Timed Entry Permit Reservations are not currently required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park.
The following information is from Rocky Mountain National Park's official website. Rocky Mountain National Park will implement another pilot temporary timed entry permit reservation system from May 26 through October 22, 2023.
What Will the 2023 System Look Like?
The reservation permit system is similar to that used in 2022, with two types of reservations available.
- One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park.
Timed Entry Permit Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1.
- This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 26 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 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.
How Will the 2023 Reservation System Be Different from Previous Years?
There are a few key ways that the 2023 pilot Timed Entry Permit System will be different from past years.
These include:
- Reducing the time period and number of hours daily that reservations are in effect for most areas of the park. For the "Park Access, Does Not Include Bear Lake Road" Timed Entry Permits, they will be in effect between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. MT. In 2022, these permits were in effect between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- For visitors who are camping at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, and Timber Creek Campgrounds, your Timed Entry Permit is included with your camping reservation. In 2023, campers will be able to initially enter the park beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of their camping reservation, which is also the check in time for all park campgrounds. Campers who plan to enter the park earlier in the day will have to enter the park outside of the times when Timed Entry Permits are in effect (for example, before 9 a.m. for most areas of the park) or reserve a Timed Entry Permit Reservation.
- This year, the pilot Timed Entry Permit System will be extended through October 22, 2023.
- This year, 40 percent of all reservations will be released via Recreation.gov on the day prior to a desired arrival date at 5 p.m. MT.
- This year, visitors who enter the Bear Lake Road corridor with their Timed Entry Permit and who want to exit and return later in the day, may re-enter the Bear Lake Road corridor anytime after 2 p.m.
Rocky Mountain National Park.