Planning your own trip
Official guidance checked September 18, 2026
2026 access: standard timed entry applies May 22–October 12, 9am–2pm. Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road applies May 22–October 18, 5am–6pm. Outside the applicable hours, no timed-entry reservation is needed, but an entrance pass or fee is still required. Reservations do not guarantee parking. Recheck rules, closures, and weather before your own trip.
Trip Overview & Quick Tips
- Best Time to Visit:
- Mid-June through mid-October is the window, but the second half of September is the sweet spot: aspens turning gold, elk bugling in the meadows, and the summer crowds finally thinning out. I went over Labor Day weekend in September 2026, a little earlier in the month, and I'd do it again.
- How to Get Around:
- Rental car, no question.
- Where to Stay:
- Estes Park or Loveland are the smarter picks, both put you much closer to the park entrance. I stayed in Windsor since I booked last minute and it's what was available, worked fine but added extra drive time each day.
- My Top Takeaway:
- Book timed entry as soon as your dates release. For September 2026, that was August 1 at 8am Mountain Daylight Time. Additional tickets release at 7pm MDT the night before. Learn from me!
Day by day
Day 01
Denver to Windsor
Morning/Afternoon: Land in Denver, grab the rental. REI for hiking shoes, Target for water and trail snacks.
Personal Note: My arrival day was for getting to Windsor, checking in, and resting up. You'll want the sleep. If you're adding a park visit, check the reservation hours below first.
Day 02
Trail Ridge Road
All Day: One of the highest paved roads in the US, multiple overlooks, and genuinely good odds of wildlife. Trail Ridge Road is not a timed-entry exemption: during the 2026 reservation season, vehicle entry from 9am–2pm requires a reservation. Check road conditions before setting out.
Personal Note: I saw three moose out here! A bull moose chilling in a small pond just past the entrance, and a mama and baby moose on the other side of the park. Both adults were wearing tracking collars.
Day 03
Nymph, Dream, Emerald & Haiyaha Lakes
Early Morning: 4am wake-up, drive to Estes Park for a 5–7am Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation. The standard park-only reservation does not cover this corridor.
Morning/Afternoon: Hike the Nymph Lake Trail chain. My recorded route was 5.66 miles, 1,066ft gain, roughly 3 hours moving time. Your route and pace may differ. Budget more if you want to actually sit at each lake, you should!
Personal Note: Cava for dinner after was well-earned.
Day 04
Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge
Early Morning: Same drill, 4am up, 5–7am entry with a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation.
Morning/Afternoon: Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge was the tougher hike of the trip. My recorded track was 8.5 miles, 1,719ft gain, about 4 hours. For planning, NPS lists Sky Pond as 4.9 miles one way (about 9.8 miles round trip); allow extra time for your pace, stops, and conditions.
Personal Note: Weather was rough on the way up for me, then the sun broke through right as I headed down! That was my experience, not a reason to push through unsafe weather. Check the forecast and turn back when conditions deteriorate; thunder means it's time to seek shelter, not continue toward exposed terrain.
Day 05
Fly Home
Drive back to Denver, return the rental, fly out.