I planned a trip to RMNP a few months ago for June with no clue what I was doing and I kept procrastinating because this seemed so confusing… you just made it so clear and easy… thank you, you rock!!!
Please note that this is for 2023, and there are some changes for 2024 as well as more changes coming which haven’t been announced yet by the Rocky Mountain National Park. Once the full details for the reservation system are available, we’ll create a new video for 2024.
One important note to add, if you made a reservation on a day you want to enter at a time you don't like then you will not be able to get another reservation for that day if one becomes available the 5pm before, so you would have to cancel the reservation then take a chance on getting one the night before, you cannot get 2 reservations for the same day at different times, the website will lock you out of making a new one until you cancel the first one you made, this is where people are getting really frustrated. I hope that helps .
Questions: #1. If I get an Access+ pass for 5-7am but get to Bear Lake entrance before 5am, then leave (let's say 11am), will I still be able to reenter later in the day, or do I have to wait until after 6pm (Since it wasn't scanned in morning)? #2. Does the regular shuttle take you down to Bear Lake too? Or is the Hiker Shuttle the only one? TIA!
1. If you have a Park + Access Reservation to the Bear Lake Corridor, you can re-enter the Bear Lake a corridor after 2pm if you leave the area. You can re-enter the rest of the park at any time. 2. Only the Hiker Shuttle drops off at the Park-and-Ride area on the Bear Lake Corridor with pickup at the Estes Park Visitor Center. From there, you have to ride another shuttle to the Bear Lake Trailhead.
Great information! Just a few questions. If we plan to arrive in the park before 5am, do we need to display a park pass or anything on the dash (wasn’t sure if they have people come around and check cars for passes)? Also, if we plan to arrive in the park before 5am, can we stay in the park all day and visit any location without a timed entry pass?
Great question! You should always display your entrance pass into the National Park on the dash even if you have entered before the entrance kiosks are open. If you enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor before 5am, you will need to stay in that area, otherwise, once timed entry starts for the day, you won’t be able to get back into that area without a timed entry reservation during timed entry hours.
Thank you for the great info. I have a question: so if I buy the Park Acess timed entry(the one without bear lake corridor) can I not go to bear lake at all? Meaning can I not use the free shuttle to go to the bear lake?
This is correct, if you do not purchase a timed entry for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, you cannot enter the area during timed entry hours. The free shuttle only operates on the Bear Lake Road Corridor and you would not have access.
I want to enter the park from the Grand Lake entrance at 10am, drive the trail ridge road, and then enter the bear lake corridor later that day (maybe 2pm). Do I have to buy 2 timed entry reservations for each entry (10am and 2pm)?
You are only able to purchase 1 timed entry per day. You can purchase a 2pm timed entry for Bear Lake Corridor, and enter the Grand Lake Entrance before timed entry starts, before 9am. Otherwise, if you purchase a 10am entrance, you would have to enter Grand Lake Entrance by 10am and get to the Bear Lake Corridor entrance by 12pm.
my question is that if I purchased an entry ticket, but it is not my ideal entry time slot, will I be able to use "modify", which is currently available, to get a preferred slot when they are released 5pm the day before?
Hello, we have a trip in July and were able to get a timed entry pass, including bear lake corridor but it isn’t until 2pm. Would we be able to explore the rest of the park if we make it in before 9am and then head over to bear lake during our entry window, since it does not let you reserve 2 timed entry tickets?
Yes, great question. Just make sure to let the rangers know when you enter that you have a reservation for the Bear Lake Corridor at a later time to check in.
Your camping reservation will act as your timed entry permit depending on which area you’re camping in, the campgrounds and their access areas are mentioned in the video where I talk about ways to get around the system.
If I book a campground reservation at glacier basin or moraine part, do we still need timed entry pass? Do we need any permit or pass for hiking around bear lake area?
Without getting a timed entry reservation. If I enter the park before 5am to bear lake road corridor and decide to leave the park for a few hours, then re-enter on the same day, do I need a timed entry reservation if I want to return at 11am for example?
