Family Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is a picturesque destination for hikers, campers, and climbers in the state of Colorado. As a hiker, I couldn’t wait to tackle some routes and see those majestic peaks up close. As a mother, bringing my three little kids meant I had to be intentional about where we went and how we’d get there. I knew a little planning would make the difference in my kids’ safety, comfort, and attitude. Want to learn about how to hike alpine lakes with young kids? Check out our family’s guide to hiking Rocky Mountain National Park below!
Reserve a Ticket: Passes for Rocky Mountain National Park
Two separate passes are needed to enter into the national park.
First, you need a park pass to enter with a vehicle. There are one day, seven days, or annual passes to choose from which range from $30 - $70.
Second, you need a timed entrance reservation which costs $2. There are two options: one includes the Bear Lake Corridor and one does not. Bear Lake is where we wanted to hike as a family, so we chose that option.
Entrances into Rocky Mountain National Park
There are four entrances into the park which offer different experiences.
Beaver Meadows Entrance: This is the most popular and crowded entrance on the east side because it leads to the Bear Lake Corridor. That’s where many of the paved alpine lake hikes are located. It is also a direct route from Estes Park which is the town right outside of RMNP. This is the option we chose for our family because it was accessible and has a great visitor’s center which my kids love to check out.
Fall River Entrance: This is a less crowded entrance just past Beaver Meadows, again on the east side of the park. This provides a scenic driving tour through the beautiful landscape of the Rockies.
Wild Basin Entrance: This entrance is still on the east side of the park but much more south and uncrowded. It is not for major camping vehicles, narrowing down to a gravel one lane road. There are several trails that lead to multiple lakes and waterfalls.
Grand Lake Entrance: This is the only entrance on the west side of the park and is also much less crowded. It is located near Grand Lake, a small alpine town nestled within the Rockies. If you’re looking for a much more secluded mountain experience, this is the route to take!
Parking There: Once At The Trailhead
Depending on which trail your family chooses, you’ll want to plan for an early arrival time that gets you a parking spot. As a parent, I knew that adding steps (or miles) from our car to the trailhead was not a wise decision. I wanted my kids to conserve their walking energy.
Most parking lots right off a trailhead are filled by midmorning, so we chose to arrive at the Bear Lake trailhead parking lot by 7am. We found it half full when we arrived and took our time eating a power bar breakfast and using the portable potty before stepping onto the trail.
Family Hike 1: Bear Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
Our first hike was an easy, toddler friendly loop around Bear Lake. This was a quick 0.7 mile loop with a 49 ft elevation gain. It was perfect for walking and warming us up to the terrain. We were able to keep our youngest out of the baby carrier and she walked next to us on a wide and flat trail path. There were large boulders that bordered the lake which made for perfect climbing rocks for our older kids and lovely photo spots. It was a beautiful way to catch the sunrise and start our day of hiking.
Family Hike 2: Nymph Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
Our next hike was to Nymph Lake, a 0.5 mile hike there with a 262 ft elevation. We put our baby in the carrier to nap and let the older kids run free. It was an easy route with lots of shade. This lake was memorable with the hundreds of lily pads dotting the surface of the water. It looked like something out of a fairytale storybook!
Family Hike 3: Dream Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake lived up to its name and gave us a once in a lifetime encounter when a wild elk took a stroll across the trail right in front of us. We respected the animal, taking major steps back for all our safety, but watched in awe as it walked.
We were lucky to have this experience because it was right at this hike when my kids began to complain that they were tired. At this point, they had hiked over a mile to get to Dream Lake and completed an elevation gain of 426ft. This trail had spectacular sweeping views on the way to the lake and it seemed that we’d accomplished a major goal already.
So this is where we had to make a decision to continue with a further hike or turn around and keep our round trip to 2 miles total. We chose to forge on but if you decide to make Dream Lake your final destination, you will not be disappointed with the magical views of Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak.
Family Hike 4: Emerald Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park
In order to continue on to Emerald Lake, I asked our children if they had enough energy to not only hike up the trail for almost another mile, but to remember that we’d need to do the entire hike back. Hikes that are “out and back” can be mentally draining, especially for a child who feels like the end should be the furthest point of the hike, not back to the car.
With my kids’ enthusiasm, we completed the trail to Emerald Lake, at times a treacherous climb for my four year old’s little legs and some unstable rocks for my husband wearing the baby carrier. It was extremely windy and at an altitude gain of 698 ft, we were shivering! But accomplishing the moderate hike and seeing those views of Tyndall Gorge were unforgettable.
Finishing The Hike: The Out and Back Trail
The hike back to the trailhead can be a trying experience without intentional encouragement and rest. I knew that my kids had used so much of their energy to climb the last 300 ft on difficult terrain in order to reach a family goal of seeing Emerald Lake.
Before heading back, we celebrated our accomplishment, ate a snack, sat down and took a break. The kids explored, followed squirrels, and found some cool sticks. Building in times for a mindful reset made all the difference in my kids’ attitudes. It was also helpful that our way back was downhill and we lost almost 700ft of altitude.
On the walk back is when we paused to take scenery photos because we weren’t trying to beat the crowds. We also had in mind some of our favorite spots with views that took our breath away in real time.
Rocky Mountain National Park is Wonderful for Families
For a family that enjoys exploring nature and seeing wildlife up close, this hike was an excellent trip. We completed four alpine lake hikes in one day, with a variety of ages in tow. It was safe, adventurous, and beautiful. And what really excites me is that there are so many more trails to explore in Rocky Mountain! Onward to the next!
