Note: Since Rocky Mountain is such a large national park with several distinct areas, I’ve broken up my list of recommended hikes and grouped them geographically. 

Longs Peak:
🥾 Longs Peak via the Keyhole Route (13.3 miles, 4,934 feet elev. gain): RMNP’s penultimate experience takes you to the summit of the park’s 14er: Longs Peak. Though the summit does not require technical climbing skill, it is much harder and more intense than your average hike. The Keyhole Route – the final push to the summit – involves Class 3 scrambles ascending 1,500 feet with lots of exposure and huge drop-offs. Ensure you are confident in your physical ability before embarking on this hike. Consider making a detour to Chasm Lake, which adds 1.4 miles, after the summit. Be sure to start this hike between 2-4 AM to find parking and avoid afternoon thunderstorms.
🥾 Chasm Lake (8.0 miles, 2,552 feet elev. gain): One of RMNP’s most popular hikes ends at a colorful and pristine alpine lake at the base of the Diamond: a 2,000-foot rock face leading to Longs Peak’s summit.

Bear Lake Area:
🥾 Emerald Lake (3.0 miles, 682 feet elev. gain): This trail guides hikers past Nymph Lake and Dream Lake before ending at the trail’s namesake lake, a pristine alpine lake surrounded by impressive rock faces and tall peaks.
🥾 Bear Lake Nature Trail (0.7 miles, 45 feet elev. gain): One of the park’s shortest trails is also one of the prettiest. The trail circumnavigates Bear Lake, offering great views of Longs Peak in the distance.
🥾 Lake Haiyaha (4.0 miles, 846 feet elev. gain): Another beautiful lake in the Bear Lake area sits less than a mile from Emerald Lake. Chaos Canyon, a popular spot for bouldering, can also be found here.
🥾 Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail (8.6 miles, 1,771 feet elev. gain): Some of the park’s most impressive and secluded lakes can be found along this hike. Hikers will pass The Loch and the Lake of Glass along with Timberline Falls on the way to the hike’s namesake lake. This hike can be combined with the unforgettable Andrews Tarn & Andrews Glacier, which adds about 2 miles and 1,000 feet of elev. gain through a steep talus field.
🥾 Flattop Mountain (8.2 miles, 2,870 feet elev. gain): For a more intimate experience with the Bear Lake area, look no further than the Flattop Mountain hike. This trail guides hikers to a ridgeline above Emerald Lake and eventually intersects with the Continental Divide.

Horseshoe Park:
🥾 Deer Mountain (6.0 miles, 1,394 feet elev. gain): This popular hike near the park’s east entrance guides hikers to the summit of the trail’s namesake mountain. Here, great views of Longs Peak and the surrounding mountains can be found.
🥾 Ypsilon Lake Trail (8.9 miles, 2,424 feet elev. gain): Hikes departing from the Lawn Lake Trailhead don’t get as much attention as others in the area, as these hikes are longer and more remote. Ypsilon Lake is a great example. The scenery along the hike and its namesake lake at the end point are beautiful.

Kawuneeche Valley:
🥾 Adams Falls (0.8 miles, 104 feet elev. gain): This short trail near Grand Lake takes hikers along a river to the hike’s namesake waterfall, while also providing stunning views into the park’s western mountains. Keep an eye out for moose!
🥾 Skeleton Gulch (12.5 miles, 2,060 feet elev. gain): This hike gets little traffic due to its length, remoteness, and location in the park’s west side. It offers stunning views of mountains and forests without the crowds of the park’s more popular areas.

