Self Guided

Exploring nature at Rocky Mountain National Park.

NPS Photo, by T. Morse.

Plan a Self Guided Visit

Rocky Mountain National Park is an ideal outdoor classroom. It has a diversity of natural resources, easy spring and fall access, and close proximity to Front Range and Grand County communities. Rocky Mountain offers the availability of Moraine Park Discovery Center, the Fall River Visitor Center, Kawuneeche Visitor Center, and a wealth of field sites for self-guided visits.

Self Guided Activities

Use these free resources to explore nature during your visit. Each field trip activity was created by Rocky Mountain National Park's team of Education Rangers and is standards-based for individual grade levels. These activities can be led by parents, family members or caregivers with regular household items. Cell service is not consistent throughout the park, so it is recommended to download or print these resources in advance.

• Preschool: Outdoor BINGO
• Kindergarten: Wild BINGO or The Food Song
• 1st Grade: Wilderness BINGO or Good Vibrations
• 2nd Grade: Color Me Wild or Eye Spy a Tree
• 3rd Grade: Rocky Rolling or Join the Herd
• 4th Grade: Native American Life in the Rocky Mountains or Enos Mills Exploration
• 5th Grade: Map It Out or Busy as a Beaver

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Want to learn more? Check out our Fun Facts For Kids for a treasure trove of informative links!

Safety

Know before you go! Always follow current health guidelines from state and local authorities. You are responsible to check for any changes in regulations/restrictions for public lands, parks and neighborhoods. Check current park guidance by visiting the Current Conditions page.

Weather in Rocky Mountain National Park changes quickly and is always colder and windier than on the Front Range. Be sure students are prepared for adverse weather. Students should dress in layers and always take along warm jackets or sweaters. Check for appropriate clothing before students board the bus. Shoes with laces and drinking water are essential. Should a student (or adult) become separated from the group, contact park rangers immediately (dial 911).

Educational Field Sites

These locations are ideal for educational group visits. Most offer restrooms and picnic tables with easy access for school buses and to hiking trails and study areas. Some of the sites also offer drinking water seasonally. For more information on individual sites visit our Education Sites Video Tours.

• Hidden Valley
• Alluvial Fan
• Hollowell Park
• Cub Lake/Fern Lake Trailhead
• Lily Lake
• Moraine Park Discovery Center (open seasonally)
• Upper Beaver Meadows
• Sprague Lake

 

Moraine Park Discovery Center

Group Use of Visitor Centers

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is located on the east side of RMNP and accessible via U.S. Highway 36. This visitor center is open year-round. This is the only visitor center on the east side of RMNP where the park film is available. The auditorium can seat over 200 students for one viewing. See details on Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

Fall River Visitor Center is a gateway for schools planning to conduct field studies in the Horseshoe Park or Alluvial Fan areas. The visitor center features beautiful exhibits using seasonal themes of the most often viewed wildlife. This facility can accommodate small groups of students at a time (10 in the exhibits, 10 in the bookstore, with a limited activity area downstairs as well). See details on Fall River Visitor Center

Moraine Park Discovery Center is open late May to early October and offers an insightful starting point for any field trip. The museum displays highlight the park geology, glacial history, human history, weather and climate, and ecology. From the museum, access to a wide variety of study sites and trails is only minutes away.

This facility can accommodate small groups of students at a time (about 20 total students in the exhibits and 10 students in the park store), with other students exploring the ½ mile nature trail. See details on the Moraine Park Discovery Center

Kawuneeche Visitor Center is open year-round. This is the only visitor center in RMNP that is located on the west side of the park, near the town of Grand Lake. The visitor center contains a variety of interpretive displays and has an auditorium which plays the park film. See details on Kawuneeche Visitor Center

How to Request a Welcome Program

You are welcome to request a ranger-led greeting and welcome program at any of the park's visitor centers. This program will be focused on Rocky Mountain National Park and the treasures that it protects. The welcome program is free and given to the whole group upon your arrival.

To request this program, send an email at least two weeks ahead of your planned visit to [e-mail]