Last updated: May 12, 2022
Place
RMNP Timed Entry - Frequently Asked Questions
NPS
Frequently Asked Questions for Rocky's Timed Entry Permit Reservation System
Why is Rocky Implementing a Timed Entry Permit Reservation System?
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest national parks, third in the country in 2019 with over 4.6 million visitors. This represents a 42 percent increase in visitation in seven years.
Visitor crowding and congestion at RMNP have led to increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity. The park has piloted various visitor use management strategies over the last six years, including managing vehicle access to first-come, first served (2016-2019) in highly congested areas. These first-come, first-served restrictions had some limited success initially, but over time began to lose effectiveness: length of time they were necessary kept expanding and impacts were pushed elsewhere.
The park piloted different park wide timed entry permit reservation systems (2020-2021) and will be piloting a system again in 2022.
The park is learning from these different actions since 2016, to help inform long range day use visitor access strategies.
What Types of Reservations Are Required to Access the Park?
There are two different options available for Timed Entry Permit Reservations. Choose one of these options, based on where you would like to visit inside RMNP.
- Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Road. This Timed Entry Permit Reservation provides access to all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park, including destinations along the Bear Lake Road Corridor (from the Trail Ridge Road junction to the Bear Lake Trailhead). For Bear Lake Road, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road provides access to all areas of RMNP, not including destinatons along the Bear Lake Road Corridor. This Timed Entry Permit Reservation window is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When in effect, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are available in 2-hour blocks of time. Permit holders must enter the park during their reserved time window. If your Timed Entry Permit is from 7 am to 9 am, you cannot enter before 7 am or after 9 am.
When in effect, Timed Entry Permit Reservations apply to all areas of the park, including Wild Basin, Lily Lake, Lumpy Ridge, and Longs Peak.
When Will Reservations Go On Sale?
Timed Entry Permit Reservations will go on sale through www.recreation.gov beginning at 10 am MT on Monday, May 2, 2022. On this date, reservations will be available to enter the park for dates from May 27 through June 30, 2022.
- The next release will occur at 10 am on June 1, which will release Timed Entry Permit Reservations for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not already been booked.
- On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.
How Do I Book a Timed Entry Permit Reservation?
Visit www.recreation.gov and begin by creating an account if you don't already have one.
Follow the steps on Recreation.gov to select and book your desired Timed Entry Permit Reservation. Choose one Timed Entry Permit Reservation for each day of your visit. You must pick either Option 1: Park Access + Bear Lake Road or Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road.
If you want to drive over Trail Ridge Road or visit destinations outside of the Bear Lake Road corridor, select Option 2: Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road.
- This option is best if you are visiting the Alpine Visitor Center, Wild Basin, Sheep Lakes, Kawuneeche Valley, and Old Fall River Road.