You’re welcome! The Rocky Mountain National Park usually doesn’t finalize the guidelines until a few months before. So for 2024, expect an update for the park around March 2024.
If you’re unable to check out because it’s grayed out, this means those time slots have already sold out. The National Park holds 40% of the remaining timed entry reservations for purchase the night before at 5pm Mountain Time.
@@exploreestes I'm referring to the payment page that appears after the slot has been added to the cart. I figured it out today though. For others facing the same situation, try adding your card details manually and not using the card details saved in your browser.
Total BS, how can you schedule a 10 day 4000 mile trip out west around a 1 hour window to get into the park. A great example of why we have to have oversight to these mindless bureaucrats.
I planned a trip to RMNP a few months ago for June with no clue what I was doing and I kept procrastinating because this seemed so confusing… you just made it so clear and easy… thank you, you rock!!!
That makes us so happy to hear, we’re glad the video helped you plan your visit to the area!
So I could book a flight and Airbnb and have my vacation ruined because there no time slots left? What!?
Thanks for posting! I was literally looking this up this morning!
No problem! It can be confusing at times, so let us know if you have any questions!
If were staying in Estes Park, what's more convenient: driving in or taking the hiking shuttle in? Pros and cons for each would be fire 🙏🏼
We answered this question on TikTok, the video was too long to upload as a short on RUclips.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8PuPKsE/
@@exploreestes awesome, thanks! You just earned yourself another tiktok subscriber! 👍🏼
Thank you. Perfect.
Please note that this is for 2023, and there are some changes for 2024 as well as more changes coming which haven’t been announced yet by the Rocky Mountain National Park. Once the full details for the reservation system are available, we’ll create a new video for 2024.
One important note to add, if you made a reservation on a day you want to enter at a time you don't like then you will not be able to get another reservation for that day if one becomes available the 5pm before, so you would have to cancel the reservation then take a chance on getting one the night before, you cannot get 2 reservations for the same day at different times, the website will lock you out of making a new one until you cancel the first one you made, this is where people are getting really frustrated. I hope that helps .
Can you purchase multiple timed entry reservations for the same day in Rocky Mountain National Park?
@@exploreestes I do not think you can
You are correct, our video reply to this comment has the information relating to this question.
Awesome video!! Subscribed!!
Thank you, we appreciate it!
Excellent! Thank you!
Glad you found it helpful!
Questions: #1. If I get an Access+ pass for 5-7am but get to Bear Lake entrance before 5am, then leave (let's say 11am), will I still be able to reenter later in the day, or do I have to wait until after 6pm (Since it wasn't scanned in morning)? #2. Does the regular shuttle take you down to Bear Lake too? Or is the Hiker Shuttle the only one? TIA!
1. If you have a Park + Access Reservation to the Bear Lake Corridor, you can re-enter the Bear Lake a corridor after 2pm if you leave the area. You can re-enter the rest of the park at any time.
2. Only the Hiker Shuttle drops off at the Park-and-Ride area on the Bear Lake Corridor with pickup at the Estes Park Visitor Center. From there, you have to ride another shuttle to the Bear Lake Trailhead.
Awesome, so I'm camping at Aspenglen, so I don't need any of the other BS. Just pay the entrance fee, correct??🤔
Correct
very informative thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great information! Just a few questions.
If we plan to arrive in the park before 5am, do we need to display a park pass or anything on the dash (wasn’t sure if they have people come around and check cars for passes)?
Also, if we plan to arrive in the park before 5am, can we stay in the park all day and visit any location without a timed entry pass?
Great question!
You should always display your entrance pass into the National Park on the dash even if you have entered before the entrance kiosks are open.
If you enter the Bear Lake Road Corridor before 5am, you will need to stay in that area, otherwise, once timed entry starts for the day, you won’t be able to get back into that area without a timed entry reservation during timed entry hours.
Answering timed entry reservation questions for the Rocky Mountain National Park
Thank you for the great info.
