The Rocky Mountains has been a place we’ve wanted to experience for years. As soon as we started planning our national parks trip, we knew we had to allow enough time to properly experience this iconic landscape. After some initial research, we decided that two full days was about the right amount of time for us to take in the diverse scenery and attractions that the park has to offer.
Coming from the UK, the alpine lakes, lush forests, dramatic peaks and open meadows were like nothing we’ve ever seen before. As we first entered the park, these dramatic landscapes stunned us into silence and have left a lasting impression. The park is home to diverse wildlife, scenic drives, and countless hiking trails and with so many options spread across the park’s 415 square miles, careful planning is key to making the most of your visit.
This 2 day Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary highlights what we think are the must-see spots and most memorable hikes suited for first-time visitors. We’ve provided tips to maximise your time based on season, weather, and crowd levels. Our guide also assumes you’re staying on the Estes Park side of the park but if you’re travelling in from the Grand Lake side that make sure to allow some extra travel time and to reconfigure the itinerary to suit you.
Day 1 – Morning
Parking is a real issue throughout the vast majority of the USA’s national parks, especially during the peak season. We had heard stories of people arriving at 4am and napping in their cars until sunrise to ensure they get a space at their chosen trailhead. When we visited in October 2022 there was a timed entry system in effect to combat the parking problems by managing traffic into the park. This system is also in effect for 2023 reasons and you can get up to date info the it here. We grabbed a permit for 6am entry to the Bear Lake Road Corridor area of the park to ensure we beat the crowds and could maximise our time.
This part of the park is renowned for having some of most beautiful trails in the park and has options for hikers of all ages and abilities. We’d recommend the Four Lake Loop trail which is almost like a greatest hits of this area. This 7.2 mile (11.6km) circular trail takes roughly 3.5 hours to complete and has a little bit of elevation to contend with. However, it is largely an easy hike that’s great for beginners or those just getting familiar with the increased altitude. The trail strats at the Bear Lake Trailhead and begins with a loop of this popular lake before heading south towards Alberta Falls. From here you’ll being to head west and then north towards Lake Haiyaha.
When we visited, there had been a recent rock slide above Lake Haiyaha which had turned the water to a stunning creamy turquoise colour. Though the colour has faded a little by now it has still retained some and is noticeably different to the other lakes on this trail. There is a little bit of rock scrambling required to reach the edge of the lake so be prepared for that. If you’re able to make your way across then you’ll be rewarded with what we think is the most beautiful lake in the park.
Heading away from Lake Haiyaha you’ll start to make your way back down towards the Bear Lake trailhead. You’ll pass both Dream Lake and the smaller Nymph Lake on your way, completing the four lakes of this loop. By the time we reached Bear Lake again the trails were starting to get crowded so it’s worth getting the early start to have most of the trail to yourself.
Day 1 – Afternoon
After a hard morning of hiking, we were ready to take the weight off of our feet and opted to spend our afternoon driving over the Trail Ridge Road. This 48 mile road, stretching from Estes Park on the east side of the park to Grand Lake in the west, exceeded our already high expectations. For 11 breathtaking miles, the road travels well above the tree line at around 11,500 feet above sea level, where the park’s evergreen forests give way to vast tundra. As the road winds to its highest point of 12,183 feet, it treats visitors to jaw-dropping views, frequent wildlife sightings, and beautiful meadows of alpine wildflowers.
Whether starting in Estes Park or Grand Lake, the landscape transforms dramatically along Trail Ridge Road as it rapidly climbs over 4,000 feet. Pine forests give way to harsh, windswept alpine tundra that resembles the Alaskan arctic as you make your way higher into the mountains. Up in this harsh, windswept environment, temperatures are are often 30°F colder with intense sun exposure. The panoramic views are stunning, sweeping north to Wyoming, east across the Great Plains, and west into the Rockies.
There are numerous viewpoints to stop at and admire this unbelievable landscape with some of our favourites being the Forest Canyon Overlook, Fairview Curve Overlook and Rainbow Curve Overlook. The Trail Ridge Road is an easy way to experience the majesty of the high alpine environment that makes Rocky Mountain National Park so popular without having to climb the mountains yourself. Just be sure to drive carefully and pull over fully to enjoy the scenery and capture photos along this unforgettable scenic route.
