Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry
Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park from May 24 through mid-October? Rocky Mountain National Park is implementing a timed entry reservation system during certain hours of the day. There are two different options available to choose from: Timed Entry or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road. Timed entry reservations apply to all areas of the park.
- Timed Entry reservations are great for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road, visit Alpine Visitor Center, take a scenic drive on Old Fall River Road, explore the west side of RMNP, hike at Wild Basin or visit any area of the park located outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Timed Entry reservations are required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservations provide access destinations located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor, including Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Moraine Park and Glacier Gorge. With a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation you also have access to all other areas of the park. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservations are required to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor between the hours of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Both reservation options allow park visitors to enter Rocky Mountain National Park within 2-hour windows of time during the day. Reservation holders must enter Rocky Mountain National Park using one of the main entrances (Beaver Meadows, Fall River, or Grand Lake), within their designated 2-hour reservation window. If you have a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation, you must also enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor within your designated 2-hour reservation window.
How Many Timed Entry Permits Do I Need Per Vehicle?
One timed entry permit is required per vehicle (not per person). The person who makes the reservation must be present inside the vehicle. Upon arrival, the reservation holder must have a copy of their timed entry permit reservation confirmation and their valid photo ID.
When Can I Make a Timed Entry Reservation for Trips Planned During Summer and Fall 2024?
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry reservations are released on Recreation.gov on a first-come, first-served basis 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 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 have led to increased negative visitor experiences, impacts to resource protection, impacts to visitor and staff safety, and operational capacity. Timed entry reservations help to spread visitor use throughout the park and throughout the day, reducing crowding and congestion and associated impacts.
Need to Know
- Roads & Construction
When traveling to Rocky Mountain National Park, please pardon our mess. In the town of Estes Park, crews are working to improve access to and from RMNP. Inside Rocky, construction is wrapping up from a major improvement project at the Fall River Entrance. Construction is also underway at the Grand Lake Entrance. Please give yourself plenty of time to arrive and pack your patience; these critical projects will greatly improve access to Rocky Mountain National Park for current and future visitors.
- 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. There are two options available: Timed Entry or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road. For most areas of the park, a Timed Entry reservation 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 + Bear Lake Road 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 reservation is complete, you will receive an email with your attached reservation confirmation. This is the document you will be required to show when you arrive at Rocky Mountain National Park. Cell service is not reliable at the park's entrance stations. It is recommended to print out a copy of this document to bring with you or take a full screenshot and save it 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 reservation confirmation displayed on your vehicle's dashboard.
- Enter RMNP Within Your Reserved 2-Hour Window
Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry reservations are available in 2-hour blocks of time. This means that when you reserve a timed entry permit, you must enter Rocky Mountain National Park within the 2-hour window that you reserved, such as 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
With a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservaiton, you must enter through one of RMNP's main park entrances (Beaver Meadows, Fall River, or Grand Lake) and also 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 and you can come back in the afternoon after 2 p.m.
- Parking
A timed entry reservation does not guarantee parking at any specific parking lot or trailhead. If a desired parking area is full, you may have to visit a different area of RMNP and come back later at a different time of day.
- Re-Entry to Bear Lake Road and the Rest of RMNP
If you have entered the Bear Lake Road Corridor with a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation and you need to exit Bear Lake Road for any reason, re-entry to Bear Lake Road is allowed after 2 p.m. For all other areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, if you need to leave the park for any reason, re-entry is allowed at anytime between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m., a timed entry reservation is not requied to enter most areas of the park).
- Can I resell or transfer my timed entry permit reservation?
No. All timed entry permit reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Visitors with Campground Reservations
For visitors who have a reservation to camp at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, or Timber Creek Campgrounds, a timed entry reservation 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 campgrounds inside RMNP.
- 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.
- 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.
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 8AM MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of May 24 - June 30.
- On June 1 at 8AM 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 8AM 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 8AM 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 September 1 at 8AM MDT: Reservations will be available for the dates of October 1 - October 20, and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
An additional secondary release will occur at 7PM MDT on a rolling 1 day window. This secondary release will contain 40 percent of available timed entry permits.
For more information on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit https://go.nps.gov/romo
Changes and Cancellations
Timed Entry reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you are unable to use your Timed Entry or Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation, cancellations may be made up to 24 hours prior to your visit.
Timed Entry reservations can only be made 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)
