If you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park and are not sure which entrance to use, you are in the right place!

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the United States, with over four million visitors each year. The 265,000-acre park offers mountain views, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and wildlife, and you do not have to go far from your car to take in the scenery, which we loved.

Rocky Mountain National Park has four entrances that provide access to various areas. When we visited the national park, we used each park entrance since each one brings you to a different part of the park. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with each entrance and which ones you need.

To help you plan your trip, I recreated this guide to include everything you need to know about the Rocky Mountain National Park entrances.

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What You Need to Know Before Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park

Before we dive into the park entrances, I want to talk about important things to know for planning your trip. These tips made a big difference when we planned our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Get your timed entry permit in advance. Every Rocky Mountain National Park entrance utilizes a timed entry permit system for summer and fall, and the slots fill up quickly. I highly recommend reserving yours as soon as they are released, especially if you want to visit Bear Lake Corridor. Bear Lake Corridor time slots for peak season fill up the same day they are released because it is one of the most popular areas. The National Park Service posts the release schedule on its website so you know when to get your reservation. If you do not have a timed entry slot, you can enter Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM and the other sections of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 AM or after 2 PM.
Trail Ridge Road is open seasonally. The iconic scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park is open from late spring to early fall. They do not usually plow Trail Ridge Road until Memorial Day weekend and close it at the end of October, depending on the weather.
Start your day early. Trust me when I say you should start your days early to have more time to explore the park with fewer crowds and to avoid long wait times at the entrances. Rocky Mountain National Park also has afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, so I recommend starting your day as early as you can to avoid getting caught in one. During the few days we were in the park, we saw a storm every day!
Take it slow. Many of the best things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park are at high elevations, and if you are not acclimated, you could get altitude sickness. I recommend taking it slow to get used to the altitude.
Expect crowds and be flexible. Rocky Mountain National Park is among the most visited national parks, so it is always crowded. There is also a high chance there will be long lines at the entrance stations. If you have a midday timed entry, I recommend arriving early to have plenty of time in case you have to sit in traffic. When we left the park around noon one day, the line at the entrance station was over two miles long!
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash behind. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw away your trash. Otherwise, you should pack out your trash and dispose of it once you find a barrel.

Rocky Mountain National Park Entrances (+ Things to Do at Each)

As I mentioned, Rocky Mountain National Park has four entrances, and each provides access to different areas of the park. Three provide access to Trail Ridge Road, and one is in a secluded section of the national park.

You will most likely use the Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances since those are closest to Estes Park. Grand Lake Entrance is on the western side of Trail Ridge Road, and Wild Basin is on the southeastern side of the park.

Below is a map of the Rocky Mountain National Park entrances, so you can know where each is.

Beaver Meadows Entrance

Beaver Meadows is the most popular Rocky Mountain National Park entrance because it is close to Estes Park and provides access to Bear Lake Corridor and Trail Ridge Road.

Because it is a popular entrance, the wait to get in is long, especially mid-day. Although Rocky Mountain National Park has a timed entry system, the wait can still be over an hour. We went into the park near sunrise each morning, so we did not experience any lines at the entrances. When we left the park around midday, the entrance lines were over a mile long! It definitely helps to get up early.

If you do not have a timed entry, you can enter Beaver Meadow Entrance before 9 AM or after 2 PM. I recommend arriving before 9 AM because the wait is shorter.

If you want to explore Bear Lake Corridor, you must reserve a Park Access+ entry permit. If not, you can enter the Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM. Honestly, I recommend going into Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM because it is the most popular area to hike, and the parking lots fill up quickly even in the morning.

Attractions Near Beaver Meadows

Moraine Park is a beautiful area known for its wildlife. You will likely see many elk roaming the fields like we did, which was so cool! You can watch herds of elk roam around the park or hike along the few trails in the area.

