Rocky Mountain requires timed entry

Rocky Mountain National Park began requiring timed-entry reservations on Friday, May 22, for visitors entering during certain daytime hours, according to the National Park Service. The system runs through Monday, October 12, 2026, for most of the park and is meant to manage day-use traffic during the busiest season. Reservations apply not only to the main interior areas but also to places outside the Bear Lake corridor, including destinations such as Lily Lake, the park said. Visitors still need a park entrance pass or fee in addition to a reservation. ### Which parts of Rocky Mountain now require a reservation? The National Park Service said a standard timed-entry reservation is required to enter most areas of Rocky Mountain National Park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from May 22 through October 12. That reservation covers destinations outside the Bear Lake Road Corridor, including scenic drives over Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, the west side of the park, Wild Basin and outlying sites such as Lily Lake. Recreation.gov says the system applies to “all areas” of the park during those hours unless a visitor arrives before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. A reservation lets visitors enter within a two-hour arrival window, and there is no set departure time once inside the park. ### Why are there two kinds of reservations? Bear Lake Road has a separate, stricter reservation category because it is one of the park’s busiest corridors. Recreation.gov says a “Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road” reservation is required to enter that corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. MDT from May 22 through October 18, 2026. The National Park Service said that Bear Lake reservation also includes access to the rest of Rocky Mountain National Park on the same day. Visitors heading only to other parts of the park do not need the Bear Lake version unless they plan to enter that corridor during its controlled hours. ### Can you still get in without a reservation? The National Park Service said visitors can still enter Rocky Mountain National Park without a timed-entry reservation before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. for the general park areas. For Bear Lake Road, the no-reservation window begins after 6 p.m., according to Recreation.gov. The reservation is also not a substitute for the park’s regular entrance fee. Recreation.gov says the only added reservation charge is a non-refundable $2 processing fee, but visitors must still show a valid park pass or pay the entrance fee at the gate. ### Where do visitors book, and how are spots released? Recreation.gov says timed-entry reservations are available only through its website and are not issued in person at park entrance stations or visitor centers. The park’s February 18 announcement said the 2026 system would be similar to the one used in 2024 and 2025. Recreation.gov says the first batch of 2026 reservations went on sale May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for visits from May 22 through June 30. The next batch opens June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for July visits, along with any unbooked June inventory. Additional blocks are scheduled to open on the first day of each following month through October.