RMNP

 You will want to take one day to drive over Trail Ridge Road to the eastern side (Estes Park side) of RMNP
The reason Estes Park is so popular is that it is closer to the favorite hikes and scenic areas of RMNP. The majority of people consider the eastern side of RMNP to be the most dramatic and beautiful. There are many lodging, dining and activity choices in Estes Park

The reason Estes Park is so popular is that it is closer to the favorite hikes and scenic areas of RMNP. The majority of people consider the eastern side of RMNP to be the most dramatic and beautiful. There are many lodging, dining and activity choices in Estes Park

• Most visitors to the park drive over the famous Trail Ridge Road, but other scenic roads include Fall River Road and Bear Lake Road.

Trail Ridge Road

Reopened just in time for summer, Trail Ridge Road connects Grand Lake on the western slope to Estes Park to the east. Extending 48 miles, the road is the highest continuous paved road in the country, reaching a maximum elevation of 12,181 ft. near Fall River Pass. Motorists can enjoy seeing native wildlife such as elk and bighorn sheep and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, including Longs Peak. One of the top highlights along the “highway to the sky” is at Milner Pass, where the road crosses the Continental Divide, the hydrological divide of the Americas. Information on other scenic roads within the park can be found online.

How To Get Around

Although most visitors enter the park via personal motor vehicle, the recommendation is to take advantage of the free park shuttle bus within the park or the free shuttle service from Estes Park to save

 on gas and auto expenses, in addition to lower vehicle emissions and congestion inside the park.

The Continental Divide cuts almost directly through the center of the park, creating two areas with very different landscapes - a drier and heavily glaciated eastern side, and a wetter, more forested western side.

By shuttle[edit]

Starting around Memorial Day Weekend and going through the end of September, Rocky Mountain National Park operates a free shuttle bus service which enables you to access many destination and loop hikes along Bear Lake Road, including Sprague Lake and Glacier Gorge to cut down on traffic congestion and limited parking. Shuttle buses run between many trailheads, Moraine Park Visitor Center, and Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds.

There are two routes: The Bear Lake Route and the Moraine Park Route. Both routes are based at the Park & Ride shuttle bus parking area across from the Glacier Basin Campground

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/blog/hiking/rocky-mountain-national-park/

Those arriving in summer or early fall with only 1 day to see the park will want to stop at one of the visitor centers and then drive the fantastically scenic Trail Ridge Road, described below. Stop at the view points and take the half-hour walk along the Tundra World Nature Trail to get a close-up view of the plants, animals, and terrain of the tundra. Those returning to the east or west side will have time for little else -- the 48-mile drive takes about 2 hours each way -- but those passing through the park on their way to somewhere else might want to take another short hike.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rocky-mountain-national-park/787014#ixzz4BOJtgrMo

The 48-mile drive from Estes Park to Grand Lake takes about 3 hours, allowing for stops at numerous view points. Exhibits at the Alpine Visitor Center at Fall River Pass, 11,796 feet above sea level, explain life on the alpine tundra.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rocky-mountain-national-park/786958#ixzz4BOKKaqgM

For those who are less adventurous, there's a lot of wonderful scenery packed into the easy Copeland Falls Trail walk (only .6 miles round-trip), which follows a creek past wildflowers, aspens, stands of large fir and spruce, and Rocky Mountain maples to a picturesque little waterfall. 

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rocky-mountain-national-park/786959#ixzz4BOKo9qJi

Being Mesmerized by the view at Rock Cut: At 12,114 feet, this is one of the highest points along Trail Ridge Road, and it's a good stop for those who want to experience the harsh alpine tundra while staying within a few feet of the warmth and comfort of their cars. For an even better look, walk the relatively easy .5-mile loop of the Tundra World Nature Trail, where exhibits identify the flora and fauna of the tundra and explain why you wouldn't want to live here year-round.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rocky-mountain-national-park/786959#ixzz4BOL0UXYR
There are two other roads within the park. Old Fall River Road, 9 miles long and unpaved, is one-way uphill only (you'll return on Trail Ridge Rd.). It's usually open from July 4 through mid-October. Bear Lake Road, the access road to Bear Lake, is open year-round.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rocky-mountain-national-park/793544#ixzz4BOLRS4h7

OVERLOOKS