It’s no secret that Rocky Mountain National Park has fantastic views to spare. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a spot in this natural wonderland that doesn’t make you want to say, “Whoa.” But did you know that in addition to dozens of fantastic hiking trails, the park has two gorgeous scenic drives: Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road.
Now, there are undoubtedly other beautiful drives throughout Rocky Mountain National Park. For example, Bear Lake Road also offers excellent views of the Bear Lake Corridor. But in my opinion, once you experience these two northern routes, everything else pails in comparison. After all, there’s nothing quite like driving through the mountains with your windows down on a beautiful day and seeing a new panorama reveal itself around every turn.
And you don’t have to take just my word for it. These two roads were the #1 thing that most park rangers and locals recommended that we do in the area. And unlike the craziness of the popular Bear Lake corridor, it felt like we more or less had them to ourselves, which was a welcome experience.
So where are these roads, and what makes them so unique? Keep reading to find out.
Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
The Old Fall River Road is the first scenic drive you should check out in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Why? Well, for starters, it begins on the Estes Park side of RMNP. If you’re staying in Estes Park, you can access RMNP from the Fall River entrance and be just minutes away from this beautiful drive. As a bonus, this entrance is way less crowded than the Beaver Meadows Entrance, so you’re less likely to experience long wait times.
The second reason to start with the Old Fall River Road is that it’s a one-lane road heading west. So you have to access it from this side. But it conveniently connects to the best part of Trail Ridge Road at the other end, so it all works out in one wonderful loop!
Some FAQs About Old Fall River Road
- Where does it start? Old Fall River Road begins just past the Sheep Lakes Information Station. The turn is right beside the intersection of Fall River and Route 34.
- How long is Old Fall River Road? The road is 9.3 miles long and stretches from Sheep Lakes to the Alpine Visitor Center. The speed limit maxes out at 15 mph due to the many hairpin turns, so it’ll take a while to get from start to finish.
- How long does it take to drive the whole thing? The answer to this depends on a couple of factors. If you never stop, you could obviously drive the whole thing in under an hour. However, there are numerous trails and scenic outlook points you can explore along the way, which will add to your time. We took a good 2.5 hours with stops for scenery, a small hike, and a picnic near the summit. Additionally, if you hit it on a busy day, it may take quite a while due to traffic.
- Can I take an RV or trailer here? No! Old Fall River Road is very narrow, and the turns are very tight. Especially with no railings, RVs and trailers are just asking for disaster. So stick to your cars, trucks, and SUVs.
What Makes Old Fall River Road so Epic?
Now that you know a little bit more about Old Fall River Road, let’s talk about what makes this one-lane gravel road so special!
The short answer is the views. Although driving up the side of a mountain on a dirt road with no railing may sound kinda sketchy, I guarantee it’s worth it! The perspectives you’ll get each time you curve around the mountainside are absolutely stunning, and they change with each turn.
We saw alpine forests, mountains covered in fog, deep chasms, waterfalls, and mountainside meadows dotted with elk! It was so gorgeous, and the ever-changing scenery guaranteed that the view never got old! The road also follows the Fall River (its namesake) for quite a bit of the journey, and it’s fun to see that flowing by and getting smaller as you gain height.
It’s hard to depict such gorgeous scenery in a blog like this, so I highly recommend you check out my YouTube vlog so you can see the videos for yourself and get even an inkling of what kind of beauty this road holds.
Now, if you’re in the mood for some hiking, Old Fall River Road has a couple of options for that as well. Although most of the area is too steep and narrow to pull off for a hike, you can hit the trails at Chasm Falls, the Alluvial Fan Trailheads, and the Chapin Creek Trailhead. There’s also a small picnic area toward the beginning of the drive.
If you only have time for one stop, I recommend Chasm Falls. It’s really just a quick outlook point at the bottom of some steps, but the falls are really pretty, and it’s a good chance to stretch your legs.
And if you want some really epic scenic pull-offs, you’ll get your fill toward the end of the drive. In particular, the last two curves of Old Fall River Road offer absolutely epic panoramas for those who are willing to park and walk just a few yards. We actually stopped and had a picnic below the Alpine Visitor Center because we needed some extra time to just enjoy the scenery. We stopped again about 30 seconds up the road and clambered up some rocks to get another great view of another valley and a herd of caribou trekking across the mountainside.
These were two of my favorite views in all of Rocky Mountain National Park–and we saw some amazing ones.
Quick Tips for Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Bring layers because the air can get very chilly as you climb in altitude.
