Timed Entry Permits are required from May 22-mid October 2026
Timed entry permits are required to enter the Park from May 22 through mid October 2026, entrance passes continue to be required. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the country and summer is its busiest season. A timed entry permit system has been implemented to provide a better visitor experience and to protect the park’s resources. It truly makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone.
There are two different types of reservations
First, figure out what you want to do when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. There are two types of reservations:
- Timed Entry (does not include access to Bear Lake Road)
You can access Trail Ridge Road, Old Fall River Road and lots of trailheads without Bear Lake Road access.
Timed entry reservations are required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 22 to October 12, 2026. No reservation? No problem — you can enter before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. without one.
- Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road
You can access the following trailheads from the Bear Lake Corridor: Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, Bierstadt Lake, Sprague Lake and Hollowell Park. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservations are required to access the Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, May 22 through October 18, 2026.
Set your calendars
| Release Date | Reservation Dates |
| May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | May 22 – June 30 |
| June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | July 1 – July 31 |
| July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | August 1 – August 31 |
| August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | September 1 – September 30 |
| September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT | October 1 – October 18 |
Additional timed entry reservations are released on Recreation.gov at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date. These are first-come, first-served and can sell out quickly, so planning ahead is encouraged.
TO ENTER THE PARK WITH YOUR TIMED-ENTRY PERMIT
Your permit allows you to enter Rocky Mountain National Park within the two-hour window you selected when making your reservation. Be sure to arrive at the entrance gate early in that window to allow time for possible traffic or entrance lines.
Only one timed entry reservation is required per vehicle, per day, not per person. A valid park entrance pass or entrance fee is also required.
No Car? No Problem!
Bustang
Arrive in Estes Park by bus. Bustang typically offers seasonal service between Denver and Estes Park on weekends and select holidays, with several Front Range stops along the way. Riders are dropped off at the Estes Park Visitor Center, where they can connect with free local shuttles to get around town.
Visitors who enter Rocky Mountain National Park by Bustang do not need a timed entry permit, but they do need a valid park entrance pass.
Note: Confirm current Bustang dates, schedules, and route details before publishing, since the 2026 Bustang schedule may not be finalized yet.
Learn more about riding Bustang to Estes Park.
Take the Hiker Shuttle from Estes Park
The hiker shuttle will operate between the Estes Park Visitor Center and the Bear Lake Park & Ride from May 23 to October 19, 2025. 7-day service will operate May 23rd to September 1st. Beginning on September 6th, weekend service only will continue through October 19th.
- To ride the Hiker Shuttle, all passengers must reserve Hiker Shuttle Tickets in advance. Reservations can be made online on a first-come, first-served basis through www.recreation.gov.
- All riders in a party are required to have a Hiker Shuttle Ticket. There is a $2 processing fee for each Hiker Shuttle reservation. One reservation will cover from 1 to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets, which is good for up to 4 people in a party – regardless of age.
- When making a Hiker Shuttle Reservation, remember to change the number of tickets in your check-out box to match the number of people in your group. If there are 4 passengers in your party, make sure to change the number of tickets reserved from “1” to “4.”
- All passengers, including infants and small children, must have their own Hiker Shuttle Ticket.
- Please only reserve the number of seats needed.
- Passengers with Hiker Shuttle Ticket Reservations will board the Hiker Shuttle in front of the Estes Park Visitor Center.
- The Hiker Shuttle does not pick up or drop-off passengers at any other locations in Estes Park or in Rocky Mountain National Park.
- After boarding the Hiker Shuttle, the bus will drive passengers to the Park & Ride Transit Hub inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Once at Park & Ride, passengers may transfer to the park’s free Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles to reach destinations located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
Schedule:
- For buses departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center and going to the Bear Lake Park & Ride: every 45 minutes from 9am to 2:15pm.
- For buses leaving the Bear Lake Park & Ride and returning to the Estes Park Visitor Center: every 45 minutes from 10am to 1:45pm and 3pm to 6pm.
No Timed Entry Permit? Again, No Problem!
You’ve still got options. Plan a sunrise hike, arguably one of the most beautiful times to experience the park, or enter when timed entry restrictions are not in effect.
Without a timed entry reservation, you can enter most areas of Rocky Mountain National Park before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. If you want to visit Bear Lake Road without a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation, you’ll need to enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor before 5 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Another way to experience the park is to go with a permitted guide or commercial tour. Commercial Use Authorization holders, Special Use Permit holders, concessioners and commercial tours do not need separate timed entry reservations for their trips into the park. Explore local guided tour options here: Tour Guides.
And luckily, there is so much more to do in Estes Park. Find hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping and wide-open views nearby at places like Hermit Park Open Space. The views in Hermit Park offer sweeping looks at the Estes Valley and surrounding peaks, no timed entry required.
I’d use “guided tour options” as the linked text if you have a broader category page available. If not, the Estes Park Tour Guides listing works.
Pro tip: Arrive at the entrance gate early
Your permit allows you a two-hour window to enter Rocky Mountain National Park. Arrive early in that window to help avoid entrance lines that could affect your ability to enter during your selected time.
If you are visiting Bear Lake Road with a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation, you must enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor during your selected two-hour window. If you miss your window, you may be asked to return later in the day.
Quick reminder
A timed entry reservation is not the same as a park entrance pass. Visitors still need a valid entrance pass or must pay the entrance fee to enter Rocky Mountain National Park. Timed entry reservations have a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee, separate from the park entrance fee or pass.
