Everything You Need to Know for Your First Rocky Mountain National Park Trip with Kids

With approximately 4.5 million visitors per year, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited parks in the country and with its stunning mountain views, tons of wildlife and outdoor activities galore, it’s easy to see why. You might think that it would be impossible for a park that is the playground of most outdoor enthusiast’s dreams could also be kid-friendly, but if you do, I’m here to tell you that you think wrong! Keep reading to find out why Rocky Mountain NP is a can’t miss with kids and why you’ll be sure to want to go back for more…

About Rocky Mountain National Park

Best Time of Year to Go

Summer is the perfect time to visit the Rocky Mountains with lots of sunny days and moderate temperatures that are perfect for hiking, of course it is also the busiest time in the park. The weather can be unpredictable the rest of the year and some sections of the park (including parts of Trail Ridge Road) close between mid-October and late-May due to snow. If you don’t mind the cold, Rocky Mountain National Park offers a wide array of winter activities including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding.

How Long Should You Plan to Go?

We spent 3 days at Rocky Mountain but even though saw a lot and racked up some solid mileage on the trails, next time we would plan for a couple more days to explore. With more than 350 trails, there is a lot more hiking that we want to do plus the other activities that we didn’t have time to check out like horseback riding, fishing and exploring everything that Estes Park has to offer (think rafting, rock-climbing, boating on the lake and so much more).

Where to Stay

Camping is your only sleeping option within the park; if spending the night in a tent or RV isn’t your thing, your best bet is to stay in one of the two gateway towns, Estes Park or Grand Lake. We chose to stay in Estes Park because it is easier to get to from Denver plus the town has tons of restaurants, shops and activities for the kids and a large variety of lodging options available at all different price points.

We stayed at The Landing at Estes Park, near the Beaver Meadows park entrance. We loved that it was only a 4 minute drive from the park and even though it was a little removed from downtown Estes Park, there are some good restaurant options right nearby (try out Bird and Jim for sure!). The interior of our cabin was cozy and well stocked with a microwave, refrigerator, large kitchen counter and dishes. The river runs through the back of the quiet grounds and the fire pits were a fun place to hang out in the evenings with a glass of wine.

Getting Around

If you are looking to do some of the popular hikes in the park and want to take your own car be sure to go early (like 6 or 7 a.m. early) since the parking lots fill up quickly during the summer months. Alternatively, there is a free shuttle service that can take you from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the trailheads in the Bear Lake and Moraine Park sections of the park.

Entrance Costs

A 1-day pass for a car is $25, which covers all of the passengers in the car. If you plan on doing additional national parks within the year, consider the inter-agency national park pass which for $80 will get you into all US national parks and select federal recreation sites for a year (secret tip: if you have a 4th grader they are eligible for a free annual pass during that school year)

Our Favorite Kid Friendly Hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

With so many trails in Rocky Mountain NP, you might find yourself having a hard time narrowing down your options to what you can fit into your trip; these are the hikes that our kids enjoyed the most and are perfect for a first-time visit.

Bear Lake Loop

Distance: 0.6 mile loop
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Age: 2+

You guessed it, this loop takes you around Bear Lake and is one of the most popular trails in the park (aka busy). The loop is stroller friendly but it does have a couple sections that are a little on the steeper side so take that into consideration when deciding on what stroller to bring. Grab a trail guide at the start of the loop and go counter-clockwise to find each of the 30 signs along the way pointing you to entries in the guide that tell you all about the area’s history, geology and habitat.

Nymph Lake, Dream Lake and Emerald Lake

Distance: 3.5 miles to Emerald Lake
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Recommended Age: 4+

This is one of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain and with the 3 lakes with stunning mountain views, stream crossings and good climbing rocks, it’s easy to see why. This hike is great with little ones because you can turn around at any of the lakes and still feel like you’ve reached a destination.

Leaving from Bear Lake Trailhead, this trail starts out paved with a steady climb through the woods to Nymph Lake, things get a little bit steeper as you start making your way up to Dream Lake before leveling out in the meadows as you approach the lake. Take a short break and play on the rocks near the small waterfall before making your way up the last uphill section (including some stairs) to Emerald Lake. Tired kids will be happy to hear that it’s all downhill on the way down!

Alberta Falls

Distance: 1.7 miles round-trip
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Age: 4+

Starting at the Bear Lake trailhead, this trail takes you down into a beautiful aspen grove before slowly making its way up towards the falls. Our kids loved all of the chipmunks along the way, especially their new friend, Peanut Butter, who did a little dance for us in the hopes of snagging a snack (please don’t feed them). Once you get close, there are are lots of fun rocks to climb on, have a snack and watch the water go rushing by before it drops down the 30 foot falls.

