Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry
Planning to visit the park during Summer 2023? Rocky Mountain National Park will implement another pilot temporary timed entry permit reservation system beginning on May 26 through October 22, 2023.
What will the 2023 timed entry permit reservation system look like?
The reservation permit system is similar to that used in 2022. There are two different timed entry permit options available to choose from: Park Access or Park Access+.
- Park Access Timed Entry Permits are great for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road or 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. Park Access Timed Entry Permits are required to enter the park from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. These permits do not provide access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
- Park Access+ Timed Entry Permits include access to all destinations located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor, as well as all other areas of the park. These timed entry permits are required to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 a.m. - 6 p.m.
With a timed entry reservation confirmation, visitors may enter the park within two-hour windows of availability. There is no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park.
Only one timed entry permit is required per vehicle (not per person). If there are multiple people traveling to the park in one vehicle, one timed entry permit will cover everyone traveling in the vehicle. Remember, one person may reserve only one timed entry permit per day. You may reserve a Park Access or Park Access+ Timed Entry Permit. Take time to decide which reservation option is best for your visit.
Need more information to help you decide which permit is best? Visit Rocky Mountain National Park's timed entry page for more details and to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm .
How do I reserve a timed entry permit for Rocky Mountain National Park?
- First, pick a day that you plan to visit Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Next, decide which timed entry permit is best for you: Park Access or Park Access+.
- Reservations will be available online through www.recreation.gov, thorugh the Recreation.gov mobile app, or by calling the reservation line at 877-444-6777. To make a reservation, log into an existing Recreation.gov account or create a new account. Reservations for timed entry permits are only available through Recreation.gov. Timed entry permit reservations are not available in person at the park's entrance stations or visitor centers. The park will release timed entry permits through Recreation.gov on the first day of the month prior to your desired arrival date, beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on May 1. For example, for someone planning to visit the park in June, timed entry reservations will be available beginning on May 1. Additional timed entry permits will be released via Recreation.gov at 5 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date. For the full timed entry release schedule, please see below.
- When ready to make a reservation, choose your desired timed entry reservation selections. When done, check out and pay. Save your reservation confirmation. Remember to either save a full screenshot of your reservation confirmation or print a copy of your reservation confirmation. Visitors are required to bring this reservation confirmation to Rocky Mountain National Park upon arrival. Be prepared to show it to a park ranger at the entrance gate. The reservation holder will also be asked to show the park ranger their photo ID.
How will Rocky Mountain National Park's 2023 reservation system differ from previous years?
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 2023 pilot timed entry permit system will be different from past years.
These include:
- The pilot timed entry permit system will be extended through October 22, 2023.
- The park is reducing the time period and number of hours daily that reservations are in effect for most areas of RMNP. For Park Access Timed Entry Permits, they will be in effect from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. In 2022, these permits were in effect from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Visitors with Park Access+ Timed Entry Permits who enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor and who want to exit and return later in the day, may re-enter the Bear Lake Road corridor anytime after 2 p.m.
- 40 percent of all reservations will be released via Recreation.gov on the day prior to a desired arrival date at 5 p.m. MDT.
- Campers at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, and Timber Creek Campgrounds 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. Campers who plan to enter the park earlier in the day will have to enter the park outside of the times when Timed Entry Permits are in effect (for example, before 9 a.m. for most areas of the park) or reserve a Timed Entry Permit Reservation. Just like last year, park visitors who have reservations to camp at Glacier Basin and Aspenglen Campgrounds will have access to the Bear Lake Road corridor as well as all other areas of the park. Park visitors who have reservations to camp at Timber Creek Campground will have access to areas of the park, excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor.
Timed Entry Permit Reservation Release Schedule:
Reservations for timed entry permits will be available through www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1.
- On May 1, Timed Entry Permits will be released for the dates of May 26 through June 30.
- The next release will occur on June 1, for all dates during the month of July and any remaining days that have not been reserved during the month of June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been reserved during the month of July.
- On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been reserved during the month of August.
- On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been reserved.
Need to Know
- Park Access - When are Timed Entry Permits in effect?
Beginning on May 26 through October 22, 2023, Park Access Timed Entry Permits are required to visit most areas of Rocky Mountain National Park between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Park Access Timed Entry Permits are best for visitors planning to drive over Trail Ridge Road or visit any areas of RMNP located outside of the Bear Lake Road corridor.
Access to destinations located along the Bear Lake Road corridor is not included with a Park Access Timed Entry Permit. If you have a Park Access Timed Entry Permit and would like to enter the Bear Lake Road corridor, you may enter anytime before 5 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Park Access Plus - When are these Timed Entry Permits in effect?
Beginning on May 26 through October 22, 2023, Park Access Plus Timed Entry Permits are required to visit destinations located along the Bear Lake Road corridor, such as Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, and Bear Lake. These permits are in effect between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Reservation holders also have access to all other areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.
To access the Bear Lake Road corridor, reservation holders must both enter the park through one of the main entrance gates, as well as enter the Bear Lake Road corridor entrance within your reserved 2-hour window. If you miss your 2-hour reservation window, reservation holders will be asked by park rangers to come back and enter the Bear Lake Road corridor anytime after 2 p.m.
- How Many Timed Entry Permits are Required Per Vehicle?
When entering Rocky Mountain National Park, two things will be required: a Timed Entry Permit Reservation and a valid park entrance pass.
If traveling with more than 1 person, only 1 Timed Entry Permit is requried per vehicle: either a Park Access or Park Access Plus Timed Entry Permit. When traveling with a group, decide in advance who will reserve your party's Timed Entry Permit Reservation. Upon arrival, the reservation holder will be requied to show both their reservation confirmation and a valid photo ID.
The person who reserves a Timed Entry Permit does not have to be the same person who has a valid park entrance pass. A variety of park entrane passes are available. If you are not an annual or lifetime park pass holder, you can purchase your park entrance pass upon arrival at the entrance gate. When entering the park, both the Timed Entry Permit Holder and the park entrance pass holder must be present in the vehicle and will be required to show their photo IDs.
- How Many Timed Entry Permits Can I Reserve?
One person may reserve only one timed entry permit per day. A park visitor may reserve either a "Park Access" or "Park Access Plus" Timed Entry Permit. Take time to decide which timed entry reservation option is best for your visit.
Booking Windows
Reservations for Park Access and Park Access+ Timed Entry Permits will be available online through www.recreation.gov beginning on Monday, May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT. They will also be available using the Recreation.gov mobile app. Reservations for timed entry permits are only availabe through Recreation.gov. They are not available in person at the park's entrance stations or visitor centers.
- On May 1, Timed Entry Permits will be released for the dates of May 26 through June 30.
- The next release will occur on June 1, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
Changes and Cancellations
For specific entence fee and annual pass information please visit: Fees & Passes - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1000 HWY 36 Estes Park CO 80517
Phone Number
(970) 586-1206 (HOURS: 8AM - 4:30PM MDT ON WEEKDAYS AND 8AM - 12PM MDT WEEKENDS)
