Rocky Mountain National Park is a fantastic place to take your family on a scenic and adventurous rocky mountain vacation. The park is located in the north central portion of Colorado, and it is about a two hour drive from Denver. Rocky Mountain National Park can be accessed via US 34 or US36 through Estes Park or on I-70 and US40 to US34 via Granby and Grand Lake, Colorado. Inside the park are the highest paved roads in the United States. The central part of Trail Ridge Road, a scenic and inspiring drive, is usually open from late May through mid-October.

The park is a garden of peaks that tower more than 14,000 feet above sea level. The mountains sit looking over the wildlife, wildflowers, foresees and lakes of the 415 square mile Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road, which crosses the continental divide, accesses the picturesque scenery and grandeur of the Rocky Mountains in the park. The Park is also a perfect place to see some of North America's largest animals. Elk and bighorn sheep are common, and there is always a chance you may catch a glimpse of a bison, mountain lion, bear, or even a moose.

Rocky Mountain National Park offers a number of wonderful activities to enjoy on your rocky mountain vacation. There are more than 360 miles of trails throughout the park for hiking. You may also enjoy mountain climbing, fishing, snowshoeing, auto touring, wildlife viewing, ranger programs, horseback riding, or cross-country skiing. No matter what kind of outdoor activity you are looking for, you can find it at Rocky Mountain National Park.

There is not any Rocky Mountain Lodge inside the park, but in nearby Granby or Estes Park, you can find great accommodations. The area offers luxury resorts, motels, lodges, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, cabins and campgrounds. No matter what your Rocky Mountain lodge needs may be, you will be able to find them in the area. The Estes Park area, in fact, offers numerous cabin and chalet areas that accept reservations and, when available, walk up lodgers.  For more information, contact the Colorado department of tourism or Rocky Mountain National Park directly.

There are, however, camping options in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are, in fact, five drive-in campgrounds and one drive-in group camping area inside the park. Two of them take reservations, Moraine Park and Glacier Basin. Campers can make their reservations up to 5 months in advance. None of the campgrounds offer electric, water, or sewer hookups at any of their camp sites.

Rocky Mountain National Park was first established on January 26, 1915. On December 22, 1980, it was wilderness designated after being designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976. It is open 24 hours a day, 12 months a year, so you can plan your Rocky Mountain vacation for any time of the year. Be aware, though, that the park will take on several feet of snow in the winter. Also, the base of the park sits up around 9,000 feet of altitude, which can cause problems for hikers not in proper shape for the trip.