Self Guided Rocky Mountain National Park Driving Tour

Estes Park

This beautiful town is a the place to stop before your trip. There’s one seasonal cafe and no gas in Rocky Mountain National Park, so make sure to stock up on all the supplies you need before you get there. There’s numerous picnic areas in the park, so keep that in mind when shopping. Estes Park has plenty of shops and gas stations, and if you’re coming from farther away, you’ll have even more options.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

Here’s a perfect place to pick up a trail map. It’s chock full of information that’ll help you decide which trails are right before you. It also has park maps, bathrooms, gifts and souvenirs.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

This is a wonderful place to learn about the park’s geology and history. In fact, the building itself has quite the historical significance. It’s the last standing building that was part of the Moraine Park Lodge, a place popular with tourists when the park was a popular vacation destination.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

At the Bear Lake Trailhead you’ll have the option to hike several different trails. The quickest, and most popular, is the Bear Lake Trail which takes around 15 minutes. But there’s others that range from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Like most trailheads in the park, this one also offers access to several different trails. Many are long though! If you’re up for an easy, just over three-hour hike, we recommend the Glacier Gorge Trail. It’s popular for birding and camping.

1 Hours 45 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bierstadt Lake

Just over three miles long, this trail is popular for snowshoeing, horseback riding, and of course, a gorgeous lake.

1 Hours 45 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Horseshoe Park

What gives this valley its name is the glacial melt that carved it into the shape of a horseshoe millions of years ago. Today, it’s home to spacious meadows that attract wildlife.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Sheep Lakes

As the name suggests, here you’ll find park information and exhibits. It’s located right by the four beautiful Sheep Lakes. It’s also a popular spot for bighorn sheep and elk.

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

What’s an alluvial fan, you ask? Well, it’s where water cascades over boulders moved there by a massive flood in 1982. A sort of waterfall, really. This easy trail passes right by it.

10 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Here you can take a five-minute walk along a boardwalk through wetlands created by beavers. Long ago beavers built a dam and organic material gathered behind it. Once it collapsed, that soil flowed out, creating the wetlands there today.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

At this peaceful stop, you’ll find an easy, half-mile nature trail, picnic tables, and flush toilets. It’s a lovely place to stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh air.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Many Parks Curve Overlook

From this one you’ll see Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park, and Beaver Meadows. There are viewing platforms around the entire curve for different perspectives.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Rainbow Curve Overlook

And another! This stop is a viewpoint above the treeline. You’ll see unobstructed views of nearby peaks and valleys.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Forest Canyon Overlook

A short walk through the tundra at the overlook affords visitors a view down into a river flowing through a canyon. You’ll see Hayden Gorge and Gorge Lakes.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Tundra Communities Trail

This one-mile trail features interpretive signs about the flora and fauna that live in the tundra. You’ll also get to see the Mushroom Rocks, boulders that are over a billion years old and they look like, well, you can imagine.

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The cliffs you’ll see from here are made of the only volcanic rock in the park. They’re part of the Never Summer Mountain Range and are actually the park’s youngest.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Here you’ll see awesome views of Gore Range, the Never Summer Mountains, and the flat-top of Longs Peak.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Alpine Visitor Center

At the highest elevation visitor center in any national park, you’ll find a seasonal cafe and the usual offerings from a place like this. This is the only place where you can grab a bite to eat in the park. There are also epic views from the nearby Alpine Ridge Trail.

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

From this gorgeous overlook, you’ll see the Medicine Bow Mountains, La Poudre River, and Wyoming on a clear day. Keep an eye out for wild life too.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Milner Pass

You’ll stand right on the Continental Divide here. It’s also home to the Ute Trailhead and views of Poudre Lake.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

This is home to a half-mile loop around Lake Irene. Across the street from there is Sheep Rock, where bighorn sheep like to sunbathe.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Farview Curve Overlook

This overlook lies at 10,000 feet elevation! It offers views of Kawuneeche Valley, the Colorado River, the Never Summer Range, and Jackstraw Mountain.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

As usual, there are several trails here to choose from, ranging from easy to strenuous. We recommend the Colorado River trail.

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

During fall, it’s common to see elk run here. It has tables, toilets, and fire grates.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Another picnic area! You’ll find it offers great bird watching, two ponds, tables, and toilets.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Originally homesteaded by early settlers, this now offers a 1.5 miles stroll around the land. Some original structures are still standing.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

As the name suggests, this roadside overlook offers views of Bowen Mountain and the Colorado River.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Trailheads of different levels can be found here. Even if you don’t hike, it’s a wonderful place to spend some time. There’s a gorgeous meadow, picnic tables, and bathrooms.

5 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

This is an easy, riverside, one-mile trail that’s wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly.

20 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bowen Gulch Trail

Since this trail is 15-miles long, the attraction is really walking along the river and exploring this beautiful area. Take a stroll along part of it and turn back when you’re done enjoying the beautiful scenery.

10 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Originally homesteaded by two sisters, today this area is a gorgeous meadow with picnic tables. It’s also a popular place with wildlife.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kawuneeche Visitor Center

What’s unique about this visitor center is it has a Rocky Mountain Conservancy Bookstore. So if you saw or heard about something today you want to learn more about, here’s an opportunity. $10-$20 for souvenirs

20 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Lake

Food ranges from simple to high-end, and there’s even a museum and historical society. Of course, there’s also that beautiful lake! So be sure to explore at least a little more before leaving town.

10 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free