Bear Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Bear Lake Corridor because it is short and easy with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
If you want a longer trail to four beautiful lakes, I recommend hiking to Emerald Lake, Dream Lake, Nymph Lake, and Bear Lake, my favorite trail. The 4-mile trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the entire park!
Lake Haiyaha is arguably the most beautiful lake in the area because of its turquoise water. You can hike 4 miles just to Lake Haiyaha or add it to your hike with the other four lakes above for a 5-mile hike.
If you are looking for a waterfall, I recommend hiking the 1.6-mile trail to Alberta Falls, a beautiful 30-foot waterfall.
Sky Pond is a beautiful 8.6-mile hike that will make you work for the views, but it is worth the effort! The trail offers views of mountains, Alberta Falls, and three lakes: The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond. It is easily one of the most beautiful hikes in the park, in my opinion!
Sprague Lake is one of the best hikes if you want an accessible trail with beautiful views. The 0.8-mile trail is one of the easiest hikes and has stunning mountain views across the lake. It was one of our favorite easy hikes in Bear Lake Corridor.
Deer Mountain is a popular hike near the Beaver Meadows Entrance. The 6-mile trail offers beautiful views overlooking Estes Park and the surrounding mountains.
Of course, you have to drive the iconic Trail Ridge Road and visit its many overlooks. It also has a few fun hikes you can add to your itinerary.

Where to Stay

Estes Park is the best place to stay near the Beaver Meadows Entrance because it is less than a 15-minute drive and has accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops. We stayed here and loved our time in the little town!

easy hikes in rocky mountain national park

best places to stay near rocky mountain national park

Fall River Entrance

Fall River is the second most popular Rocky Mountain National Park entrance because it is close to Estes Park. It is smaller than Beaver Meadows and tends to have fewer crowds, but the lines can still be long mid-day. We preferred the Fall River Entrance because it was closer to our accommodation and the lines were much shorter than Beaver Meadows.

Fall River provides access to Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, making it easy to access the best attractions in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Like all entrances in Rocky Mountain National Park, it requires a timed entry permit. If you do not have one, you can enter the Fall River Entrance before 9 AM or after 2 PM.

Attractions Near Fall River

Old Fall River Road is a beautiful 9-mile, one-way scenic drive linking Estes Park to the Alpine Visitor Center. Usually, it opens in mid-July and closes in October, so you can only access it seasonally. You can enjoy many hiking trails off the road, with a few of my favorites being Marmot Point Trail (easy/moderate), Ypsilon Lake Trail (strenuous), and Alluvial Fan Trail (easy). It is also a great place to see wildlife, and we saw so many moose and elk here!

Sheep Lakes is just past the entrance and offers beautiful views of the nearby mountains. It is also a great place to see wildlife!
Like Beaver Meadows, the Fall River Entrance leads to the iconic Trail Ridge Road where you can visit many beautiful overlooks and hike fun trails.

Where to Stay

Estes Park is the best place to stay near the Fall River Entrance because it is less than a 15-minute drive and has accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops.

the best 2-day rocky mountain national park itinerary

Grand Lake Entrance

Grand Lake is the only Rocky Mountain National Park entrance on the western side.

It is often overlooked because it is on the other side of the park, but it is a beautiful area with many fun hikes. It also has the largest and deepest lake in Colorado, Grand Lake. And let me tell you, the lake is stunning!

We entered through Grand Lake on our first day in Rocky Mountain National Park because we were coming from Breckenridge. We honestly wished we had more time to explore this area, so if you can, I recommend spending at least a day here!

Grand Lake is one of the least-visited park entrances, but you still need a timed entry permit. Similarly to the other Rocky Mountain National Park entrances, you can enter before 9 AM or after 2 PM without a permit.

Attractions Near Grand Lake

Adams Falls is one of the best hikes near Grand Lake! The 0.8-mile trail begins on the east side of Grand Lake and follows an easy path to a beautiful 55-foot waterfall. If you visit in spring or early summer, the waterfall will be gushing from the recent snowmelt.

Cascade Falls is another beautiful waterfall, and although it is not as epic as Adams Falls, the 6.8-mile hike is pretty and a great place to see wildlife.
Lake Verna is a perfect hike if you want a challenging trail! The 13.5-mile trail brings you to Adams Falls, Lone Pine Lake, and Lake Verna.
From the Grand Lake entrance, you can drive Trail Ridge Road all the way to the other side near Estes Park. We loved driving it from Grand Lake to Estes Park because we could explore the entire road. And trust me, it was worth it!

