Stunning park! Rocky Mountain and the surrounding areas are beautiful, quiet places for a getaway from stress and to unwind. The amazing views and wildlife, along with the darkness to see the Milky Way, make this absolutely perfect for a summer vacation. That being said, I’d like to give a few tips and places to check out while out here.

Most IMPORTANT—Get those timed entries! For the park itself, you should buy a ticket for one of the more popular spots, like Bear Lake. Yes, YOU NEED a timed entry for Bear Lake. We say probably more than half the line for Bear Lake got TURNED AWAY because they did not have a pre-entry. For us, we bought them on the park service site and had a QR code for 3 days of full access at 9–10 a.m.The times don’t mean you have to leave at a specific time; they are only when you can go in. The times 9 a.m.–6 p.m. are only timed entry for the main park and 5 a.m.–6 p.m. for Bear Lake; these are the times you need a pass. So if you go in at 4 a.m. to Bear Lake, you don’t need a pass, and the same is true for Main Park. Yes, Bear Lake is inside the main park.

Bring heavy-duty bug spray!

The bugs in the park are absolutely atrocious; everywhere except the tops of the mountains will have bugs. During the June-August seasons, biting flies and mosquitoes are the biggest problems.

Bring umbrellas

The mountains seem to play a role in the weather quite a bit. Staying in Estes Park every day, it rained from 4-5 p.m., a very strange consistency. Not packing an umbrella was a mistake for us.

Use boost oxygen.

Due to the high elevation of this park, you get more tired and out of breath when exercising or even just going so high up. The boost oxygen cans were a lifesaver! After hiking, using this oxygen really makes you feel ready for the next trail.

Bring the right clothes.

The elevation changes and the weather changes are very important to pay attention to before going. Making sure you pack the right equipment and clothing is crucial to being comfortable and safe. For example, summer: shorts,pants,T-shirts, hoodies, and even a winter coat. The temperature for our time went from the 80s during the day to the 50s at 7 p.m. onwards.

Seeing moose, coyotes, and elk

You will probably see elk and coyotes when traveling normally, but for moose, it is a bit harder and more specific. The west side of the park in the meadows is known for moose, but we ended up seeing one in Sheep’s Lake. Waiting until dawn or dusk is highly recommended because that’s when they are most active. Make sure to keep a safe distance from these animals, as they are very large and powerful.

Download maps

Google Maps has an offline mode, so you can download maps of certain areas. This was especially helpful. because we used this to get around the new roads and traffic near the entrances in the morning.

I have more reviews on my page with pictures and tips for your travels.