Rocky Mountain National Park Statistics

Rocky Mountain National Park had 4,171,431 recreation visits in 2025¹, making it the 6th most visited U.S. national park². The park in northern Colorado is known for its alpine lakes, mountain peaks, forests, meadows, high-elevation scenic drives and about 355 miles of hiking trails³. Hiking, sightseeing and camping are its main activities.

Rocky Mountain National Park key statistics

• 4,171,431 recreation visits in 2025¹
• 3,486,882 recreation visits from January to September 2026 (preliminary), down 0.1% on the same months of 2025¹
• 6th most visited of the 63 U.S. national parks in 2025²
• 190,231 overnight stays in 2025⁴
• $588 million spent by visitors in 2024⁵
• July was the busiest month of 2025, with 763,213 visitors¹
• About 265,848 acres (415 square miles), 94.8% of it designated wilderness³

Rocky Mountain National Park had just over 4.17 million recreation visits in 2025, up 0.4% from 4.15 million in 2024¹.

• The park had 4.67 million visits in 2019.¹ In 2020 the pandemic and a temporary wildfire closure cut that by 29%, to 3.31 million.
• Visits recovered to 4.43 million in 2021.¹
• They then slipped to 4.3 million in 2022 and 4.12 million in 2023.¹

How many people visited Rocky Mountain National Park in 2026?

Rocky Mountain National Park recorded 3,486,882 recreation visits from January to September 2026, 0.1% fewer than the 3,489,623 recorded over the same months of 2025.¹

• September 2026 brought 582,295 visits, up 0.7% from 578,186 in September 2025.¹
• August 2026 drew 640,532 visits, down 5.2% from 675,717 in August 2025.¹
• July 2026 was the busiest month so far, with 732,336 visits, down 4.0% from 763,213 in July 2025.¹
• January (113,829 visits, up 17.8%), February (111,416, up 10.2%) and March (175,753, up 8.2%) had the biggest rises on 2025.¹

The 2026 figures are preliminary; the National Park Service finalizes them by the end of the first quarter of the following year.¹

How many people visited Rocky Mountain National Park in 2025?

• The park recorded 4.17 million visits in 2025¹ and 190,231 overnight stays⁴. An overnight stay is one night spent in the park by one visitor, so this counts nights, not people.⁶ Total visits were 11% below the 4.67 million of 2019¹.

How did COVID affect visitor numbers at Rocky Mountain National Park?

• Visits fell to 3.31 million in 2020¹, mainly because the park closed for about two months in spring for COVID-19 and again in October because of wildfires.
• Visitor spending followed the same pattern. After holding at around $300 million in 2018 and 2019, it fell to $224.39 million in 2020⁷, a drop of more than 28%, then bounced back to $323.33 million in 2021⁸, above the 2019 level.

Rocky Mountain National Park covers 415 square miles³ and is one of the most visited parks in the U.S., with more than 4 million visitors a year¹. Nearby industry and the park's own popularity both put pressure on its environment and on local residents.

• Air pollution from oil and gas drilling in nearby Weld County threatens the park’s ecosystem and has caused it to fall out of compliance with Clean Air Act standards¹³.
• More than 60,000 acres west of the park, including land elk rely on in winter, have been leased for oil and gas development.
• The park's popularity has made housing unaffordable for many residents, who also worry about rising living costs, damage from tourists, development, pollution and overcrowding.

How is Rocky Mountain National Park managing crowds?

• The park introduced a timed entry reservation system in 2020 to manage rising visitor numbers¹⁴, spreading out the crowds and easing pressure on the landscape. In 2026, from May 22, a reservation was needed to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.¹⁵

September and early October are the best time to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for most people: the air is cooler, the fall colors are out, bull elk bugle in the meadows, and the crowds are smaller than in midsummer. September had 578,186 visits in 2025¹ and October 382,163.

When is Rocky Mountain National Park least crowded?

