Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry Permit Reservations

Timed entry permits are required to enter the Park from May 26 through October 22, 2023, entrance passes continue to be required. You can secure a timed-entry permit and leave the car in town by using the Hiker Shuttle.

2023 Details

Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required, along with a park pass or entrance fee, to enter Rocky Mountain National Park from May 26 to October 22, 2023.

How to Make a Rocky Mountain National Park Reservation

Timed entry permit reservation tickets are available online at recreation.gov or by :

• Reservation Line: 877-444-6777
• Reservation International: 606-515-6777
• Reservation Line (TDD) 877-833-6777
• Recreation.gov mobile app (iOS/Android).
• Note: Reservations are not available at park entrance stations or park offices

Once you make your reservation, you will receive an email confirmation with an attached reservation ticket. You'll need to present this at the entrance station and because cell phone service can be spotty we recommend downloading, screenshotting, or saving the ticket prior to arriving at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Access Options

There are two different access options for timed entry permits in 2023, access with Bear Lake Road (Park Access+) and access without Bear Lake Road (Park Access). The time slots for these access options are different. To access Bear Lake Road between the hours of 5am and 6pm you'll need a timed entry permit. Outside of Bear Lake Road, you need a timed entry permit from 9am to 2pm. 

When you can make a Rocky Mountain National Park Reservation

• Reservations will become available on May 1 at 8 a.m. (MDT) for reservations to enter the park from May 26 through June 30.

• Reservations will become available on June 1 for reservations to enter the park during the month of July (and any remaining days that have not been booked for June).

• Reservations will become available on July 1 for reservations to enter the park during the month of August (and any remaining days that have not been booked for July).

• Reservations will become available on August 1 for reservations to enter the park during the month of September (and any remaining days that have not been booked for August).

• Reservations will become available on September 1 for reservations to enter the park during the month of October (and any remaining days that have not been booked for September).

40 percent of permits will be held and available for purchase the day prior at 5 p.m. through recreation.gov. These are expected to sell out quickly and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead when possible.

To enter the park with your timed-entry permit

Your permit will allow a two-hour window to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, which you will have chosen when you purchased your entry permit. Be sure to arrive at the entrance gate early in the two-hour window to avoid possible entrance lines affecting your ability to enter within the allotted time.

Questions? See RMNP's page on the timed-entry permit system here.

2023 Hiker Shuttle

The hiker shuttle will operate between the Estes Park Visitor Center and the Bear Lake Park & Ride from May 26 to October 22, 2023. 7-day service will operate May 26 to September 4. Beginning on September 9, weekend service only will continue through October 22.

• 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.