Local Tips to Beat the Crowds at Rocky Mountain National Park

Thanks for watching this local guide to visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. This is the ancestral home of the Ute and Arapaho people. In fact, the Ute Trail in Rocky Mountian National Park is a traditional migratory path that the Ute people would take every year. This trail predates settlers and has been used for centuries!

Fox in the Forest aims to empower you to get outside. Covering incredible outdoor locations in Colorado, the American Southwest, and Lake Tahoe, I want you to travel like a local, not a tourist.

Rocky Mountain National Park is a must-see if you’re visiting Colorado. Just remember that from May through September you’ll need a timed entry permit during certain hours of the day (info below).

As a local and an alpine climber, I visit RMNP multiple times a year. I’ve been coming to Rocky Mountain National Park for over 15 years and have a wealth of information to share so you can plan the perfect visit to the park. There’s the way tourists see the park and the way long-time visitors experience the park.

With proper planning and a little know-how, you can enjoy solitude at some of the top spots in the park. You may even discover a few secret gems along the way.

These notes are LOADED with resources to help you plan your visit to Rocky Mountain National Park like a local, not a tourist. So check them out below!

As always, visit wild spaces responsibly! Always pack out your trash including water bottles, fruit peels, toilet paper, and anything else you bring with you. Leave only footprints.

Follow all closures, fire bans, drone regulations (no drones in Rocky Mountain National Park), and dog rules (dogs are prohibited on unpaved trails in Rocky Mountain National Park).

✨ Discover which Colorado hike best suits your personality: https://bit.ly/cohikes4you

✨ Follow me…
Pinterest:   / aforestfox  
TikTok:   / foxintheforestblog  
Instagram:   / megintheforest  

For the latest local info about the best outdoor hot spots in Colorado (including places you’ve never heard of before), head on over to www.foxintheforest.net.

✨ Additional Resources ✨
Purchase Your America the Beautiful Annual Parks Pass and enter RMNP at no charge (affiliate link): https://bit.ly/nationalparkspass2024

Bear Lake Corridor Timed Entry Permit Information: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entr...

Camping reservations: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/ga...

The Local Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park: https://bit.ly/localguidetorockymount...


✨ Top Things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park and how to do them without the crowds:
Spend the Day at Rocky Mountain National Park: https://bit.ly/onedayitineraryrmnp
Top hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park: https://bit.ly/besthikesrockymountainnp
Local Guide to Trail Ridge Road: https://bit.ly/localguidetrailridgeroad
Hiking to Emerald and Dream Lake: https://bit.ly/emeraldlakermnp
The Sky Pond Hike: https://bit.ly/skypondhike
Your Guide to the Cables Route on Longs Peak: https://bit.ly/cablesroutelongspeak

Practice Leave No Trace: https://bit.ly/leaveitbetterthanufoundit
Hiking Safely in Colorado: https://bit.ly/cohikingtips

✨ Discover more about visiting Colorado like a local:
The Ultimate Interactive Guide to Colorado: https://bit.ly/localcoloradoguide
Local Tips: https://bit.ly/localcotips
Colorado’s Top Hikes: https://bit.ly/bestcoloradohikes
The Prettiest Places in Colorado: https://bit.ly/beautifulcolorado

✨ Packing Lists and Gear:
Hand-picked, incredible outdoor gear that keeps you moving: https://bit.ly/outdoorgearthatrocks
Snag the Colorado Packing List: https://bit.ly/coloradopackinglist

✨ About the Photos and Video:
Transparency is important to me when it comes to photography. There is Instagram and there is reality. And you should be inspired by BOTH.

I intentionally use photos and videos that have been edited for color and lighting, and ones that haven’t.

All the photos and videos you see of Rocky Mountain National Park were taken by me. I rarely edit other people out of photos (and I would make a note here if I did!).

#nationalpark #nationalparks #rockymountainnationalpark #coloradotravel #colorado

✨ Time stamps:
00:00 - intro
00:09 - beating the crowds
00:29 - the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park
00:33 - timed entry permit info
01:04 - must-do hikes
01:20 - secret hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
01:34 - Longs Peak tips and tricks
02:01 - Trail Ridge Road driving tips
02:12 - Wildlife spotting tips
02:33 - Camping and backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park
02:40 - Outro