Rocky Mountain National Park increasing park access

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (KRDO) — Rocky Mountain National Park is increasing recreational access and services Wednesday. In this first reopening phase, from May 27 through June 3, the park is reopening many of its areas and basic road and trail access.  

The park will temporarily implement a timed entry system effective at the beginning of the second reopening phase on June 4. The park will stop using this system in later phases of the reopening, according to a release sent by Rocky Mountain National Park.   

Park staff may limit access to the park based on the number of visitors. Visitors can only purchase entrance passes at entrance stations with credit cards. 

Visitors can also make reservations to enter the park through www.recreation.gov starting 8 a.m. on Thursday. The park will use the reservation system through October.

Permits bought through the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability between 6 a.m. through 5 p.m. 

This process will allow visitors to pay in advance, minimize contact between park entrance station staff and visitors and limit congestion in parking lots. The permit system will apply to all areas of the park. 

In the initial opening phase, the park will open approximately 60 percent of the park’s maximum parking capacity or 4,800 vehicles (13,500 visitors) per day, according to a park spokesperson.  

Frequently asked questions on the timed entry permit system can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm