Rocky Mountain National Park Permit Guide 2026
Colorado · No dogs in the backcountry
By Casey Rowan, Permit Ranger
Last updated
Rocky Mountain National Park protects a high-altitude stretch of the Colorado Front Range, with alpine lakes, tundra passes, and hundreds of designated wilderness camp areas. A wilderness camping permit is required for overnight backcountry trips, and one reservation covers your whole party at a specific camp area. Popular camps and summer weekends sell out fast, so competitive dates can be hard to secure.
Rocky Mountain National Park issues its wilderness permits through recreation.gov, and popular passes sell out ahead of the season. The entire May 1 – Oct 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-site quota). Nov–Apr sites are reserved in person at a wilderness office only. Permit Ranger watches every pass here and alerts you the moment a sold-out date opens.
When permits are released
The entire May 1 – Oct 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific). One reservation covers your whole party (per-site quota). Nov–Apr sites are reserved in person at a wilderness office only.
Quota seasons: May 1 to October 31, 2026; May 1 to October 31, 2027 - off-season: Nov–Apr wilderness sites are reserved IN PERSON at a park wilderness office (up to the day before your trip) - there is no online booking to watch.
Fees
- Reservation: $36 per trip (flat rate, non-refundable)
How to get a Rocky Mountain National Park permit
- Plan your route by choosing the wilderness camp areas you want for each night of your trip.
- Mark the opening: the entire May 1 to October 31 wilderness camping season goes on sale at once on March 1 at 8:00 AM Mountain (7:00 AM Pacific).
- Book your permit on recreation.gov as soon as the season opens, reserving each camp area for the nights of your itinerary.
- If your dates are sold out, keep watching - cancellations reopen camp areas throughout the season, and Permit Ranger can alert you the moment a watched camp frees up.
Notable trails
- Sky Pond via Glacier Gorge Trail - 4.9 on AllTrails
- Odessa Lake via Bear Lake, Flattop Mountain, and Fern Lake Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- The Keyhole and Longs Peak via Longs Peak Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Finch Lake and Pear Lake Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Ouzel Lake Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Lone Pine Lake via East Inlet Trail - 4.8 on AllTrails
- Lost Lake via North Fork Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
- Lawn Lake Trail - 4.7 on AllTrails
Top passes in this area
The most in-demand Rocky Mountain National Park entry points, each with its own detail page.
- Boulderfield 2 (Two 2-person tents) (Snow-free average: June 19)
- Box Canyon (Snow-free average: July 8)
- Cascade Falls (Snow-free average: May 25)
- Cats Lair (Snow-free average: May 31)
- Cub Creek (Snow-free average: May 13)
- Desolation (Snow-free average: July 4)
- Foot Bridge (Snow-free average: June 19)
- Green Mountain (Snow-free average: June 13)
Frequently asked questions
When do Rocky Mountain National Park permits open?
What if my dates are sold out?
Does Permit Ranger book the permit for me?
More permits in Colorado
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison permit guide
- Great Sand Dunes permit guide
- Indian Peaks Wilderness permit guide
- Indian Peaks: Last-Minute permit guide
- Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness permit guide
Plan ahead
Sold-out dates reopen all the time from cancellations and quota drops. Permit Ranger checks recreation.gov around the clock and alerts you the moment your dates open. It never books for you.
Browse Rocky Mountain National Park passes · Book on recreation.gov