Winter in Rocky Mountain National Park

The best way to beat all the crowds at nearly all of the national parks is to visit them in the winter. At Rocky Mountain National Park, the access roads from the east are kept open in the winter and provide the winter visitors with a panoramic view of snow covered high mountains. There are also many wonderful winter sports to be enjoyed.

Most of the Rocky Mountain National Park lies east of the Continental Divide. So winter in this area brings very deep snows to the west side of the park. On the east side of the park, there is lighter snowfall which leaves several of the trails located at lower elevations open for hiking. You can hike the trails lower than 8,700 feet in the winter without the aid of skis or snow shoes.

At the higher elevations, you can enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing. There are areas of wide open, snow covered meadows and some areas that have steep climbs and descents, as well as narrow routes and sharp turns.

Three of the campgrounds are open all year. These are Longs Peak, Timber Creek and Moraine Park. When the snow does start to fall, the only campground that is plowed is Moraine Park. You can still camp in the others, but you would have to carry your camping supplies to your individual campsite. Be prepared with water, as none of the campsites have water in the winter.

No matter what winter activity you may choose in the winter in Rocky Mountain National Park, be sure to check with the Park Service for safety tips and information such as avalanches, lake and stream hazards, wildlife concerns and other potential dangers. Also make sure that someone knows where you are going and when to expect you back.