Explore Rocky Mountain National Park Before Returning to Colorado Springs

Open from 6:30am daily, Kind Coffee caters to the outdoors enthusiasts looking to get a jump start on their day in Rocky Mountain National Park. A community fixture for decades, Kind Coffee sources organic, fair trade beans for their signature house blends, offers two types of cold brew, and turns out some creative house lattes and classic espresso beverages that will surely jump start the drive day.
The creekside cafe has plenty else on offer, including iced teas and lemonades (try the hydro-lemonade if you're feeling the effects of altitude), kombucha on tap, smoothies, hot breakfast "sammies" and burritos, açaí or oatmeal bowls, and sweet and savory brioche toasts. The cafe also sells cute merchandise, including refillable water bottles (in case you're low on back-up H2O for the day).

Your eyes might be on the Rocky Mountain National Park's Fall River Entrance/Toll Station ahead, but you don't want to miss the official Rocky Mountain National Park sign — keep an eye on the right side of the road and cruise by slowly. If you're traveling in the off season and entrance traffic is light, you certainly wouldn't be the first vehicle to pull onto the shoulder and hop out for a (very) quick photo op in front of the sign.
Keep in mind, however, that in 2021 (the most recent statistics available) Rocky Mountain National park welcomed 4.43 million visitors over 365 days. During summer and into the fall, the park's busiest seasons, you're bound to run into some road traffic along the route, as well as a car queue to get through the gates — by all means, you need to go regardless. An early arrival can help. Once inside the park, visitors fan out a bit more, and there is plenty of space for everyone, ultimately.
At the toll station, you'll need to purchase a 1-Day Vehicle Entrance Pass with a credit or debit card; the pass is also available to purchase online in advance, but it feels more "official" having the brief interaction with the park ranger.

Where and when you'll spot wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park is always some combination of good timing, sharp eyesight, perhaps a helpful tip, and a fair bit of luck. Among the larger animals in the park you're most likely to spot — which include elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, along with plenty of smaller mammals and all sorts of birds — one of the most elusive are the bighorns, as they prefer the park's craggy, rocky mountain slopes to more accessible visitor areas. That being said, bighorns (and all other types of wildlife) visit the Sheep Lakes for fresh water, which makes this pull out an absolute must. (Now's the time to pull out the binocs.)

A quieter corner of Rocky Mountain National Park that's something of a hidden gem in plain sight along Trail Ridge Road, the Beaver Ponds gravel pull out marks the entrance to a short (0.2 mi.) boardwalk trail through one of the park's wetland environments, which is a haven for birds and mammals alike. Yes, the grand views throughout the park are incredibly awe inspiring — but here, nature surrounds you.

Located along the curve of a hairpin turn on Trail Ridge Road, at 9,691 feet elevation and climbing, Many Parks Curve Scenic Overlook offers a breathtaking survey over the landscapes east and southeast — essentially a look back on yesterday's and this morning's drive, plus a preview of what's to come.
Although, depending on what time of year you're making the trip, it's also time for a decision. When Trail Ridge Road is fully open (roughly the last weekend of May through mid-October) the scenic route goes on to climb upwards of 12,200 feet in elevation, eventually passing the Continental Divide. Outside of those peak travel months, Trail Ridge Road is closed beyond Many Parks Curve Overlook for safety.
If the road is open, it is a really beautiful drive to the Alpine Visitor Center, which is another 13 miles further along and includes a half dozen more scenic outlooks, as outlined in your park map. In which case, you can skip the Bear Lake hike — or get an earlier start to the day (by 90 or so minutes) and do it all.

One of the prettiest drives on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park in any season, and especially during autumn foliage, Bear Lake Road is joy to drive and Bear Lake, at the terminus of the 9.2 mile road, promises scenic views and an easy 0.5 mi loop trail (unpaved, but hardly any incline).
Given that Bear Road is essentially the closest access point to the national park from Estes Park, understandably, it's also one of the park's most popular routes. That being said, the drive and the lake views are worth it. Between late May and mid-October, timed entry permit reservations are required for a nominal fee. Outside of peak season, late May through mid-October, it's easier to drive in, although if the parking lot at the lake is full, a shuttle runs visitors the last few miles from Glacier Basin Campground.
Any hike in Rocky Mountain National Park — even such a relatively easy loop trial around the lake — requires preparation, whether for summer or winter. If you're not traveling with the right gear, there's always a second option: simply enjoy the drive in, and the drive out.

