Timed Entry Permit System

 

NPS

Timed entry reservations are not needed to enter Rocky Mountain National Park during the winter and spring seasons

Planning trips to Rocky Mountain National Park between now and May 22? A timed entry reservation is not needed.

To visit the park, you just need a valid park entrance pass. Purchase (or show) your valid park entrance pass at any of the park's entrance stations. Click here to visit RMNP's Fees & Passes webpage.

 

What are Timed Entry Reservations and When Will They be Needed?

In 2025, Rocky Mountain National Park will implement a timed entry reservation system beginning on May 23, 2025. This reservation system provides for day use visitor access in a way that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences.

The system, established through the Day Use Visitor Access Plan finalized in May 2024, manages day use visitor access in a way that protects the park's resources, maintains positive visitor experiences, promotes safety, and supports the park’s ability to maintain daily operations. The system will be similar to 2024, with two types of reservations available.

• One reservation option, titled "Timed Entry+Bear Lake Road" provides day use vehicle access to RMNP's Bear Lake Road Corridor (located on the east side of the park). This reservation option includes access to all destinations on the entire road corridor, including Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Park & Ride, Glacier Gorge Trailhead, and Bear Lake. These reservations also provide access to all other areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

- These reservations will be in effect between the hours of 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sunday, October 19, 2025.

• Another reservation option, titled "Timed Entry (doesn not include access to Bear Lake Road)" will provide access to all areas in the "rest of the park," excluding access to RMNP's Bear Lake Road Corridor.

- These reservations will be in effect between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Monday, October 13, 2025.

Timed entry reservations allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of time, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a non-refundable $2 Recreation.gov processing fee.

 

 

I'm Planning a Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park During Summer 2025, When Can I Make a Reservation?

Timed entry reservations will be available through www.recreation.gov following the below schedule:

• Beginning at 8 a.m. MT on Thursday, May 1. This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 23 through June 30.
• The next release will occur on June 1, 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 Aug. 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
• On Sept. 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.

When planning to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, take time to consider your preparedness, skills, fitness and experience. No matter how you choose to recreate, be prepared to turn back when conditions change or if you are being pushed to your limits. Weather and conditions can change quickly in the Rockies. Before starting any trip, take time to explore the park's website and plan ahead for a safer and more enjoyable visit.

Additional Reservations Will Be Released the Night Before

If you are unable to make a timed entry reservation in advance, a number of additional reservations will be released on Recreation.gov at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date. It is best to plan ahead when possible, as night before reservations will sell out quickly.

Why Are Timed Entry Reservations in Place?

RMNP is one of the most visited national parks. The park experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation from 2012 to 2019. In 2022, the park received 4.3 million visits. Even with a pilot vehicle reservation timed entry system in place, the park received some of the highest visitation in its history.

Between 2016 and 2023, the park piloted several day-use visitor management strategies to address crowding, congestion, and impacts on park resources. These pilots demonstrated this strategy is effective at easing congestion impacts and improved the visitor experience in the park. The park also asked the public for their participation in envisioning the future of day use visitor access at RMNP during the summer of 2021 and the winter of 2022-2023.