Where to Stay

Grand Lake is the closest town near the Grand Lake Entrance and has many accommodations for all budgets, restaurants, and shops. It is such a cute town and much less busy than Estes Park.

Wild Basin Entrance

And last but not least, we have the least-visited area in Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin. But do not let the lack of crowds fool you, because it has beautiful hikes to eight lakes and three waterfalls!

Wild Basin is also the most remote area in Rocky Mountain National Park, and it is my favorite place to escape the crowds, especially in the summer.

You still need a timed entry permit to enter the Wild Basin Entrance, but similarly to the others, you can enter before 9 AM or after 2 PM without one.

Attractions Near Wild Basin

Ouzel Falls is easily one of my favorite waterfalls in this area of Rocky Mountain National Park! The 5-mile hike makes you work for the views of the 40-foot waterfall, but the effort is worth it.

Ouzel Lake is a few miles past Ouzel Falls and has stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The 10-mile trail makes for the perfect day hike near the Wild Basin Entrance!
If you want a challenging hike, Bluebird Lake is perfect. The 13.3-mile trail connects Ouzel Falls, Ouzel Lake, and Bluebird Lake, and trust me when I say it is stunning!
Sandbeach Lake is another beautiful hike and a perfect summer swimming spot! The 8.4-mile trail is worth the effort to be able to relax along the lake shores.
Although Chasm Lake is outside the Wild Basin entrance, I still recommend adding it to your itinerary! The 8-mile hike is stunning as it wanders through the forest and alpine tundra to the shores of Chasm Lake beneath the iconic Longs Peak. It is also a beautiful hike for sunrise.

Where to Stay

Estes Park is the closest town to the Wild Basin Entrance, but it is a 30-minute drive. It has more accommodations, restaurants, and shops compared to other nearby towns. If you prefer to camp, there are campgrounds right outside the Wild Basin Entrance.

best places to see wildlife in rocky mountain national park

Rocky Mountain National Park FAQs

Do I need a reservation to enter Rocky Mountain National Park?

Yes, you need to reserve a time slot in advance to enter Rocky Mountain National Park unless you enter Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM, or the other sections before 9 AM or after 2 PM.

Every entrance has a timed entry permit system for summer and fall, and the slots fill up quickly. I highly recommend reserving yours as soon as they are available, especially if you want to visit Bear Lake Corridor because they sell out the same day they are released. One of the best things is that the National Park Service posts the release schedule on its website to make it easy to know when you need to book your slot.

If you do not have a timed entry slot, you can enter Bear Lake Corridor before 5 AM or after 6 PM and the other sections of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 AM or after 2 PM.

Which entrance has access to Trail Ridge Road?

Rocky Mountain National Park has three entrances that provide access to Trail Ridge Road: Beaver Meadows, Fall River, and Grand Lake.

Beaver Meadows and Fall River are the most popular entrances to Trail Ridge Road because they are close to Estes Park, which is where everyone stays. Grand Lake, on the other hand, is on the western side of the park, so if you are traveling from the south, you can enter through this entrance.

Because we were traveling from Breckenridge, we entered Trail Ridge Road from the Grand Lake Entrance on our first day. Then we used Beaver Meadows and Fall River for the rest of our trip since we were staying in Estes Park.

What are the best entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park?

The most popular entrances in Rocky Mountain National Park are Beaver Meadows and Fall River because they are the closest to Estes Park. They are on the eastern side of the park and provide access to Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Corridor.

Grand Lake also provides access to Trail Ridge Road but from the western side. If you are traveling from the south, this entrance may be the easiest way to get into the park.

Wild Basin is the least-visited area in Rocky Mountain National Park because it is remote. But it has some of the most beautiful day hikes!

If you are visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the park entrances. To help you plan your trip, I created this guide to have everything you need to know about the Rocky Mountain National Park entrances and the best things to do near each!