I have a question: so if I buy the Park Acess timed entry(the one without bear lake corridor) can I not go to bear lake at all?
Meaning can I not use the free shuttle to go to the bear lake?
This is correct, if you do not purchase a timed entry for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, you cannot enter the area during timed entry hours. The free shuttle only operates on the Bear Lake Road Corridor and you would not have access.
I want to enter the park from the Grand Lake entrance at 10am, drive the trail ridge road, and then enter the bear lake corridor later that day (maybe 2pm). Do I have to buy 2 timed entry reservations for each entry (10am and 2pm)?
You are only able to purchase 1 timed entry per day. You can purchase a 2pm timed entry for Bear Lake Corridor, and enter the Grand Lake Entrance before timed entry starts, before 9am. Otherwise, if you purchase a 10am entrance, you would have to enter Grand Lake Entrance by 10am and get to the Bear Lake Corridor entrance by 12pm.
my question is that if I purchased an entry ticket, but it is not my ideal entry time slot, will I be able to use "modify", which is currently available, to get a preferred slot when they are released 5pm the day before?
No you cannot, you would have to release your previously purchased reservation. See this explanation here
ruclips.net/user/shortsXdEjluLnfxE
Every year they change the rules, they add fees, they have the park so tore up you can't see any Elk .
I am getting a time slot of 4pm for bear lake. Will I be not bale to visit balance park in morning?
You can enter the Bear Lake Corridor before 5am or the rest of the park before 9am without a timed entry reservation.
Hello, we have a trip in July and were able to get a timed entry pass, including bear lake corridor but it isn’t until 2pm. Would we be able to explore the rest of the park if we make it in before 9am and then head over to bear lake during our entry window, since it does not let you reserve 2 timed entry tickets?
Yes, great question. Just make sure to let the rangers know when you enter that you have a reservation for the Bear Lake Corridor at a later time to check in.
Oh wait...what about camping within? Any suggestions?
Your camping reservation will act as your timed entry permit depending on which area you’re camping in, the campgrounds and their access areas are mentioned in the video where I talk about ways to get around the system.
Should I use the website or mobile app?
Either works. Use what you feel most comfortable navigating quickly.
If I book a campground reservation at glacier basin or moraine part, do we still need timed entry pass?
Do we need any permit or pass for hiking around bear lake area?
Your camping reservation acts as your timed entry reservation into the National Park depending on the campground you choose.
Without getting a timed entry reservation. If I enter the park before 5am to bear lake road corridor and decide to leave the park for a few hours, then re-enter on the same day, do I need a timed entry reservation if I want to return at 11am for example?
You will need a timed entry reservation to re-enter. Or enter again after timed entry has ended.
Very informative..but my head is about to explode
Understandable, it can be confusing haha
1:14 wow 😍😍😍😍
And 2024? Do you know info for further plans?
Thank you too for this video!!
You’re welcome! The Rocky Mountain National Park usually doesn’t finalize the guidelines until a few months before. So for 2024, expect an update for the park around March 2024.
Do we need a permit in November 2023
Timed entry has ended for RMNP
ruclips.net/video/IOgTC7Qwwdk/видео.html
Do I still need time entry if riding the hiker shuttle?
No, but you need to make a reservation for the Hiker Shuttle instead.
Was anyone able to get past the payment page? The Next button is grayed out for me and my SIL.
If you’re unable to check out because it’s grayed out, this means those time slots have already sold out. The National Park holds 40% of the remaining timed entry reservations for purchase the night before at 5pm Mountain Time.
@@exploreestes I'm referring to the payment page that appears after the slot has been added to the cart. I figured it out today though. For others facing the same situation, try adding your card details manually and not using the card details saved in your browser.
Thanks for the insight!
Total BS, how can you schedule a 10 day 4000 mile trip out west around a 1 hour window to get into the park. A great example of why we have to have oversight to these mindless bureaucrats.
This is so unfortunate
It can be frustrating, I hope this video helps you navigate the system