Rocky Mountain National Park Implements Permanent Timed Entry

The implementation of timed entry at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado will now be permanent. The timed entry system into one of the best national parks in the United States happened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a pilot program to mitigate the crowds will be in place permanently according to the National Parks Service press release. The timed entry into Rocky Mountain National Park in the summer months is said to help manage day-use visitor access, protect the park's resources, promote safety, and maintain a positive visitor experience.

Timed Entry Into Rocky Mountain National Park in 2024

Timed entry into Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park started on Friday, May 24, and will last through mid-October. This timed entry permit applies to all areas of the park. Timed entry to Rocky Mountain National Park is available in two options—regular Timed Entry and Timed Entry Plus with access to Bear Lake Road.

Regular Timed Entry at Rocky Mountain National Park

The timed entry permit allows visitors to access all portions of the park except Break Lake Road. Reservation times are between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with re-entry allowed with a valid reservation in those permitted hours.

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Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road at Rocky Mountain National Park

This timed entry option will allow visitors to all of the areas of the park on the normal timed entry permit, plus access to Bear Lake Road. Timed Entry Plus Bear Lake Road Reservation times are from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. with re-entry into Bear Lake Road after 2 p.m. with a valid Timed Entry Plys Bear Lake Road permit.

Making a Timed Reservation Into Rocky Mountain National Park

You can make an advanced timed entry reservation through the Recreation.gov mobile app or by calling the reservation line. To get more information on reserving your timed entry permit to Rocky Mountain National Park, visit nps.gov.