Day 2
In our opinion, a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park wouldn’t be complete without hiking the iconic Sky Pond trail. This 8.5 mile (13.8 km) out and back is regularly rated as one of the best day hikes in America and for good reason. It’s one of the most picturesque hikes in the park with unparalleled vistas and points of interest along the way. This is a fairly strenuous hike with a lot of elevation gain so be prepared for a long day and take it easy, especially if you’re still acclimatising to the altitude. Seeing as this hike will take you most of the day, we’d recommend bringing food and a good supply of water with you keep you going.
We got an early start once again, parking at the Glacier Gorge Junction trailhead. The first section of the trail is the same as the route from Bear Lake to Alberta Falls from the Four Lake Loop trail mentioned above. After reaching the falls, you’ll continue heading south and uphill for another couple of miles before reaching The Loch at 10,190 feet above sea level. Views from the foot of the lake are dominated by the imposing 13,153-foot Taylor Peak and it’s glacier. The breathtaking gorge is framed on either side by 12,668-foot Thatchtop Mountain to the south and 12,829-foot The Sharkstooth to the southwest. We stopped here for a quick rest and to soak in the tranquil beauty of this spot.
From The Loch, you have about another another mile with some steep uphill sections until you reach Timberline Falls. We were little apprehensive at this part of the hike as we knew that if we wanted to reach our final destination of Sky Pond, we’d have to scale the 100ft climb up the side of the falls. Visiting in early October meant that ice had just started to form on the upper parts of this trail and we came prepared with shoe spikes to help us keep a solid footing. Some other hikers were also kind enough to let us borrow their hiking poles for this section which were a lifesaver, so we’d recommend bringing your own set as well as the spikes. Make sure to check out forums or all the AllTrails app for updates on the latest conditions.
If you decide the climbing the falls isn’t for you, then the hike is still beautiful up until this point with the views down across the valley from the bottom of the falls being among the best in the park. Even though we were beginner hikers, after some consideration and watching a few others, we decided to attempt to climb the trail to the right of the falls. It was a little icy due to the time of the year but in summer the trail can be wet instead which brings it own challenges. Our advice is to take it slowly and be very sure of each hand and foothold before proceeding. Getting started up the sheer rock face can be tough but beyond the very first section, the climbing becomes a little easier.
It was also a particularly windy day when we did this hike and upon reaching the top of the trail we were reminded of this. The gusts up here were incredibly strong so be careful when first going over the top and stay low to avoid losing your balance. Your first reward for completing the climb will be the beautiful Lake of Glass so stop here to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery. When ready, continue heading south around the right hand side of the lake for about another half mile towards Sky Pond. It can be easy to lose the trail here so move carefully and retrace your steps if you go off course.
If you’ve managed to navigate the hike successfully so far, you’ll finish up on the shores of the incredible Sky Pond. This pristine lake surrounded by wildflowers and framed by prominent mountain peaks was breathtaking. We stopped here to soak it all in and enjoy the satisfaction of making the incredible journey. We were also lucky enough to be completely alone at end of the trail so the sense of peace and remoteness was like nothing we’ve ever experienced before.
After taking the time to fully immerse yourself in this incredible scenery, it’s time to head back down the trail. The climb back down the falls is a little more precarious than coming up but following the same advice of being slow and sure will help you navigate it safely. The hardest part again is the sheer rock face towards the bottom of the climb with limited places to put your hands or feet. We found the easiest way is to get as close as possible to the floor and then lower yourself backwards over the drop, ensuring you only have a very small distance to drop to complete the descent.
The return journey flew by, partly due to it being mostly downhill but also because of the adrenaline rush we experienced climbing the falls. The intense high and gratification of getting to experience the amazing beauty of this hike is a sensation that has stayed with us ever since. If you’re able enough to complete this trail then we cannot recommend it highly enough. This was our favourite national park experience, standing head and shoulders above anything we saw in Yosemite or Zion national parks.
Wrapping Up
This 2 day itinerary just scratches the surface of everything Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer. With over 350 miles of hiking trails, it could take weeks to fully explore all the scenic landscapes and vistas. For those with more time or more experienced hikers, options like the Deer Mountain Hike, Twin Sisters Peaks and more challenging trails to Longs Peak and Mount Meeker await. With endless opportunities for exploration, you’ll never run out of adventures in this amazing park.
If this glimpse of Rocky Mountain National Park has inspired you to visit, be sure to check out our extensive 2 Week USA National Parks Road Trip Itinerary. It covers how to plan a route to hit Rocky Mountain National Park along with 6 others. You’ll also find tips for choosing the ideal home base with recommendations on the best places to stay near Rocky Mountain to maximise your time in the parks. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a 2 week American West road trip, we hope our guides give you the inspiration and knowledge needed to plan your own Rocky Mountain escape.
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