• January (96,601 visits in 2025), February (101,133) and December (134,597) are the quietest months.¹ Snow limits high-elevation trails and roads at this time of year.
• In summer, go early or late in the day. In 2026, from May 22, you needed a timed entry reservation to enter between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., but not before or after those hours for most areas.¹⁵

Busiest months at Rocky Mountain National Park

• July is the busiest month, with 763,213 visits in 2025¹, followed by August (675,717) and June (619,776).
• Summer draws the biggest crowds because from June to September the snow has mostly melted and the park's trails, attractions and activities are open.

How many people visit Rocky Mountain National Park per day?

Rocky Mountain National Park averaged about 11,430 recreation visits a day in 2025, based on 4,171,431 visits over the year.¹ That is down from about 12,790 a day in 2019.

• July was the busiest month, averaging about 24,620 visits a day.¹
• January was the quietest, averaging about 3,120 visits a day.¹

• Tent campers were the largest group, with 98,700 nights, or 51.9% of all overnight stays⁴.
• RV campers made up 24.1%, with 45,900 nights⁴.
• Backcountry campers made up 18.2%, with 34,700 nights⁴.

How do people camp in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Rocky Mountain National Park has five campgrounds with 570 sites between them: Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, Timber Creek, Aspenglen and Longs Peak.¹⁷ Three were open for the 2026 summer season.

• Moraine Park: The largest campground, with 244 sites, including 49 with electric hookups, for tents and RVs up to 40 feet.¹⁷ Summer sites cost $35 a night, or $55 with electricity.¹⁸ It is the only campground open in winter, when sites are first come, first served and cost $30 a night, or $55 with electricity.¹⁷
• Timber Creek: 98 sites for tents and RVs up to 30 feet.¹⁷
• Aspenglen: 52 sites for tents and RVs up to 30 feet.¹⁷
• Glacier Basin (150 sites, RVs up to 35 feet) and Longs Peak (26 tent-only sites) were closed for the 2026 season.¹⁷
• Booking: Summer sites must be reserved in advance on Recreation.gov, and they sell out early; there are no same-day sales.¹⁷ From May 1 to October 15, each camper can stay 7 nights in total across the park. No campsite has water hookups.

• Size: Rocky Mountain National Park spans 265,848 acres (415 square miles).³
• Campgrounds: The park has 5 campgrounds with 570 campsites.¹⁷
• Wildlife: The park is home to moose, elk, bears and 280 bird species³, among many other animals. An estimated 40–60 moose live on the west side, near Grand Lake, and their numbers are growing on the east side.

Roads, trails and landmarks

• Trail Ridge Road opened in 1932 and climbs to 12,183 feet,³ making it a fine spot for stargazing.
• The park contains 600 buildings, including 150 historic structures.
• The park maintains 355 miles of hiking trails.³
• Lakes and streams: The park has 450 miles of streams and 147 lakes,³ and 48 of those lakes hold trout.
• Longs Peak is the park's highest mountain, at 14,259 feet.³

Deaths in Rocky Mountain National Park are rare for a park with more than 4 million visits a year, but falls are the most common cause¹⁹, and steep terrain, high altitude and fast-changing mountain weather all call for care. A few precautions help keep you, and the park, safe:

• Plan ahead: Pack the Ten Essentials, including navigation tools, a first aid kit and extra layers.
• Know your limits: Pick routes that match your fitness and experience.
• Tread lightly: What visitors do directly affects the park's ecosystem and wildlife, so keep your impact low and support conservation work.
• Take care in burn areas: Watch for unstable trees, loose debris and flash flooding.
• Be ready for the weather: Check the forecast, dress in layers and come prepared for cold and wind chill.
• Give wildlife space: You must keep a safe distance from wildlife, and feeding animals is prohibited because it changes their natural behavior and can lead to dangerous encounters.
• Stay back from fast water: Take care near fast-moving rivers and streams.
• Know the avalanche risk: In winter, avalanches are a real danger, especially on steep snow slopes. Ask rangers about current conditions and learn how to recognize unsafe snow.