Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle Tickets
Staying in Estes Park? The Hiker Shuttle provides service to passengers from the Estes Park Visitor Center in the town of Estes Park (near the intersections of U.S. Highways 36 and 34), to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road.
The Hiker Shuttle allows you to leave your vehicle where you lodge or parked in the Estes Park parking structure (adjacent to the Estes Park Visitor Center) and access destinations located along the Bear Lake Road corridor. Once at Park & Ride, transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttle routes to access destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake. For more details to see a map of the shuttle routes, visit RMNP's Shuttle Buses and Public Transit webpage.
To ride the Hiker Shuttle, all passengers, regardless of age, must have a Hiker Shuttle Ticket. Hiker Shuttle Tickets are $2 per transaction. They can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis through www.recreation.gov. Hiker Shuttle Tickets cannot be purchased in person at the Estes Park Visitor Center or at any of RMNP's visitor centers or entrance stations. Hiker Shuttle Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
One person can purchase up to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets per day, per transaction. If there are more than 4 people in your party, a second person with a second Recreation.gov account will need to purchase additional tickets. During check out, you will need to change the number of tickets (between 1 to 4) to match the number of people in your group.
Passengers with Hiker Shuttle Tickets will board the Hiker Shuttle outside of the Estes Park Visitor Center. The Hiker Shuttle does not pick up or drop-off passengers at any other locations in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park.
Hiker Shuttle Schedule:
- Daily Hiker Shuttle Service is available May 24 - September 2, 2024
- Saturday/Sunday Only Service begins September 7 - October 20, 2024.
Hiker Shuttle Route Schedule:
- Hiker Shuttles depart from the Estes Park Visitor Center at the following times: 9:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:15 p.m.
- Hiker Shuttles pick up returning passengers from RMNP's Park & Ride at the following times: 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 6 p.m.
When you are ready to return to the Estes Park Visitor Center, simply return to RMNP's Park and Ride and board a returning Hiker Shuttle back to Estes Park. Please remember, the last bus departs from Park and Ride at 6 p.m. Do not be late! There are no other public transportation services available to return from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Town of Estes Park.
Hiker Shuttles provide access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor inside RMNP. A Hiker Shuttle Ticket is valid when riding the Hiker Shuttle. They cannot be used to enter RMNP with a personal vehicle.
All passengers riding the Hiker Shuttle will need two things: a Hiker Shuttle Ticket and a valid park entrance pass. Individual 1-day entrance passes can be purchased on Recreation.gov or upon arrival. If you, or someone in your group, already has an America The Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass, this pass will cover your park entrance fee. A pass covers the individual park entrance fee for the passholder and up to 3 others.
Need to Know
- Roads & Construction
When traveling on the east side of 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. 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.
- Why Are Tickets Required to Ride the Hiker Shuttle?
Seating capacity on the Hiker Shuttle is limited and rider demand is high. In 2019, visitors interested in riding the Hiker Shuttle experienced wait times from one to two hours. Tickets improve the visitor experience by guaranteeing that everyone in your party will be able to board a specific bus at a specific time. They also help minimize congestion, crowding, and wait times.
- How Do I Purchase Hiker Shuttle Tickets?
All Hiker Shuttle Tickets are available online through Recreation.gov (take time to set up or update your Recreation.gov account first) or by:
Using the Recreation.gov Mobile App
Calling the Recreation.gov Reservation Line: 877-444-6777
Calling the Recreation.gov International Line: 606-515-6777
Calling the Recreation.gov TDD Line: 877-833-6777
- When Will Hiker Shuttle Tickets Be Available?
Hiker Shuttle Tickets are released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- Release Date: May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of May 24 - June 30
- Release Date: June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of July 1 - July 31
- Release Date: July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of August 1 - August 31
- Release Date: August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of September 1 - September 30
- Release Dates: September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of October 1 - October 20
Additional Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov beginning at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date, beginning on May 23.
- Entrance Fees
In addition to your Hiker Shuttle Ticket, all passengers will need a valid park entrance pass.
If you, or someone in your group, already has an America The Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass, this pass will cover your park entrance fee (your pass does not cover the Recreation.gov processing fee for Hiker Shuttle reservations). An America the Beautiful annual or lifetime pass covers the park entrance fee to RMNP for the passholder and up to 3 others. You will be asked to show your park pass and your Photo ID upon arrival. All entrance passes will be checked at the time of boarding the Hiker Shuttle.
- When Does the Last Hiker Shuttle of the Day Depart from Park & Ride?
The last Hiker Shuttle bus of the day departs from RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub at 6 p.m. MDT. Passengers are strongly advised to watch the time. Make sure that all members of your party return to the Park & Ride Transit Hub well before 6 p.m. MDT.
The Hiker Shuttle will not wait for you! If you miss the last bus of the day, there are no other buses or public transit available that provide service to Estes Park.
- May I Transfer My Hiker Shuttle Tickets to Someone Else to use?
No. Hiker Shuttle Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
Booking Windows
In 2024, Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- Release Date: May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of May 24 - June 30
- Release Date: June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of July 1 - July 31
- Release Date: July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of August 1 - August 31
- Release Date: August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of September 1 - September 30
- Release Date of September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of October 1 - October 20
Additional Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov beginning at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date, beginning on May 23.
Changes and Cancellations
Hiker Shuttle Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable. They cannot be gifted or transferred to another person, including parents, children or siblings. If you are unable to use your Hiker Shuttle Tickets, cancellations may be made up to 24 hours prior to your visit.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1000 HY 36 Estes Park CO 80517
Phone Number
970-586-1206
