Rocky Mountain National Park
National park · Larimer County ·
High-altitude park with alpine lakes, jagged peaks, wildlife
High-altitude park with alpine lakes, jagged peaks, wildlife
"When the summer road-tripping crowds disperse, this place turns into a winter wonderland with miles of secluded trails and backcountry ski hills. Take little ones sledding at Hidden Valley or stomp through Tyndall Gorge on a guided snowshoe hike to Emerald Lake." - Emily Pennington
"Rounding out the top five, this Colorado park scored above 80 and holds a Google rating of 4.8 or higher, affirming its strong appeal as a fall destination in the study." - Iona Brannon Iona Brannon Iona Brannon is a journalist with a love for food and travel. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"I observed that Rocky Mountain National Park may be kept open with minimal NPS staff and some closed visitor facilities, and Colorado legislators have indicated they might use state funds if necessary to keep major parks like this staffed and to minimize impacts on local economies." - Emily Pennington
"Because it’s so close to the Denver airport, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park first on our loop — an easy first stop that made logistical sense for our family trip." - Jordi Lippe-McGraw
"To manage heavy visitation, the park uses timed-entry reservations for peak periods, so planning ahead is important—slots may be released well in advance and can affect impromptu park-hopping. With reduced ranger and seasonal staff across parks, expect constrained visitor services and programing; research current hours and shuttle schedules, bring essentials, and aim for off-peak hours to avoid the worst congestion." - Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion Stephanie Vermillion is a travel journalist and photographer covering culture and adventure for Travel + Leisure Outside, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines