A Winter Day In Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is open 365 days of the year and welcomes visitors with winter beauty.
Located in Estes Park, Colorado – Rocky Mountain National Park spans the Continental Divide and encompasses protected mountains, forests and alpine tundra.
It’s known for the Trail Ridge Road and the Old Fall River Road drives that pass aspen trees and rivers. The Keyhole Route, a climb crossing vertical rock faces, leads up Longs Peak- the park’s tallest mountain. The trail surrounding Bear Lake is easy enough for hikers of all abilities and offers incredible views of all of the peaks!
The breathtaking views remain all year long, but the activities change throughout the seasons. If you are considering visiting in the winter, here is how I recommend you get the most out of your day in Rocky Mountain National Park!
Rocky Mountain National Park is cold in the winter. You will find temperatures hovering around freezing or below. During the day, the thermometer may rise to near 50 degrees. The best advice I can give you is to check the local forecast a day before you arrive.
First Stop, The Estes Park Visitor Center
The Estes Park Visitor Center is conveniently located near the intersection of Highways 34 and 36, the main corridors into town, at 500 Big Thompson Avenue in Estes Park, Colorado.
This welcome center is open year round and offers all the information you need to know when entering the park. The town of Estes Park is the gateway entrance on the east side of the park, and Grand Lake is where you can enter on the west side of the park. On our visit in the winter, we explored on the east side, where Estes Park is located.
You’ll pass the visitor center right as you approach the park’s entrance. The park rangers who work there can answer questions and provide up-to-date road closure and trail information.
Get a fun map (even if only for keepsake purposes), too!
It’s $25 per vehicle to enter Rocky Mountain National Park or free with the America the Beautiful Annual Park’s Pass ($80 for 12 months). You don’t get any ins-and-outs, so once you’re in the park, plan on being there for the entire day.
It can be cold out, so really nothing beats taking a scenic drive throughout the park. Trail Ridge Road is closed from October-to-May, typically. However, the road is open to Many Parks Curve, which is approximately 7 miles from the start of Trail Ridge Road from the east.
Check the current road conditions when planning your winter trip. If you can make a drive, do it!
Here are some other popular and unique things to do in the park during the winter:
- Cross-country skiing: Skis are available to rent from the nearby towns in Estes Park, and Grand Lake, and cross-country skiing is a great way to see the park in the winter. The best trails for cross-country skiing include: Nymph Lake, Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, Mills Lake through Glacier Gorge, and East Inlet Trail, on the west side of the park.
- Photography: Winter photography in Rocky Mountain National Park should be on the top of everyone’s to-do list. Freshly dusted snow, along with the crisp winter lighting makes for perfect photos.
- Bus Tours: Offered by the park’s non-profit partner, Rocky Mountain Conservancy offers bus tours that showcase the wildlife, snow-capped summits and give you a great view of the Bear Lake corridor. A guide will share knowledge of the Rockies from inside the comfort of a heated bus.
Another extremely popular winter activity in Rocky Mountain National Park is snowshoeing.
Since most trails are covered in snow for the majority of the winter, snowshoeing is a great alternative to hiking. There are tons of trails in the valleys that are perfect for snowshoeing, and many lead you to alpine lakes, frozen waterfalls and/or provide incredible views of gigantic, snow-covered peaks in the distance.
Multiday snowshoe tours are offered throughout the winter, where you will explore the park during the day and stay at a cozy inn and enjoy fantastic meals in the evenings.
Day snowshoe treks are available for those who have less time, but still desire to experience the magic of Rocky Mountain with a guide.
Here are the best winter-friendly trails to visit with or without snoweshoes (expect your feet to get cold and wet if you see snow on the ground and are going without, though) in Rocky Mountain National Park:
1. SPRAGUE LAKE
- Distance 0.9 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 10 feet
- Directions: Enter Rocky Mountain National Park on highway 36, turn left on Bear Lake Road, go about 6 miles and turn left at the sign for Sprague Lake.
Sprague Lake is the perfect easy winter warm up hike for all ages, there is very little elevation gain so it’s wheelchair and stroller friendly too. Here you’ll see dreamy views of the continental divide, cross bridges, read historical information about the lake, and see children playing on the frozen snow covered lake.
2. DREAM LAKE
- Distance 2.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 450 feet
- Directions: The trailhead is at Bear Lake. From highway 36 enter Rocky Mountain National Park, turn left on Bear Lake Road, go all the way to the end which is a little over 9 miles.
Starting at Bear Lake, the hike up to Dream Lake is incredibly stunning in every direction. Staying on the trail can be tricky at times, especially after fresh snow because people go off the trail a lot. Pay attention to signs, and it’s a good idea to bring GPS if you’re unfamiliar with this trail. You’ll start gaining some altitude with this trail but it’s an easy trail as long as the weather cooperates. Dream Lake can have very bitter cold winds in the winter so dress very warmly, also be prepared for deep snow in spots.
3. CHASM FALLS
- Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 640 feet
- Directions: From highway 34 enter Rocky Mountain National Park, turn right at the Old Fall River Road sign and park in the West Alluvial Fan Trailhead parking lot, and continue hiking west along the road past the winter gate.
There are many benefits to visiting Rocky Mountain in the winter, and some drawbacks, as well, but whatever time of year you visit the breathtaking landscape of Colorado- I know you will not be disappointed!
In the summer Old Fall River Road is a one way road that takes you up to the Alpine Visitor Center. In the winter the road closes to all vehicles and it becomes a great hiking trail. The trail starts out flat, walking through groves of sleeping aspen trees and beautiful snowy mountain views in the distance. As you near the waterfall you’ll get the heart pumping with a few switchbacks but it’s nothing that in-shape older people or enthusiastic kids can’t handle. You’ll see a sign for Chasm Falls to the left and follow steps down to the waterfall.
Partially frozen, the waterfall is beautiful! You can hear and see the water dropping 25 feet under a veil of ice into the icy pools below. There is railing everywhere so it’s safe and a beautiful photo taking spot! We usually see only a few other hikers on this trail, which is a nice bonus.
Rocky Mountain National Park, with its majestic peaks and unbeatable views will be amazing no matter what time of the year you visit. It’s no surprise it’s one of the most visited parks in the country. Always make sure you are prepared for the weather wherever you visit, and be safe before anything else!
