- When Are Timed Entry Permit Reservations Required?
Beginning on May 24 through mid-October, timed entry permit reservations will be required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during certain hours of the day. For most areas of the park, a timed entry permit will be requried to enter RMNP between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To access the Bear Lake Road Corridor, a timed entry permit will be required between the hours of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Entrance Fees
A valid entrance fee or park pass is always required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Park entrance fees can be purchased in person at any of the park's entrance stations.
- Bring Your Timed Entry Reservation Confirmation With You
Once your timed entry permit reservation is complete, you will receive an email with your attached reservation confirmation. This is the document you will be required to show a park ranger at the entrance gate. Remember to print out a copy of this document or take a full screenshot on your phone.
- If taking a screenshot, make sure you capture the full reservation confirmation, including the dates and the reservation "QR Code."
- If you are planning to access an outlying area of the park during a time of day when permits are required, (like Lily Lake, East Inlet Trailhead, Lumpy Ridge, and more), you must have a printed copy of your permit displayed on your vehicle's dashboard.
- Enter RMNP Within Your Reserved 2-Hour Window
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry permits are available in 2-hour blocks of time. This means that when you reserve a timed entry permit, you must initially enter Rocky Mountain National Park within the 2-hour window that you reserved such as 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
With a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road permit, you must enter through both one of RMNP's main park entrances and enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor within your reserved 2-hour window. If you arrive outside of your reserved time frame, you will be notified by a park ranger that you have missed your reservation window.
- Parking
A timed entry permit does not guarantee parking at a specific parking lot or trailhead. If a desired parking area is full, you may have to visit a different area and try to return again at a different time of day.
- Re-Entry to Bear Lake Road and the Rest of RMNP
If visiting the Bear Lake Road Corridor with a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road permit, re-entry is allowed after 2 p.m. For areas of RMNP outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor, once you’ve entered the park during your two-hour entry window, you can exit and re-enter the park as often as needed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Can I resell or transfer my timed entry permit reservation?
No. All timed entry permit reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Outlying Areas
If you are planning to visit one of the park’s outlying areas, please print and display your timed entry permit on your dashboard. Be prepared to show a ranger your permit if asked. Outlying areas include: Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet, North Inlet, etc.
- Visitors with Campground Reservations
For visitors who have a campground reservation to stay overnight at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, or Timber Creek Campgrounds, a timed entry permit is included with your campground reservation. Campers will be able to initially enter the park beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of their camping reservation, which is also the check-in time for all park campgrounds.
- For a Detailed List of Timed Entry Questions & Answers
To see a detailed list of frequently asked questions and answers, visit RMNP's webpage at https://go.nps.gov/romo/timedentry
Booking Windows
Timed Entry reservations are required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park between May 24th and mid-October.
Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov following the below schedule:
- Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry permits will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- On May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of May 24 - June 30.
- On June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of July 1 - July 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of August 1 - August 31, and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of September 1 - September 30, and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On Septtember 1 at 8 a.m. MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of October 1 - October 20, and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
For more information on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit https://go.nps.gov/romo
Changes and Cancellations
Timed entry permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you are unable to use your timed entry permit reservation, cancellations may be made up to 24 hours prior to your visit.
Timed entry permit reservations are only available via Recreation.gov. They are not available in person at RMNP's visitor centers or entrance stations.
In addition to a timed entry reservation, park entrance fees or a valid park pass are required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Park entrance fees can be purchased in person upon arrival at the park's entrance station.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1000 HWY 36 Estes Park CO 80517
Phone Number
(970) 586-1206 (HOURS: 8A.M. - 4 P.M. MDT ON WEEKDAYS AND 8 A.M. - 12 P.M. MDT WEEKENDS)