- Pack plenty of water and a snack or lunch for the drive. There are no facilities of any kind along this road until you get to the Alpine Visitor Center.
- Be sure to keep your distance from the wildlife–no matter how cute or majestic!
- Schedule plenty of time to enjoy the drive. If you’re like me, you’ll want to leave plenty of time to take pictures and soak in the views. You also do not want to be up here at night, so start your drive at least 2 hours before nightfall.
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
The second scenic drive you won’t want to miss is Trail Ridge Road, also known as Route 34. If you drive Old Fall River Road first, you’ll come out at the Alpine Visitor Center, which is right on Trail Ridge Road. In my opinion, it’s the perfect spot to pop on this scenic byway and head east, back toward Estes Park.
Unlike Old Fall River Road, Trail Ridge Road is nicely paved and has two lanes, so it’s much easier to drive. It’s also safe for RVs and trailers, making it a great drive for anyone visiting the park!
Some FAQs About Trail Ridge Road
- How long is it? Trail Ridge Road stretches 48 miles between Estes Park and Grand Lake Colorado, carving a gorgeous route right through Rocky Mountain National Park.
- How long does it take to drive the whole thing? Unlike Old Fall River Road, this scenic byway is paved and has a much higher speed limit. So, you can drive Trail Ridge Road in less than two hours–if you don’t make too many stops.
- What’s the best part of Trail Ridge Road? In my opinion, the best drive is from the Alpine Visitor Center to where the road meets the “new” Fall River Road. We drove most of the road twice, and this was by far where the greatest views were.
What Makes Trail Ridge Road So Epic?
For starters, this scenic byway is the highest continuously paved road in North America! It winds through the mountains at over 12,000 feet in places, which is higher than a lot of ski resorts!
From this elevation, you are level with many of Rocky Mountain National’s Park’s gorgeous peaks, and you also get sweeping views of all the meadows, lakes, and valleys down below. With the sky right in front of you and the occassional cloud drifting over the road, it can feel like you’re flying, rather than driving, through the park!
Trail Ridge Road is much straighter than Old Fall River Road, but you’ll still wind through the mountains, getting treated to stunning vistas each time. And unlike Old Fall River Road, a lot of this road is open on both sides, so each side is a full panorama!
Since this is the main byway through the park, there are tons of trails and scenic outlook points. I highly recommend picking a trail or two to explore while you’re up here. (We really enjoyed the Ute Trail, which is a ridgeline trail.) But if you don’t have time for that, hit as many scenic outlooks as you can.
Each one offers a new perspective, and some of them were unexpedtedly wild or epic! You can obviously see quite a few of these views just driving by. But there are many on both sides of the road, and you never know what’s waiting when you pull across to the other side to look out below.
There are also a few larger outlooks where you have to park and walk a short ways to the “official” outlook point. These were some of my favorites, and where we most frequently saw wildlife.
We actually spent part of two days exploring this road because we wanted to see as much of it as we could! However, I definitely felt that the best part ended at the Alpine Visitor Center. If we’d seen any moose further to the southwest, that may have changed my opinion, haha.
Quick Tips for Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park
- While water and restrooms are more widely available here, be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for any hikes.
- If you plan to hike up here, you may want to take elevation pills, which will alleviate fatigue, nauseau, and headaches–honestly, they’re a good idea for any hiking in the park!
- You should also bring layers, rain gear, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the elements at this elevation.
- Set aside plenty of time to cruise this road during the day and hit the scenic outlooks.
- Watch out for animals crossing the road and drive slowly when it’s dark or the clouds are covering the road.
See More of These Scenic Drives on My YouTube Channel!
Closing Thoughts on These Scenic Drives in Rocky Mountain National Park
I can’t think of a better way to spend time between hikes than with these gorgeous drives. Plus, if you want to see the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park but aren’t really up for physical activity, you can definitely do these instead and get rewarded with amazing views, right from your car! How’s that for low effort, big reward?
Keep in mind that even if you’re just doing the scenic drives, you will need a timed park access permit and a park entrance pass. You can read all about those in my post “How to Maximize Your Trip to the Bear Lake Corridor.“
And if you’re looking for more fun things to do in Colorado, here are a few additional posts I think you’ll enjoy:
- Quick Guide to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
- Need a Hot Springs Getaway? Mt. Princeton is the Best!
- Get Lost at Meow Wolf Convergence Station in Denver!
- 8 Reasons to Book a Stay at the Catbird Hotel Right Now
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