Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park Scenic Byway — Attraction in Grand Lake

Spectacular drive, awesome vistas and hikes. Must purchase a day pass and a national park permit before entering, they’re pretty strict about entry times, they won’t let you in if you show up 20mins early. Friendly rangers, interesting visitor centers, good snacks in the top visitor center. Plenty of restrooms along the way. About the drive and altitude: hydrate plenty or you’ll get altitude sickness. Do a car break check before heading out. This drive is not for the faint of heart, it can be extremely windy and in some places there are sharp drop offs, road is winding and people can easily get nauseous, bring barf bags just in case. Take it easy on the hikes and enjoy the wind and cool temperatures. Only turn off was dog poop and trash...

The drive was a little nerve-wracking at first for this Midwest flat lander. I got used to it after a bit though. The views were amazing! We saw a heard of elk, mule deer, and moose all from the road! I would definitely recommend this drive to anyone wanting to see the Rockies. Do everyone a favor: DO NOT STOP IN THE ROAD! There are places to pull over everywhere. Definitely get to the Alpine visitor center early to ensure you get a parking spot. Hike to the top. Grab a cinnamon roll from the Cafe- heat it up in their microwave. Was the cinnamon roll great? Nope. Was is worth getting to say that we did? Yep! Be prepared for it to be cold and windy up here even if it's 85...

The easiest way to climb to 11,700 feet, is to drive. The views along the road are so impossibly breathtaking, I have never been so happy to be a passenger.

The drive is long, but impossibly worth it. The road is narrow and winding, so you need to be careful, especially once you are above the tree line and see nothing but a sheer drop off the side of the road. Be very cognizant if you don't do well with heights. There are a ton of pull offs along the way to stop for a picture, to let others pass, or to turn around if you need to.

The elevation is no joke, 11,700 is 2 mils over sea level and you may get altitude sickness. Bring more water than you think...