🧗 Rock Climbing: Rocky Mountain National Park is home to world-class bouldering and big wall trad climbs. Talus fields in the Bear Lake area – most notably Chaos Canyon – house an excellent selection of boulder problems. Trad climbs can be found around the park, with the most impressive – like the Diamond – found on or around Longs Peak. Check Mountain Project’s website for more information.
⛺ Camping: The park features four campgrounds with reservable campsites, each offering superb camping conditions and incredible views of the park. This is a great way to optimize your experience with the park and its wildlife.
🏊 Swimming: You’d be remiss if you visited RMNP and didn’t take a dip in one of the many pristine alpine lakes in the park. The water is cold, so don’t stay in for too long. Bring a swimsuit, change of clothes, and a towel if you plan to do this.
🎒 Backpacking: For the ultimate adventure in the park, consider venturing out into the park’s backcountry. Be prepared with plenty of food, water, sunscreen, and bear spray. Check out the park’s wilderness camping guide for more information. Consider backpacking the 30-mile portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that passes through the park!
🚗 Trail Ridge Road: This paved road is only open in warmer months, when snow has largely melted at higher elevations. The scenic route connects the park’s eastern and western side. Along the way, it traverses the alpine tundra, passes the Alpine Visitor Center, and crosses the Continental Divide. Be sure to make stops along the way, like the Rock Cut Trail, Lava Cliffs, and Poudre Lake. 
🚴 Cycling: The park’s paved roadways are a dream for avid cyclists. If you can, bring your road bike to take advantage of them.
ℹ️ Visit the Alpine Visitor Center: The highest visitor center in the National Park System is a neat spot to check out. Here, you can shop for souvenirs, grab a bite to eat, hike the short Alpine Ridge Trail, and take in views of the tundra.
⛰️ Summit a 13er: As the park’s resident 14er, Longs Peak tends to get most of the attention from peak baggers. To avoid crowds and get an intimate experience with the park, consider summiting one of the park’s twenty 13ers! Mount Lady Washington, Storm Peak, and Mummy Mountain are all good peaks to consider.

🏙️ Estes Park: This small resort town sits just outside Rocky Mountain National Park and offers a selection of restaurants, lodging, and family-friendly activities.
🧗 Estes Park Valley: Those interested in sport climbing – of which there is little in RMNP – should check out this beautiful area just outside Estes Park. Sport and trad climbs abound in Estes Park Valley. Check Mountain Project’s website for more information.
⛰️ The Flatirons: Sitting just outside downtown Boulder, these impressive rock formations house a variety of hiking and rock climbing opportunities. Check them out, even if it’s just to snag a photo.
🏙️ Denver: Colorado’s capital city is a hub for restaurants, microbreweries, and outdoor recreation. It sits about 90 minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park.

📅 When to Visit: Peak season in RMNP begins in late May and ends in October. During this time, snow is mostly melted and temperatures are pleasant. This is also the time when the national park enforces a timed entry permit system. To avoid the crowds, visit during the week, in May or October, or outside of peak season.
⌚ How Long to Visit: A weekend is plenty of time to get your fill of Rocky Mountain National Park, but those wanting a more fulfilling experience should plan for 3-5 days in the park.
🚗 How to Visit: RMNP is easy to access by car. Estes Park – a resort town sitting just outside the park – sits only 90 minutes away from Denver. Those visiting from afar can fly into Denver and drive to the park from there.
🛏️ Where to Stay: If you’re interested in staying overnight in the park, you must camp in a tent or RV at one of the park’s campgrounds. These include the reservable campgrounds Glacier Basin, Moraine Park, Aspenglen, and Timber Creek, or the first-come first-serve Longs Peak Campground. Backcountry permits allow more adventurous visitors to camp in the park’s wilderness. Lodging is also available in Estes Park and Grand Lake, resort towns sitting just outside the park.
🧳 What to Bring: Bring your usual hiking gear, including sturdy boots or shoes, a hiking pack, water containers, and snacks. Bring extra sun protection, since UV rays are more dangerous at higher elevations. Those camping or climbing will of course need to bring more substantial supplies. Oh, and don’t forget your bear spray.

✅ DO reserve a timed entry permit during peak season. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enter the park. Be sure to do this months in advance OR be diligent about doing so when the NPS releases day-before permits. Note: those with camping reservations do not need a timed entry permit.
✅ DO go out of your way to avoid the park’s crowds. At RMNP, this means starting activities early in the morning or in the evening, visiting during the week, and/or visiting outside of peak season (May or earlier, October or later).
❌ DON’T hike above the tree line in the afternoon during the summer. Afternoon thunderstorms and lightning strikes are common during Colorado summers. Hikers should make every effort to be below the tree line before noon.
❌ DON’T feed the wildlife. When I visited RMNP, I encountered countless squirrels that were eager for food thanks to negligent parkgoers that had fed them. 
❌ DON’T approach elk. While it may be tempting to get close to a herd, elk are large and dangerous animals that can seriously injure you.