RMNP Shuttle Routes

Shuttle at Bear Lake Stop

NPS

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Parking - Auto, Public Transit

Shuttles in Rocky Mountain National Park

Ride the Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttle

From late May to October, two free shuttle routes are available and provide daily service to destinations along Bear Lake Road: the Bear Lake and Moraine Park Shuttles. At the Park & Ride Transit Hub on Bear Lake Road, passengers can transfer between the two different shuttle routes to reach trailheads and other popular destinations.

Inside Rocky Mountain National Park, shuttle service is only available on Bear Lake Road. 

Bear Lake Shuttle:

The first bus will depart from Park & Ride at 6:30 a.m. Bear Lake Shuttles run every 10-15 minutes.

Bear Lake Shuttle Stops (In Order):

• Park & Ride 
• (Bierstadt Lake Trailhead - Service is not currently available at this stop) 
• Glacier Gorge Trailhead 
• Bear Lake Parking Area

The last Bear Lake Shuttle of the day will depart from Bear Lake Trailhead at 7:30 p.m.

• Expect this shuttle to be crowded. It is recommended to be at the Bear Lake Trailhead well before 7 p.m.

Moraine Park Shuttle:

The first bus will depart from Park & Ride at 6:30 a.m. Moraine Park Shuttles run once every 60 minutes. Plan your day accordingly.

Moraine Park Shuttle Stops (In Order):

• Park & Ride 
• Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables
• Glacier Basin Campground
• Park & Ride
• Hollowell Park
• Tuxedo Park
• Moraine Park Campground (C-Loop)
• Cub Lake Trailhead
• Fern Lake Bus Stop

The last Moraine Park Shuttle of the day will depart from Fern Lake Bus Stop and return to Park & Ride at 7:30 p.m. 

• Note - If returning to Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Parking Area, plan to board the Moraine Park Shuttle at Fern Lake at either 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. to reach your final destination.
• The 7:30 p.m. bus does not provide service to Glacier Gorge or Bear Lake Shuttle stops. 
• Expect the last shuttle of the day to be crowded. 

Rocky Mountain National Park does not provide shuttle service to any destinations or hiking trails located outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor.  

How Can Riding the Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles Improve My Visit?

There are many advantages to riding the Moraine Park or Bear Lake Shuttle when exploring the Bear Lake Road Corridor, such as:

• Riding the shuttle is free, it allows visitors to park your vehicle once then and enjoy easy access to all destinations and hiking trails located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
• Riding the shuttle helps to reduce vehicle emissions in the park.
• As a passenger on the shuttle, riders can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Bear Lake Road without the distraction and stress of navigating traffic congestion searching for limited parking.

Staying in Estes Park? Make Reservations to Ride the Hiker Shuttle!

The Hiker Shuttle provides service to passengers departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center, located in the Town of Estes Park, to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road, and back. Once at Park & Ride, transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttle routes to access destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.
 

When Is Hiker Shuttle Service Available?

• Daily Hiker Shuttle Service Begins May 23 - September 1, 2025.
• Saturday/Sunday Only Service Begins September 6 - October 19, 2025

 

Hiker Shuttle Route Schedule:

• Hiker Shuttles Depart from the Estes Park Visitor Center at the following times: 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
• Hiker Shuttles pick up returning passengers from RMNP's Park & Ride and return to Estes Park at the following times: 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6 p.m.

 

Make a Reservation for Your Hiker Shuttle Tickets

To ride the Hiker Shuttle, tickets are required. All passengers, regardless of age, must have their own ticket.

• Beginning on May 1, 2025, reservations for Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be available on a first, come, first-served basis through Recreation.gov
  • You can visit Recreation.gov online, use the Recreation.gov Mobile App, or call 1-877-444-6777
  • Hiker Shuttle Tickets are not available in person at Estes Park Visitor Center or any RMNP Visitor Centers

Hiker Shuttle Tickets are $2.00 per reservation. One person can purchase up to 4 tickets per each reservation. You can add up to 2 Hiker Shuttle Reservations to your cart in one transaction, for a total of 8 tickets per person.

• Have more than 8 people in your party? A second person with a separate Recreation.gov account will have to make an additional reservation to cover all the people in your party.

Passengers with Hiker Shuttle Tickets will board the Hiker Shuttle outside 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 Rocky Mountain National Park.

 

What Will I Need to Board the Hiker Shuttle?

All passengers riding the Hiker Shuttle will need two things: a reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets and a valid park entrance pass.

• Entrance passes should be purchased before arriving. If you do not already have a valid park pass, digital site passes can be purchased online via Recreation.gov
• Already have a valid lifetime or annual pass to your national parks (including RMNP Annual, America the Beautiful Annual, Senior, Military, Access, 4th Grade, or Volunteer)?
  • Then you are covered! Be ready to show your pass when boarding the bus.
• If you don't have a valid pass and are traveling by yourself, purchase a 1-Day Individual Pass for $15.
• If there are 2 or more people in your group (and you traveled together in the same vehicle), purchase a 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30.

When you are ready to return to the Estes Park Visitor Center, return to RMNP's Park and Ride and board a returning Hiker Shuttle back to Estes Park.

 

Hiker Shuttle Riders Should be Prepared to Spend Their Day Outside

➡️ There are no stores or food services available at Park & Ride or anywhere in the Bear Lake Road Corridor.

➡️ Hiker Shuttle riders are advised to bring full water bottles, food for the day, footwear and comfortable clothing for hiking (including a jacket and rain gear, sun protection/sunscreen and a hat).

• As you plan for your trip, make sure you are prepared for forecast weather conditions. Weather can change quickly in the Rocky Mountains.

Plan Ahead - The Last Hiker Shuttle Departs at 6 p.m.

Please remember, the last bus departs from Park and Ride at 6 p.m. Do not be late! There are no other public transportation services available to return from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Town of Estes Park.

 

Additional Information

• Be advised, shuttle bus service is not available outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor. There is no shuttle bus service on the west side of the park or across Trail Ridge Road.
• There are no bike racks on the park's shuttle buses.
• Most shuttle buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs. Contact shuttle staff if accommodation is needed.
• Pets are not allowed on shuttle buses except service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities. (Emotional support and service-animals-in-training are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.)