Sprague Lake

Distance: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Recommended Age: 2+

This is a perfect hike for little ones and is stroller friendly but still packs quite the punch in terms of mountain views. There’s a picnic area with a good number of tables so this is a great spot to have lunch before or after your hike. As you make your way around the lake stop to watch the fishermen as they try to catch a trout.

Other Ways to Explore Rocky Mountain National Park with Kids

Take a Drive Along Trail Ridge Road

If you’re adjusting to altitude, Trail Ridge Road, which runs from Estes Park to Grand Lake, is a good activity for your first day and will give you a nice overview of the park. This 48 mile road loops up (and occasionally hair-pin turns) from the forested lower altitudes up above the tree-line to the alpine tundra as you reach 12,183 feet above sea-level at the highest point of the road before going back down.

There are a lot of turnouts and viewpoints that are worth stopping at to get stunning views of the landscape and the wildlife. Also, be sure to make a stop at the Alpine Visitor Center, the highest visitor center in the National Park system. This can be a 2 hour or full day excursion depending on how many stops and short hikes you make along the way.

Visit the Alpine Tundra

As you head above the tree line, you’ll find yourself in the unique ecosystem of the alpine tundra. While this area may seem barren, look closer and you’ll find beautiful tiny flowers, marmots, elk, pika and the hard to spot white ptarmigan, all of which have evolved to live in the extreme climates found above 11,000 feet.

The 1.1 mile round-trip Tundra Communities Trail will take you on an educational journey through the tundra, climb the rocks at the top for some can’t beat views. On the way back down, make a detour to the check out the mushroom rocks (note that these formations are fragile and not meant for climbing). Although this hike is short, the high altitude and wind make it much more challenging than you might expect so this isn’t one that I’d recommend if you’re having any altitude issues.

Go Back in Time At the Holzwarth Historic Site

An easy 1-mile walk from the parking lot off of Trail Ridge Road will take you back in time to the original homestead of the Holzwarth family. The family first built their home along the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley in the 1920’s and later operated a dude ranch on the same land. Kids can go back in time and learn about how the Holzwarth’s used the ice house, wood shed, taxidermy and even the outhouse in order to make a living and survive the winters. Be sure to take a picture of your kids’ face when they learn that the bathroom used to be outside…it was quite the shocker for our 3!

Go on a Wildlife Scavenger Hunt

Rocky Mountain National Park is known as one of the best places in the US to see wildlife and it definitely didn’t disappoint while we were there. You’ll find wildlife throughout but check out these spots in particular for a chance to see the park’s animal residents:

-The alpine tundra: birds, elk and marmots (we saw a lot of them at the Forest Canyon Overlook along Trail Ridge Road)
-The Kawuneeche Valley: moose (dawn are dusk are when they’re most active)
-Beaver Boardwalk: beaver
-Sheep Lakes: bighorn sheep

Take Part in the Junior Ranger Program

The Junior Ranger Program is a great, free, educational activity for kids that will keep them engaged as you explore Rocky Mountain NP. Stop at any of the visitor centers to pick up a any activity book, available for ages 5 and under, 6 to 8 and 9+; complete the activities and head over to Hidden Valley (on the east side of the park along Trail Ridge Road) to participate in a ranger program and earn a junior ranger badge.

A Few Tips to Make Your Trip a Success

• Rocky Mountain National Park sits at a pretty significant elevation, starting at 7,860 feet at its lowest point and reaching 14,259 feet at Long’s Peak; keep an eye out for altitude sickness and take it slow the first few days.
• Slather on the sunscreen, including on cloudy days, you are much closer to the sun at these altitudes.
• Drink plenty of water. For the adults, take it easy on the caffeine and alcohol.
• Bring layers, even in the summer, even if it’s warm in Estes Park it gets pretty cold and windy at 12,000+ feet above sea level (think in the 50s in July).
• Beware of afternoon thunderstorms which can sneak up quickly in the mountains. If you can, try to plan hikes for earlier in the day.
• The roads are very twisty so be prepared with some plastic bags if anyone has issues with motion sickness. Or even better, try out acupressure wristbands which you can find in most pharmacies like CVS; we got them for our daughter who normally feels sick within 5 minutes of being in the car, no vomits (or even nausea) with these things on, even through the hairpin turns.
• Have more gas in your car than you think you’ll need before heading up Trail Ridge or Old Fall River Roads, you spend a lot of the drive going uphill so your gauge will tick down faster than usual.
• There is little to no cell phone service in the park.