Within a few minutes a visitor can ascend from 7,800 feet near the Park headquarters to 12,183 feet along Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States. From this vantage, sweeping vistas take in high-country lakes, meadows with wildflowers, mountain streams, and forests of lodgepole pine and Englemann spruce.

Rocky Mountain National Park, which lies within the Rocky Mountain Biogeographic Province, has been recognized by the United Nations "Man and Biosphere" program as an International Biosphere Reserve. This network of protected samples of the World's major ecosystems is devoted to conservation of nature and genetic material and to scientific research. It provides a standard against which the effects of human impact on the environment can be measured.

• Automobile: $20.00; valid for seven consecutive days.
• Pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and mopeds: $10.00 per person, not to exceed $20 per vehicle. Valid for seven consecutive days.

• Alpine Visitor Center (Open during summer months only, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Beaver Meadow Visitor Center (Open year-round, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Fall River Visitor Center (Open year-round, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
• Kawuneeche Visitor Center (Open year-round, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m., depending upon the season.)
• Lily Lake Visitor Center (Open from late spring into the fall, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

• Rocky Mountain National Park is in north-central Colorado. U.S. 34, U.S. 36, and Colorado 7 reach the east side of the Park.
• From U.S. 40, take U.S. 34 to the west side.
• Get directions from MapQuest.
• NPS Directions.
• Road Conditions.

• West entrance Map Coordinates (NAD83): 40 15.487N; 105 50.292W.
• East entrance Map Coordinates (NAD83): 40 22.024N; 105 34.744W.

• The weather is always changing, sometimes to the extreme. Temperatures drop and precipitation increases as elevation is gained, so be prepared for chilly conditions, especially in the Park's higher elevations.
• NPS Weather Conditions.
• See area weather chart.
• See Canyon Country Weather for more information.
• WebCam: Longs Peak.
• Sunrise/Sunset

• Hunting and weapons are prohibited in the Park.
• Fishing requires a Colorado fishing license.
• See Area Closures for current information on restricted areas.
• See National Park Service Restrictions and Regulations.
• See Pets in the Parks and Backcountry.
• See Encountering Wild Animals.

• Serious accidents can occur on snow and ice fields in summer. Stay back from the edge of steep snow slopes or cornices and avoid sliding on snow and ice outside of designated snow play areas.
• Waterfalls can be deceptively dangerous. Streams, even small ones, are especially hazardous in spring when the water is high and turbulent.
• Beware of thunderstorms. Lightning can kill or injure.
• There are no grizzly bears in the Park, but there are black bears. Learn what to do around bears.
• Mountain lions inhabit the Park. Learn what to do around lions.
• Trail Ridge Road reaches elevations dangerous to persons with heart conditions and other physical impairments. Even healthy persons are normally winded by the slightest exertion at high elevations. Watch for altitude sickness.
• See Backcountry Considerations.
• See Backcountry Emergencies.
• NPS News Updates.

• About Maps
• Basic Map of the Park
• Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer Topo Maps

• Colorado Maps
• Detailed Map of the Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA