There are nearly a dozen locations in Colorado that require some type of reservation to visit popular recreational spots during the busy summer months.
Reservations can be frustrating for many recreationists, but for those who obtain reservations to these popular destinations within the Centennial State, they can reduce crowding in parking lots, trails, and restrooms, making their visit more enjoyable. improve the user experience. Managing the amount of people at popular locations can also help reduce damage to natural resources, such as widening trails and parking outside designated parking areas.
Here’s more information on getting reservations for Colorado’s top outdoor destinations, as well as a list of destinations where you’ll need some reservations this summer.
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Dream Lake in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is accessible through Timed Entry+ reservations. (Dawn Wilson Photo) Rocky Mountain National Park
There’s only one week left until May 1st.
It may not seem like a very important date, but if you want to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, you should mark it on your calendar. This is the first day to begin booking timed admission reservations for dates from May 24th through June 30th.
This year, RMNP’s timed entry reservation system has several new items, including the end date of the reservation system season depending on the permit reserved.
One permit, called “Timed Entry+,” is for the Bear Lake Road corridor, which includes the entire length of the road from the Beaver Meadows entrance to Bear Lake and the rest of the park, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.This system will run from Friday 24th May to Sunday 20th October
The second permit, called “Timed Entry,” includes “the remainder of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. The reservation period for this “remaining park” is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. From May 24th to Tuesday, October 15th
Permits issued using the reservation system allow park visitors to enter the park within two hours without a set departure time. There is a $2 fee for each reservation.
Reservations for admission from May 24 to June 30 will be accepted through recreation.gov on Wednesday, May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT. The next release will be on June 1st at 8am for July and the remaining days. There are no reservations for June. Starting at 8 a.m. on July 1st, reservations will be made available for remaining unbooked days in August and July. Starting at 8 a.m. on August 1st, reservations will be made available for the remaining unreserved days in September and August. Starting at 8 a.m. on September 1st, reservations will be made available for the remaining unreserved dates in October and September.
Changes from the 2023 Pilot System to the 2024 Pilot System include changing the reservation time for day-ahead tickets from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (MDT). In 2023, during the summer and fall seasons of the timed admission system, the number of available reservations published the day before increased to 40% of the total capacity on each day.
The 2023 amendments to the Bear Lake Corridor re-entry policy will continue to allow re-entry at 2 p.m., rather than after 6 p.m., as was required in 2022.
All RMNP timed admission reservations are available at recreation.gov. We expect reservations to fill up quickly, so we recommend planning as far in advance as possible.
For more information about RMNP’s Timed Entry Permit System, please visit https://nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm.
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Timed entry reservations are required to visit the summit of Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) during the summer months. (Photo by Dawn Wilson) Mt. Blue Sky Recreation Area and Scenic Byway (formerly Mt. Evans)
There are few places in the world where you can drive up to 4,000 feet on a paved road and enjoy awe-inspiring views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. There are two in Colorado.
Mount Blue Sky, renamed from the previous Mount Evans in 2023, features 14 miles of paved roads, the highest in North America, winding and curving to the top of this impressive mountain.
Located just 90 miles west of Denver, Mount Blue Sky is a 4,265-foot mountain that is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, yellow marmots, American pikas, and many other tundra-loving animals. The road continues to an elevation of 14,130 feet and is reached by a short trail from the summit parking lot.
Timed entry reservations are required to visit this impressive mountain. 75% of reservations are released on a rolling basis 30 days prior to the visit date. 25% of reservations will be released 2 days before the date (i.e. June 1st to June 3rd). The mountain’s season is Memorial Day and Labor Day, and this year he will open at 8 a.m. on May 27 (weather permitting).Reservations are required only between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recreation/recarea/?recid=28452&actid=50.
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Looking west from Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Pikes Peak rises above ponderosa trees. (Photo by Dawn Wilson) Pikes Peak Highway
The second paved road in Colorado above 14,000 feet is Pikes Peak Highway.
Just 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs, this 31-mile paved road leads to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. It offers stunning views and is also home to an impressive visitor center, which opened in June 2021. The top of the mountain.
Like Mount Blue Sky, the path to the top of the mountain that inspired Kathryn Leigh Bates to write America the Beautiful passes through multiple living zones on its way to the tundra.
Open every day of the year, the length of Pikes Peak’s public roads changes seasonally depending on the weather. As of April 22, 16 miles of the road were open to vehicles. Hours and prices vary by season, but from Memorial Day through Labor Day, gates to the road are open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required for timed admission from May 24th to September 30th.
For more information and reservations, visit https://coloradosprings.gov/drivepikespeak.
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Entrance sign to El Dorado Canyon State Park near Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dawn Wilson) El Dorado Canyon State Park
El Dorado Canyon State Park is a hidden gem surrounded by sandstone cliffs and towering canyon walls west of Boulder.
Due to its proximity to the populous Front Range, its popularity for world-class climbing routes, and limited parking, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which manages the park, announced a time designation for the park’s Inner Canyon area in 2022. We have introduced a vehicle reservation system.
Reservations are required for admission on Saturdays, Sundays, and summer holidays from May 15th to September 15th from 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and the admission time is 2 hours. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Reservations are free and can be made up to 30 days in advance, but a small number of reservations are released 24 hours in advance. A park pass is required to enter the park at all times of the year. There is also a shuttle bus within the park that does not require reservations.
For more information and reservations, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/EldoradoCanyon/Pages/vehiclereservations.aspx.
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Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs is one of nearly a dozen locations in Colorado that require timed entry reservations. (Photo by Dawn Wilson) Hanging Lake Recreation Area
Located in the mountains along Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs, this short but rugged hike climbs 1,200 feet in 2.5 miles to Hanging Lake’s unique natural travertine pool.
Located in the White River National Forest, this popular destination nearly doubled in visitor numbers from 2012 to 2016. As a result, the U.S. National Forest Service, which manages the trail, introduced a timed entry reservation system in 2019 to address parking congestion. This is to reduce traffic congestion along the narrow road and protect the lake’s fragile ecosystem.
This hike is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and reservations are required year-round. The trail is closed outside of these hours.
Due to damage from the 2020 Grizzly Creek Fire and subsequent landslides, USFS plans to rebuild the trail in the summer of 2024. The trail is open until April 30th, but trail hours will be rolled out every Tuesday throughout the summer depending on conditions. Construction will begin on April 30th.
For more information and reservations about Hanging Lake, please visit https://visitglenwood.com/hanginglake/.
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Brainerd Lake Recreation Area in the Roosevelt National Forest is a wonderful combination of alpine lakes, scenic hiking, and wildlife viewing, but parking reservations are required during the busy summer season. (Dawn Wilson Photography) Other outdoor spots that require reservations
Several locations in Colorado are evaluating the implementation of timed admission reservation systems, so this list is subject to change as management plans change. Due to the continued popularity of outdoor recreation and visitation management challenges in Colorado, reservations will continue to become the norm in more locations. Be flexible by researching your destination well in advance of your trip, hike, or outdoor adventure, and consider alternative options like nearby trails, campgrounds, and drives.
