Rocky Mountain ◆ Colorado
Rocky Mountain, alpine America.
265,000 acres of front-range Colorado — Trail Ridge Road tops out at 12,183 feet, and you can walk through alpine tundra without earning it.
Field guide ◆ Rocky Mountain
Plan the trip.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most accessible alpine landscapes in the country. Trail Ridge Road runs 48 miles across the park, climbing to 12,183 feet — the highest paved road in any national park — and putting you in genuine alpine tundra after a 90-minute drive from Denver.
Three classic days: Drive Trail Ridge Road end to end, stop at Forest Canyon and the Alpine Visitor Center. Day 2, hike Emerald Lake from Bear Lake (3.6 miles, glacial lakes stair-stepping up to a granite amphitheater). Day 3, Sky Pond — 9 miles, brutal, and one of the most cinematic alpine bowls in Colorado.
Timed-entry permits are required May through October — book on recreation.gov a few weeks ahead. Estes Park is the gateway town; lodging fills up summer weekends. Watch for sudden afternoon thunderstorms above treeline — start hikes early.
On the map ◆
Where you're going.
Pack the kit ◆ For Rocky Mountain
What to bring.
Trip-tested picks for this destination — gear that's earned its place across multiple visits.
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