Rocky Mountain National Park
Peaks over 14,000 feet, alpine lakes and tundra, two hours from Denver. Trail Ridge Road climbs to 12,183 feet, the highest through road in the country; in September the elk rut in the meadows.
- Best months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
- Stay in
- Estes Park
- Official site
- nps.gov
Tip: From late May to mid-October you need a timed entry by day (recreation.gov), and a separate one for Bear Lake Road.
One of the 11 national parks where visitors from abroad pay $100 a person on top of the entrance fee, since 1 January 2026. With two or more of them on your trip, the $250 annual pass is cheaper: travel info.