Rocky Mountain National Park + Denver | 3-Day Itinerary

This is the second part of my 5-day Colorado trip (first part covered Colorado Springs). The highlight? Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)—stunning alpine lakes, scenic drives, and wildlife galore! 🗓️ Day 3 ℹ️ 12:15 – Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (info & maps) 🅿️ 12:45 – RMNP Park & Ride (shuttle to trails) 🥾 13:15 – Emerald Lake Trail 🌊 (Bear Lake → Dream Lake → Emerald Lake) [] 🥾 15:30 – Lake Haiyaha Trail (Dream Lake → Lake Haiyaha) (Less crowded, turquoise waters!) 🅿️ 17:30 – Return to Bear Lake shuttle stop 🍽️ 18:00 – Smokin' Dave's BBQ 🍖 (Hearty post-hike meal!) 🏨 Stay in Estes Park (charming mountain town) 🗓️ Day 4 🍽️ 7:30 – The Egg of Estes 🍳 (Classic breakfast spot) ℹ️ 9:00 – Fall River Visitor Center 🚗 9:30 – Trail Ridge Road 🛣️ (One of America’s most scenic drives!) 📸 Stops: Many Parks Curve Rainbow Curve Forest Canyon Rock Cut 📸 12:00 – Alpine Visitor Center (Highest visitor center in the US!) 🍽️ 18:00 – Jerusalem Restaurant 🇮🇱 (Back in Denver—hummus & falafel!) 🏨 Stay in Denver 🗓️ Day 5 📷 10:30 – Denver highlights Union Station 🚂 Larimer Square 🛍️ Big Blue Bear 🐻 🍽️ 12:00 – GAIA Masala & Burger 🍔 (Indian fusion burgers!) 📷 13:00 – Colorado State Capitol 🏛️ (Golden dome + mile-high step!) 🖼️ 13:30 – Denver Art Museum 🎨 (3 hrs, $30) ✈️ Evening – Fly back to Austin ⚠️ Important Tips May-Oct: RMNP requires a Timed Entry Permit (released 1st of each month). No permit? Enter before 9 AM or after 2 PM! Bear Lake Road needs a separate reservation (book early!). Old Fall River Road (open around July 4th) is the park’s oldest one-way dirt road—great for off-the-beaten-path views! #RockyMountainNP #Denver #ColoradoTravel