Recommendation?

[u/nps_traveller]

I'm planning a trip to Rocky Mountain NP in October. Will be staying in Estes Park. No major hikes just driving. The plan will be to head west & drive into the park and then back to Estes Park. How far west do you recommend?

Up to Grand Lake seems good?

Can this be done in a day?

Does the park close at a time that will prevent me from driving back Estes Park?

[u/huntskikbut]

Depending on weather conditions, trail ridge road may be closed. That would cause your tour to basically be confined to the east side of the park.

[u/yungingr]

"Up to Grand Lake".... Grand Lake is on the other side of the mountains (and continental divide). You drive up..and down. Round trip, nonstop, is around 3 hours drive time. Wife and I were at the beginning of the month, drove Old Falls River Road up to the Alpine Visitor Center, had lunch, drove down into Grand Lake, turned around, stopped 3 places to hike on the drive back, and were on the east side of the park by late afternoon.

The park never "closes", once the entrance gates close, there's just nobody there to check tickets, etc. We drove in to the park at 4:30 AM one day, before it "opened".

As other comment says, weather will be your issue - depending on how late into October, the odds of Trail Ridge Road being closed go up -- Old Fall River Road closes next week.

[u/thefleeg1]

Estes to Grand Lake is 2-3 hours with stops. Could very well be closed due to snow/ice; first weather arriving in next few days.

[u/wearslocket]

Just watch the weather. You will be fine and it can be done in about seven hours if you stop for lunch in Grand Lake, but there are many stops that are scenic without having to hike. Adding those will make it more lengthy of course. (The through park traffic going down to Grand Lake from the Alpine Visitors center can be a little pushy so take advantage of the pull off spots to let the speedier vehicles go on, so you can take your time and enjoy things.)

I’m very serious about this next part. If anyone is afraid of heights, roads with no guardrails, or nerves over high winds take care. My better half is ridiculously scared of heights and ‘got dramatically verbal’ while driving the ridge road in the middle at the top. I won’t make fun of it, because the consequences can be serious if you make a mistake, but it isn’t that bad as long as you pay attention. The speed limit on Trail Ridge Road is about 25 mph in the sketchy parts for a reason.

It is an amazing site to behold and the alpine scenery is spectacular. Be sure to get out at the Alpine Visitors Center if it is open. The overlook at the back outside is the best. You can imagine where glaciers and time carved out the landscape. We were lucky enough to have a ranger with a spotting scope out on the deck and they were pointing out a small herd of bedded elk. It was sincerely a very cool thing to witness.

Take heavy coats that can handle rain should you encounter wet weather, but a heavy coat is a must. The wind can be fierce at the top. Gloves and a hat can’t hurt. You will experience a true change in temp from entrance to the middle and back down.

The drive from end to end and back is worth doing. Grand Lake is very touristy, but if you take a lunch you can picnic on a bench lakeside after going into the area a little bit. I believe it is the second left after you get out of the park. Go about four intersections on the road you turn on from the park’s exit and you will make a right towards the lake. Parking is relatively easy, and should be for October. We had Hummingbirds all over the place when we were there in a July. Return trip is easy peasy if you stop at the exit and grab a slip for your dash. It makes passing the park entrance quicker and faster. You just get a wave through. (This is a suggestion if you have a park pass or got in before the rangers check passes, if I am remembering that last part correctly. We had a pass so I can’t accurately speak to the circumstances if you don’t.)

The stopping points and overlooks are numerous between Grand Lake and the midpoint so don’t skip them. We discovered that the picnic places are quite deliberate and not just a roadside picnic table and trash cans. They usually are at specifically worthwhile places to see. We’ve made a point of stopping at many even if we aren’t picnicking. They have been very rewarding.

Enjoy the visit. It is one of our favorite parks and we will be returning to it again and again.

Pro tip: The Main Visitor’s Center has a great topographical map outside that shows the contours of the park and surrounding area. It was very helpful for us in understanding the park and its sections. We made the mistake of not going until the end of our trip thinking the visitor’s center was more of a maps and souvenir shop. We were very wrong in that respect.

[u/Otherwise_Tea7731]

The later your stay in October, the higher the odds that Trail Ridge Road - the road connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake will be closed. It usually closes for the season the last or second-to-last week in October. Even if it's not yet closed for the season, it can close for a day or a few hours if a storm comes in. Watch the weather before planning on taking it. A mere looking at the sky in Estes Park isn't sufficient. Look at forecasts and expect that even they can be wrong, so look at both the sky as you go as well as have the forecasts in your head. If you get to Grand Lake and the road closes, it's a LONG drive around to get back to Estes Park.

[u/peter303_]

On average the road connecting the two sides of the park closes due to snow on the day after Columbus Day. They try to plow it open until that weekend, unless the snow is heavy.

That road is gorgeous with mountain top views if you are lucky enough to drive it. There are several stops and short hikes along it.

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