Rocky Mountain National Park had been sitting on our bucket list for years, and somehow it exceeded every expectation we had.
Towering peaks. Crystal-clear alpine lakes. Wildlife around every corner. Scenic drives that make you pull over every five minutes because the view somehow keeps getting better.
We only had two full days, so naturally we packed as much as we possibly could into our visit. If you’re the type of traveler who believes vacation is for relaxing…this itinerary probably isn’t for you.
But if you’re the kind of person who wants to experience as much as possible before heading home, here’s exactly how we spent two incredible days in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Where to Stay and Park Entry
Rocky Mountain National Park still operates on the Time-Entry System so if you are visiting between May-October you need to secure a reservation for each day you are planning to be in the park. There are two ways you can handle this:
Option 1: Secure a campsite inside the park. Most of these open one month-two weeks in advance so it’s a bit of a waiting game. There is no water at the campsite, but there are plenty of fill stations and restrooms. Each site feature a picnic table, fire ring, and some sites have electric. There are no showers so be prepared to not shower or to bring a solar shower set up. Camping in park negates the need for a time-entry reservation for all areas of the park.
Option 2: Book a cabin/hotel or campsite in Estes Park, CO for a short drive into Rocky Mountains National Park. This gives you the best of both worlds with the park nearby and the cutest little town for shopping and dining. If this is where you choose to stay then you need to visit Recreation.gov to get your Timed-Entry Pass. (Check out more on Timed-Entry here!)
For easy access to all areas of the park we decided to wait it out and try and snag a spot in the park. When we logged on the morning the sites were released there was only one left!
We arrived late at night at set up camp before grabbing a few hours of sleep and preparing for two full days of adventuring.
Day 1: Bear Lake Road & Estes Park
We grabbed some breakfast and headed to the visitors center first thing in the morning.
We headed up to Bear Lake around 10:30. Bear Lake has limited parking and fills up quick, but there are several shuttle stops where you can park and ride a shuttle in. We decided to test our luck and drive all the way up to Bear Lake and we managed to snag a spot!
Even if you don’t plan on hiking, Bear Lake is worth visiting. The short walk around the shoreline offers incredible mountain reflections and is one of the most iconic views in the park. This trail is flat and well-maintained so it is suitable for all ages and abilities.
From there, we continued onto the Emerald Lake Trail. This hike is popular for good reason.
Instead of one epic view at the end, it seems like every few minutes another stunning lake appears. You’ll pass Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and finally Emerald Lake, each somehow more beautiful than the last. The entire trail feels like something out of a postcard.
We spent about two hours at Emerald Lake snacking, playing in the snow, and just exploring the area.
After spending the majority of the day, we made our way into Estes Park for dinner. We ate at Antlers Rooftop Tavern and tried the Elk Burger (amazing!), Pasta with Wild Game Sausage and BBQ Chicken Pizza.
If you’ve never visited, Estes Park has the perfect mountain-town atmosphere. There are plenty of restaurants, local shops, ice cream stops, and enough charm to convince you to stay longer than you planned.
Day 2: Trail Ridge Road & Waterfalls
The next morning started with one of the highlights of the entire trip: driving Trail Ridge Road.
This isn’t just a road through the mountains—it’s an experience.
The climb takes you above the tree line where the views stretch for miles in every direction. There are countless overlooks worth stopping at, and you’ll want to leave yourself plenty of extra time because you’ll constantly be pulling over for photos. The drive takes about roughly 2.5 hours and you end at the Alpine Victors Center which is the BEST spot for souvenirs!
Once we finished the drive, we headed toward the Wild Basin area to hike to Ouzel Falls which is about a 30 minute drive outside of the park (to reenter at a different spot)
Compared to some of the busier trails in the park, this one felt quieter and gave us a completely different side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Instead of alpine lakes, the trail follows rushing rivers through the forest before ending at the beautiful waterfall.
After our hike, we made one more stop back in Estes Park for a little shopping before heading to the campsite for the night.
Our Thoughts
Two days wasn’t nearly enough to see everything Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer, but it was enough to make us want to come back.
From peaceful alpine lakes and scenic mountain drives to waterfalls and evenings spent wandering Estes Park, this itinerary packed a little bit of everything into one unforgettable weekend.
If you’re planning your own trip, I’d absolutely recommend staying inside the park if you can. Waking up already surrounded by the mountains gave us a huge head start each morning and let us maximize every minute.
Because if you’ve read any of our other itineraries…you already know that’s kind of our thing.
WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS? 
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