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Longs Peak from the Boulderfield in late summer (left) and early summer (right).
NPS Photos
Plan Your Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Trip
Three tents are set up in a Wilderness Campsite in Rocky
NPS
*Before you start planning please read the items below to ensure that Rocky Mountain National Park can meet your expectations*
➡️ Overnight wilderness backpacking requires a physical permit & an overnight dashtag for your vehicle. This permit must be carried with you into the backcountry. Your wilderness permit is an officially issued, hard copy, printed permit. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
➡️ All wilderness permits & dashtags MUST be picked up in person at one of RMNP's Wilderness Office locations. Wilderness Offices are open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.
East Side of RMNP (near Estes Park, CO): Wilderness Office located near Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Address: 1000 U.S. Hwy 36, Estes Park, CO 80517
West Side of RMNP (near Grand Lake, CO): Wilderness Permit Desk located inside Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Address: 16018 U.S. Hwy 34, Grand Lake, CO 80447
➡️ Overnight wilderness backpackers are REQUIRED to secure all food items, scented items, and garbage inside a hard sided, lockable, commercially made carry in/carry out bear-resistant food storage canister.
➡️ Rocky Mountain National Park is a designated site wilderness. There is no dispersed camping allowed.
➡️ Campfires are PROHIBITED in the wilderness. Use portable stoves only.
➡️ Purify all water.
➡️ In Rocky Mountain National Park there is a long history of wilderness overnight backpackers who are also stewards of Leave No Trace. Please visit the Leave No Trace webpage to gain knowledge on how you too can minimize your impact.
Example of two hard sided commercially-made carry in/carry out bear-resistant food storage canisters at a wilderness campsite
To see all of the different wilderness campsites available in Rocky, check out the map below:
Winter Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Permits
For the wintertime adventurer, winter wilderness campsites are plentiful in the park. Permits & dashtags are required and are issued in person on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits & dashtags are to be picked up at one of two Wilderness Office locations. Advanced reservations are not accepted during the winter season.
The administrative fee for wilderness overnight camping is $10 per permit. You will need an established Recreation.gov account to pay this fee. You will sign into Recreation.gov when you are at RMNP's Wilderness Office in person.
Map of Rocky Mountain National Park's Wilderness Campsites
NPS Map
For a more interactive look at Rocky Wilderness Campsites, click here to explore!
Reservations for All Summer Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Permits Opened on March 1 at 8 a.m. MST
Tips for Reserving a Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Permit:
Plan & Prepare! Take time to meet with your group and plan out 3-4 different trip itineraries.This includes choosing alternate dates AND campsites.
If you don't have one yet, set up a Recreation.gov account. You can visit www.recreation.gov, use the Recreation.gov Mobile App, or call the Recreation.gov Call Center at 1-877-444-6777.
You must be logged into your Recreation.gov account prior to attempting to make a reservation for a wilderness overnight backpacking trip.
Search "Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Permits" in the Recreation.gov search engine.
Click "Check Availability" on the right hand side of the page.
Select your desired dates, enter the number of people in your group, and build your trip itinerary by selecting a 'Starting Area.'
NOTE: This trip itinerary is NOT held until the "Book Now" button is selected.
Once you are ready to book, click "Book Now." The inventory you've selected is now held and you have 15 minutes to complete the remaining order details and pay for the reservation.
Have specific questions about a wilderness backcountry campsite or route? Call RMNP's Wilderness Office and park staff will be happy to assist you!
Wilderness Office Hours
Wilderness Office
(east side of RMNP)
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
1000 U.S. Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517 Phone: 970-586-1242
Hours: Open year-round: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily
Closed: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day / Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. To pick up your permit on these federal holidays, please call 970-586-1242 to make arrangements.
Wilderness Office
(west side of RMNP)
Kawuneeche Visitor Center
16018 U.S. Hwy 34
Grand Lake, CO 80447 Phone: 970-966-0394 (summer season only)
Summer Hours (May 15 - September 30): Open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily
Winter Hours: Closed
Although the West Side Wilderness Office is closed during the winter season, winter wilderness overnight backpacking permits are still required. Instructions for obtaining a permit for the West Side of RMNP will be posted on the front doors of Kawuneeche Visitor Center.
NPS Photo
A Changing Landscape
Recreating in Burn Scar Areas
A burn scar is an indication that fire has been through the area, leaving behind a physically and chemically altered landscape.
Park visitors should be aware of additional hazards when recreating in burn scar areas including:
Burned-out stump holes where the ground may be weak and unstable.
Unstable standing dead trees, especially in windy conditions.
Loose rocks, logs and rolling debris.
Flash flooding and significant debris flow due to weak soil.
Dry, hot conditions with little forest canopy to provide shade.
Park staff will continue to assess burn scar areas on both sides of the park for fire impacts, downed trees, erosion and rock fall. For a fire map and more information pertaining to burn scars, visit RMNP's Fire Information & Landscape webpage.
To protect the park's resourcesfor current and future generations alike, please remember thare are NO FIRES in Rocky's Wilderness.
To help you plan for your upcoming trip and/or future trips, check out the following resources to help you have a successful and fun wilderness experience:
