Shuttle Buses and Public Transit

 

Bear Lake Shuttle Route

Dates	Shuttle Service is not available during the winter season. Shuttle Service will resume in summer 2025
Schedule	TBD
Fee	Free
Route	Shuttle Stops (In Order) Park & Ride Bierstadt Lake Trailhead Glacier Gorge Trailhead Bear Lake

 

Moraine Park Shuttle Route

Dates	Shuttle Service is not available during the winter season. Shuttle Service will resume in summer 2025
Schedule	TBD
Fee	Free
Route	Shuttle Stops (in order) Park & Ride Transit Hub Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables Glacier Basin Campground Park & Ride Transit Hub Hollowell Park Tuxedo Park Moraine Park Campground (C Loop) Cub Lake Trailhead Fern Lake Bus Stop

 

RMNP Shuttle picking up passengers

NPS

How Can Riding RMNP's In-Park Shuttle Improve My Visit?
There are many advantages to riding the Moraine Park or Bear Lake Shuttle when exploring the Bear Lake Road Corridor, such as:

• Riding the shuttle is free, it allows visitors to park your vehicle once then and enjoy easy access to all destinations and hiking trails located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
• Riding the shuttle helps to reduce vehicle emissions in the park.
• As a passenger on the shuttle, riders can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Bear Lake Road without the distraction and stress of navigating traffic congestion searching for limited parking.

 

RMNP Hiker Shuttle picking up passengers at the Estes Park Visitor Center

NPS

Ride the Hiker Shuttle

What is the Hiker Shuttle and When Does it Operate?

Hiker Shuttle service has ended for the 2024 season. Check back for summer 2025!

The Hiker Shuttle provides service to passengers departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center, located in the Town of Estes Park, to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road, and back.

 

Additional Information & Frequently Asked Questions

• Be advised, shuttle bus service is not available outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor. There is no shuttle bus service on the west side of the park or across Trail Ridge Road.
  • There are several commercial shuttle tours in the Estes area. Contact the Estes Park Visitor Center for information.
• There are no bike racks on the park's shuttle buses.
• Most shuttle buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs. Contact shuttle staff if accommodation is needed.
• Pets are not allowed on shuttle buses except service animals that have been individually trained to perform specific tasks for the benefit of persons with disabilities. (Emotional support and service-animals-in-training are not service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.)

 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hiker Shuttle

Why Are Advanced Hiker Shuttle Tickets Required?

Seating capacity on the Hiker Shuttle bus is limited and rider demand is high. In 2019, visitors interested in riding on the Hiker Shuttle experienced wait times from one to two hours to board a bus.

Tickets can be purchased one month in advance or at 7 p.m. MDT on the night before your arrival date. This improves your visitor experience by guaranteeing that everyone in your party will be able to board a specific bus at a specific time.

Advanced tickets also help minimize congestion, crowding, and wait times. 

How Do I Make a Reservation for the Hiker Shuttle?

Hiker Shuttle reservations are available first-come, first-served online at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088647. You can also use the Recreation.gov mobile app or call 877-444-6777.

When Will Hiker Shuttle Reservations Be Available to Book?

Reservations for Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released on www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on May 1. During this first release window, reservations will be available for the dates of May 24 through June 30.

• The next release will begin on June 1, at 8 a.m. MDT, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
• On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
• On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
• On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.

Additional reservations for the Hiker Shuttle will be released at 7 p.m. MDT via Recreation.gov the night before a desired arrival date. For instance, if a visitor is planning a trip on June 3, additional reservations will be released via Recreation.gov beginning at 7 p.m. MDT on the night of June 2. 

Where Does the Hiker Shuttle Go?

The Hiker Shuttle provides service from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride Transit Hub, which is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park on Bear Lake Road. The Hiker Shuttle does not provide service to any other destinations inside Rocky Mountain National Park.
 

How Long Does it Take to Ride the Hiker Shuttle from Estes Park to RMNP?

It will take approximately 45 minutes to 1-hour to ride the Hiker Shuttle one-way. Timing will vary, depending upon traffic.

Can I Use My Hiker Shuttle Reservation to Access RMNP When Driving a Vehicle?

No. A Hiker Shuttle reservation is only valid for people who are riding the Hiker Shuttle Bus. 

If planning to drive a vehicle into Rocky Mountain National Park, you will need to reserve a Timed Entry Vehicle Permit during the hours of the day when they are requied. To learn more about Timed Entry Permits, visit the park's Timed Entry webpage at go.nps.gov/romo/timedentry. 

My Family Wants to Ride the Shuttle from Estes Park to Rocky. Does Everyone Need a Reservation?

Yes. A reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets is required for all passengers who ride the Hiker Shuttle, regardless of age. One reservation is good for up to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets in one party. One person may make only one Hiker Shuttle reservation per day.

