Colorado What To Do›Regions›Northern Mountains
The Northern Mountains
Rocky Mountain National Park, the gateway towns on either side of it, and the ranch and ski country of Steamboat Springs and North Park.
What is there to do in Colorado's northern mountains?
The northern mountains are anchored by Rocky Mountain National Park, with Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake and hundreds of miles of trail, and its two gateway towns, Estes Park on the east side and Grand Lake on the west. Farther northwest, Steamboat Springs adds skiing, hot springs and Fish Creek Falls, and North Park around Walden is the state's best-known place to see moose.
Rocky Mountain National Park is the reason most visitors come to this corner of Colorado, and it deserves the attention. But the region around it is bigger and quieter than the park's busiest trailheads suggest.
The park straddles the Continental Divide about 70 miles northwest of Denver. Estes Park, on the east side, is the busy, close-in gateway. Grand Lake, on the west, is a smaller lakeside town that is reached from Denver by a longer drive over Berthoud Pass or, in summer, by crossing the park itself on Trail Ridge Road. Beyond that, the ranch valleys of North Park and the Yampa Valley around Steamboat Springs feel a long way from the Front Range.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Inside The Park
Trail Ridge Road is the headline. It crosses the park between Estes Park and Grand Lake and tops out at 12,183 feet, the highest continuous paved highway in the United States, with long stretches above treeline. It closes for winter, usually from mid-October to late May, depending on snow. Stop at the Alpine Visitor Center near the top, and give yourself time for the short tundra walks along the way, staying on the trail to protect fragile alpine plants.
Bear Lake Road leads to the park's most popular trailheads, including Bear Lake, Dream Lake and Emerald Lake, and the trail network toward Sky Pond and Lake Haiyaha. Parking fills early in summer and fall, and a park shuttle serves the corridor in season.
Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park, wide meadows on the east side, are classic places to watch elk, especially during the fall rut in September and October. On the west side, the Kawuneeche Valley along the young Colorado River is known for moose.
Timed entry. During its busy season, roughly late May through mid-October, Rocky Mountain National Park requires a timed entry reservation for most visitors, with a separate, longer reservation window for the Bear Lake Road corridor. Reservations are made on Recreation.gov and some are released the evening before. Check nps.gov/romo for the current year's rules, because they change.
Estes Park and Grand Lake
The Gateway Towns
Estes Park sits in a valley at about 7,500 feet. It is busy in summer, with a riverwalk, shops, restaurants and plenty of lodging. Elk often wander through town in the fall. The Stanley Hotel, a white 1909 hotel above town, is famous as the inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining and offers tours. In winter, Estes Park is a quieter base for snowshoeing in the park.
Grand Lake, on the west side of the park, is a small town on the shore of Colorado's largest natural lake. It has a boardwalk main street, a marina and easy access to the west-side trailheads. Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby, two reservoirs just south, add boating and fishing.
Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs And The Yampa Valley
Steamboat Springs, about three hours from Denver, is a ranching town that became a ski town without losing its cowboy roots. Things to do:
- Fish Creek Falls, a short walk from a trailhead on the edge of town to a tall waterfall, with a longer trail continuing upstream.
- Strawberry Park Hot Springs, rustic stone pools in a forest north of town, and Old Town Hot Springs downtown. See our hot springs guide.
- The Yampa River Core Trail, a paved path along the river through town, popular for walking, biking and, in summer, tubing on the river itself when flows allow.
- Howelsen Hill, the historic in-town ski jumping hill and ski area that has trained generations of Olympians.
- Steamboat Resort, known for its tree skiing and dry, light snow.
Steamboat's winter calendar includes the Winter Carnival in early February; our companion site's winter festivals guide has details.
North Park and Cameron Pass
Moose Country
North of Rocky Mountain National Park, North Park is a high, open basin around the ranch town of Walden. It is known as the moose-viewing capital of Colorado, and State Forest State Park, along its eastern edge, has a moose visitor center, lakes, cabins and yurts. Look for moose in the willows along creeks early and late in the day, and keep plenty of distance.
Colorado Highway 14 links North Park with Fort Collins over Cameron Pass and down the Poudre Canyon, one of the most scenic drives in northern Colorado. Combined with Trail Ridge Road, it makes a long loop from the Front Range through the whole region.
Planning
Making The Most Of The Northern Mountains
- Book timed entry or arrive before the window. The reservation system covers the middle of the day; early-morning entries have different rules. Read the current year's details on the park website.
- Go west for fewer crowds. The Grand Lake side of the park is generally quieter than the Estes Park side.
- Prepare for the alpine. On Trail Ridge Road it can be 20 to 30 degrees colder than in Estes Park, and lightning is a real hazard above treeline in summer afternoons.
- Mind wildlife distances. The park asks visitors to stay at least 75 feet from elk and moose.
Common questions
Northern Mountain Questions
How high is Trail Ridge Road?
Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet, making it the highest continuous paved highway in the United States. It crosses Rocky Mountain National Park between Estes Park and Grand Lake and usually closes for winter from mid-October to late May.
Do you need a reservation for Rocky Mountain National Park?
During the busy season, which runs roughly from late May to mid-October, most visitors need a timed entry reservation from Recreation.gov, with a separate permit for the Bear Lake Road corridor. Rules and dates change each year, so check the park website before your trip.
Where can you see moose in northern Colorado?
North Park around Walden, including State Forest State Park, is the best-known area, and moose are also seen regularly in the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Sources
- National Park Service: Rocky Mountain National Parktimed entry, Trail Ridge Road, wildlife
- National Park Service: Watching elk in Rocky Mountain National Parkviewing distances
- Visit Estes Parktown information
- The Stanley Hotelhotel history and tours
- Steamboat Springs ChamberSteamboat attractions
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: State Forest State Parkmoose viewing, facilities