Exiting the park, it's about time for a proper midday meal — and Bird & Jim's relaxed, industrial-rustic mountain chalet is just the place. Farm-to-table Colorado cuisine means sourcing from local farms and ranchers — so you know you can't go wrong with the 7 oz. Mountain Jim Burger, a proprietary blend of prime angus beef chuck-short rib and duroc pork belly, topped with Swiss cheese, tomato and mixed greens, and served on a potato roll with green peppercorn aioli.
There's lighter fare of course, including generous fresh salads, cast iron salmon or trout entrees, and a long list of sharable snacks & bites that are perfect nibbles to accompany a cocktail or glass of wine. And why not try something new? Bird & Jim's wine list is consistently receives Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence.

This ChargePoint Charging Station couldn't be more centrally located in the laid-back college town of Boulder, which in more recent years has turned into a Silicon Valley tech-startup offshoot, as well. While the EV charges, head for Pearl Street Mall, which features fantastic shopping and people watching, too.
Type: CCS 4 Stations, 4 Plugs Power: 62 kW

Boulder's popular pedestrian promenade features an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and cafes, typically with outdoor seating that overflows in to the car-free through fare that is Pearl Street Mall.
Given the location, of course there's no shortage of apparel stores that cater to a casually-stylish outdoors-loving crowd. Book lovers should beeline toward the three-story Boulder Book Store while cooking enthusiasts will love browsing in Savory Spice Shop, a local spice company that sells high-quality spices from around the world and makes its own custom seasoning blends, too. Feel free to extend your time here if you're enjoying all that Pearl Street has to offer.

Open for teatime from 3-5 p.m. daily (except Mondays), the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is a beloved gathering place for college students, faculty, and Boulderites of all ages.
Named in homage of Boulder's sister city, Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, the teahouse features handcrafted, carved, and painted decorative elements from more than 40 artisans from Tajikistan virtually everywhere you look: the ceiling, the columns, the stools and tables, the sculptures, even the ceramic works on the building's exterior.
Before getting on the road, stop in for a spot of tea, although be forewarned the tea menu is extensive. But it's not just tea that's on the menu. The teahouse also offers a variety of other hot and cold beverages—everything from hot cider to a refreshing hibiscus cooler, hot or cold Vietnamese-style coffee, and beer, wine, and cocktails too—plus sharable small plates and desserts, if you're feeling peckish.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Return to the charging station to pick up the car.

Driving into Boulder, you likely noticed the distinctive, slanted, reddish-brown rock formations that serve as a picturesque backdrop to the town. These smooth sandstone slabs are called the Flatirons, a distinctive set of rock formations that can be seen from miles around and are one of the most recognizable features of the Front Range slopes. Driving south along CO-93, right about now take a peak in the rearview for one of the last glimpses you'll have of the Flatirons. The sloping hills and grasslands of Eldorado Springs are a popular local hiking area for precisely those views. (No need to stop, necessarily, just take in the view.)

Driving through larger metro areas in the US, it's always surprising how quickly that population sprawl gives way to wide-open countryside, and leaving the greater Denver metro area is no exception. But the corridor between Denver and Colorado Springs is growing rapidly, and no doubt this region won't always have such a dusty cowpoke sort of vibe.
One restaurant pioneer that already has Denver residents driving "over the hill" for decades is Gabriel's Restaurant & Tuscan Bar, housed in an old Victorian-era home in the sleepy town of Sedalia. Head for the restaurant's more causal bistro and barroom, which includes pleasant patio seating (weather permitting) and offers a la carte Italian appetizers and entrees — with any luck you're just in time to catch a sunset, too.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.