Rocky Mountain National Park

The highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 3,713 metres and running 18 km above the treeline across alpine tundra, with overlooks, marmots and the Alpine Visitor Center.

💡 The road is generally open from late May to mid-October, depending on the snow: check its status on the park's information line before setting off. Allow at least half a day with stops, and take a warm jacket, as it is 10 to 15°C colder than in Estes Park. Price: included in park entry, $30, about €26, per vehicle for one day or $35, about €30, for seven days, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

capt_tain Tom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The park's first motor road, a narrow one-way dirt track climbing 15 km of tight switchbacks past Chasm Falls to the tundra and the Alpine Visitor Center, open from July to October.

💡 The road only opens from about early July to mid-October. It suits an ordinary car in dry weather, but it is closed to vehicles over 7.6 metres and to trailers, and not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo. Drive up in the morning to avoid the storms and use engine braking. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Footwarrior / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

A broad meadow crossed by the meandering Big Thompson between glacial moraines, where hundreds of elk gather for the autumn rut and bugle at dawn and dusk.

💡 Come at dawn or in the last hour of daylight and stay by the road: from 1 September to 31 October, it is forbidden to leave the roads and trails in the meadow from 5pm to 10am during the rut, and the law requires you to stay 23 metres from elk. Bulls charge cars that get too close. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

A small lake with a flat 1.1 km loop accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs, reflecting the peaks of the Continental Divide in the calm morning water, a favourite for sunrise photos.

💡 Arrive at sunrise, before the wind has rippled the water and while the light strikes the peaks. The lake is on the Bear Lake corridor: in season, the Timed Entry+ reservation is required from 5am to 6pm, including for the Park & Ride, or take the Hiker Shuttle from Estes Park. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Christian Collins / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The park's most popular hike, from Bear Lake past Nymph and Dream Lakes to Emerald Lake beneath Hallett Peak, three glacial lakes for less than 200 metres of ascent.

💡 To drive Bear Lake Road, up to and including the Park & Ride, you need the Timed Entry+ reservation from 5am to 6pm in season, or to arrive before 5am; then park at the Park & Ride and take the free Bear Lake shuttle, every 10 to 15 minutes from 6.30am to 7.30pm from late May to mid-October. The lake car park is full early in the morning. Without a reservation, take the Hiker Shuttle from Estes Park. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

One of the park's finest day hikes, about 16 km return past Alberta Falls and The Loch, then up Timberline Falls to Sky Pond, in a cirque beneath granite spires.

💡 Set off before 7am to find a space in the small Glacier Gorge car park, or take the first Bear Lake shuttle. The Timberline Falls section is slippery, so give up in wet weather, and be down from the lakes before the midday storms in summer. Alberta Falls on its own suits families. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Christine Warner / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

A forested basin in the park's south-east corner, away from the crowds, with a trail climbing North St. Vrain Creek past Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades to Ouzel Falls.

💡 The small trailhead car park is full by 8am in summer: arrive early, before 9am, which also avoids the timed reservation, required here from 9am to 2pm in season. The unpaved access road can be driven in an ordinary car. Allow 3 to 4 hours return to Ouzel Falls. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.

Laurenschneider210 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The quieter west side of the park, a valley of wet meadows where the young Colorado River winds through willows, the best place to see moose, with the historic Holzwarth ranch.

💡 Enter via Grand Lake if you are staying on the west side, or end your crossing of Trail Ridge Road with the valley at the end of the day, moose time. Stay at least 37 metres from moose, which are more unpredictable than elk. The cabins of the Holzwarth ranch only open in summer. Price: included in park entry, plus $100, about €86, per non-resident visitor aged 16 and over.