If there are five or more people in a party, a different person using a different Recreation.gov account will need to book a second reservation. 

Is the Hiker Shuttle Bus Wheelchair Accessible?

Yes. All park shuttle buses are accessible and can accommodate wheelchairs and most can accommodate scooters.

Of the stops available, Bear Lake and Sprague Lake offer the most accessible options.  Please note that these facilities do not meet accessibility standards for outdoor recreation sites. At Sprague Lake the drop off location does not connect to an accessible path, however riders can request to be dropped off at the trailhead. The driver will coordinate pick up directly with the rider.

I Have a Lifetime or Annual Pass to the Park, Do I Need a Reservation to Ride the Hiker Shuttle?

Yes. To ride the Hiker Shuttle, all visitors will need two things: a reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets and a park entrance pass. 

If you, or someone in your group, already has a America The Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass, this pass will cover your park entrance fee (not the Recreation.gov processing fee for Hiker Shuttle reservations). A pass covers the individual park entrance fee for the passholder and up to 4 others. 

A Hiker Shuttle reservation is also required. Reservations are only available at Recreation.gov. There is a $2 per processing fee, and this covers up to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets per reservation.  

My Hiker Shuttle Reservation is for 9 a.m., Can I Use a Different Bus Later in the Day?

No. The number of Hiker Shuttle Tickets available is based on the number of seats located on the bus and reservations are non-refundable and non-transferrable.

Rider demand for the Hiker Shuttle is high. To ensure that all riders have a seat on the bus, they must board the bus that is specified on their reservation. For example, if you made a reservation for the 9 a.m. bus, but do not arrive until 11 a.m., you have missed your bus.

When Does the Last Hiker Shuttle of the Day Depart from Rocky Mountain National Park?

The last Hiker Shuttle bus of the day departs from RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub at 6 p.m. Shuttle riders are strongly advised to watch the time when exploring the park. Make sure that all members of your party return to the Park & Ride Transit Hub well before 6 p.m. The bus will not wait for you!

If someone misses the last bus of the day, there are no other buses or public transit available that provide service to Estes Park. 

When I am Ready to Return to Estes Park, May I Board Any Returning Hiker Shuttle Bus?

Yes. When departing from Park & Ride and returning to Estes Park, passengers may board any return shuttle throughout the day. 

Hiker Shuttle buses leave from the Park & Ride Transit Hub and return to the Estes Park Visitor Center at the following times: 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 6 p.m.

The 6 p.m. bus is the last bus of the day! Expect this bus to be crowded. 

May I Take My Bike on the Hiker Shuttle?

No. Bicycles are not permitted on the Hiker Shuttle or on any of Rocky Mountain National Park's in-park shuttle buses. 

May I Take My Pet on the Hiker Shuttle Bus?

No. Pets are not permitted on the Hiker Shuttle or on any of Rocky Mountain National Park's shuttle buses. Pets are also prohibited on all hiking trails in RMNP.

May I Transfer My Hiker Shuttle Reservation to Someone Else to use?

No. Hiker Shuttle reservations are non-transferrable and non-refundable. 

May I Reserve a Hiker Shuttle Ticket and Give it to Another Family Member to Use?

No. Hiker Shuttle reservations are non-transferable. The person whose name is on the reservation must be present. They cannot be gifted or transferred to another person, including parents, children or siblings.

 

Bustang to Estes provides service to Rocky Mountain National Park

CDOT

Bustang to Estes

Service to Rocky Mountain National Park via CDOT's Bustang to Estes route had ended for the 2024 season. Check back for information on summer 2025.

For route schedules and to purchase Bustang tickets, visit https://ridebustang.com/Estes-Park/.

Bustang buses will drop passengers off at RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub, where riders can then transfer to the park's Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttles to access popular destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.

All Bustang Riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park are required to have a Bustang ticket and a park entrance pass. Park entrance passes can be purchased online via Recreation.gov at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74291.

One Bustang rider should select the 1-Day Individual Pass for $15.

If there are 2 or more Bustang riders in your group, choose the 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30. This will cover all members of your party. Be prepared to show your park pass to a park ranger upon arrival.

Passengers who already have an annual or lifetime park entrance pass should bring their annual or lifetime (Annual/Senior/Access/Military/4th Grade) park pass and their photo ID with them.

All Bustang Riders Coming to Rocky Mountain National Park Should be Prepared to Spend Their Day Outside

Please know:

➡️ There are no stores or food services available at Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride.

➡️ Bustang riders are advised to bring full water bottles, food for the day, footwear and comfortable clothing for hiking (including a jacket and rain gear, sun protection/sunscreen and a hat).

As you plan for your trip, make sure you are prepared for the forecast weather conditions!