If you are looking for a park that has a little bit of everything, Rocky Mountain National Park is the place for you. Encompassing over 415 square miles of alpine meadows, towering peaks, and pristine forests, this Colorado national park provides visitors with endless adventures. Visitors can explore over 350 miles of hiking trails, ranging from leisurely strolls to challenging ascents, offering panoramic views of snow-capped mountains and abundant wildlife.

I visited Rocky Mountain National Park for a few days this past July and had an absolute blast! Here are some of the highlights of my trip:

Trail Ridge Road

As the highest continuously paved road in the United States, the Trail Ridge Road traverses over 48 miles of stunning alpine landscapes, reaching a peak elevation of 12,183 feet! With plenty of beautiful overlooks and pull-offs, we spent hours exploring every adventure this road had to offer. Keep in mind that Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited parks in the U.S. and even though timed-entry reservations are required most of the time, the Trail Ridge Road is a popular drive for visitors.

Lake Haiyaha

Something that I didn’t know before visiting Rocky Mountain National Park is it is full of gorgeous lakes! Lake Haiyaha, one of my favorite hikes on the trip, takes you to not one, not three, but four incredible lakes! This out and back trail is 4 miles in length with 846 feet of elevation gain, but many visitors choose to shorten or lengthen it to their liking. Just a few feet from the parking lot you will see Bear Lake, the most popular area given its proximity to the trailhead. And as you continue hiking to each following lake, the crowds will grow thinner and thinner. Since this is a popular area for hiking you will need a special timed entry, so plan ahead!

Mount Ida

Our Rocky Mountain National Park adventure would not be complete without an epic, knee-busting hike to a mountain top. Mount Ida is a 9.4 mile out and back hike with a whopping 2,414 feet of elevation. Most of the trail takes you above the tree tops, giving you incredible panoramic views of the surrounding scenery. While this hike certainly was a challenge, it was a great break from the noisy crowds found in most other areas of the park.

At Rocky Mountain National Park, you should definitely plan to except the unexpected. The skies may be perfectly clear one second, and then two seconds later there will be a complete downpour. So plan accordingly!

As always, there is so much more I want to go back and explore, so make the most of your time! Best of luck on your adventure 🙂