Shuttle Buses and Public Transit

 
2025 Shuttle Bus Schedule and Route Map

Ride Rocky's Shuttle to Explore Destinations on the Bear Lake Road Corridor!

 

Bear Lake Shuttle Route

Dates

Daily Service: May 23 - October 19

Schedule

6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Buses run every 10-15 minutes
Plan Ahead: Last Bear Lake Shuttle departs from Bear Lake Stop at 7:30 p.m.

Fee

Free

Route

Shuttle Stops (In Order)

  • Park & Ride

  • Bierstadt Lake Trailhead

  • Glacier Gorge Trailhead

  • Bear Lake

 

Moraine Park Shuttle Route

Dates

Daily Service: May 23 - October 19

Schedule

7 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Buses run every 60 minutes.
Plan Ahead: Last Moraine Park Shuttle departs from Fern Lake Stop at 7:30 p.m.

Fee

Free

Route

Shuttle Stops (in order)

  • Park & Ride Transit Hub

  • Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables

  • Glacier Basin Campground

  • Park & Ride Transit Hub

  • Hollowell Park

  • Tuxedo Park

  • Moraine Park Campground (C Loop)

  • Cub Lake Trailhead

  • Fern Lake Bus Stop

 
One Bear Lake Shuttle is departing from Bear Lake Parking and a second is arriving
RMNP Shuttle picking up passengers

NPS

How Can Riding RMNP's In-Park Shuttle 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.
 
RMNP Hiker Shuttle at the EPVC
RMNP Hiker Shuttle picking up passengers at the Estes Park Visitor Center

NPS

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 & Frequently Asked Questions

  • 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.)
 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hiker Shuttle

 
A Bustang coach bus is pictured driving on Bear Lake Road inside Rocky Mountain National Park
Bustang to Estes provides service to Rocky Mountain National Park

CDOT

Bustang to Estes

Bustang to Estes will be offering service to RMNP Park & Ride on weekends and some holidays in summer 2025!


For route schedules and to purchase Bustang tickets, visit https://ridebustang.com/Estes-Park/.

Bustang buses will drop passengers off at RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub, where riders can then transfer to the park's Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttles to access popular destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.

All Bustang Riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park are required to have a Bustang ticket and a park entrance pass. Park entrance passes can be purchased online via Recreation.gov at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74291.

🎫 One Bustang rider should select the 1-Day Individual Pass for $15.

🎫 If there are 2 or more Bustang riders in your group, choose the 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30. This will cover all members of your party. Be prepared to show your park pass to a park ranger upon arrival.

🎫 Passengers who already have an annual or lifetime park entrance pass should bring their annual or lifetime (Annual/Senior/Access/Military/4th Grade) park pass and their photo ID with them.

All Bustang Riders Coming to Rocky Mountain National Park Should be Prepared to Spend Their Day Outside

Please know:

➡️ There are no stores or food services available at Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride.

➡️ Bustang 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 the forecast weather conditions!

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517

Phone:

970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

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