| Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park |
Frontcountry Camping:
Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park is permitted only in designated campgrounds. There are 6 drive-in campgrounds that provide almost 600 campsites, with most accepting reservations. Reservations for summer camping in Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and Aspenglen can be made up to six months in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online through the National Reservation System.
The park also has one group campground at Glacier Basin, which has 13 sites that can accommodate groups of 9 to 40 people.
Two other campgrounds, Longs Peak and Timber Creek, are available on a first come, first serve basis. Located on the west side of the Divide, Timber Creek is also the only campground that's open all year round.
* Aspenglen Campground (8200 feet): 54 sites
* Glacier Basin Campground (8500 feet): 150 sites
* Glacier Basin Group Sites (8500 feet): 13 sites
* Longs Peak Campground (9500 feet): 26 sites
* Moraine Park Campground (8160 feet): 245 sites
* Timber Creek Campground (8900 feet): 98 sites
For more information on each of Rocky Mountain's campgrounds, including locator maps, please click here.
Backcountry Camping:
Rocky Mountain National Park is a hiker's paradise, and ranks as one of the most popular backpacking destinations in the National Park System. There are roughly 180 backcountry campgrounds that contain between 1 and 9 campsites. There are also opportunities for camping in "cross-country areas", which are located in the least traveled and least accessible areas of Rocky Mountain National Park. With its free shuttle system in the Moraine Park and Bear Lake Road area, backpackers may also want to note that there are numerous one-way backpacking trips that can be created.
To camp in Rocky Mountain's backcountry you will need a permit. In order to minimize impacts on park resources, the national park limits the number of permits issued for any given night.
Backpackers should also note that in January of 2022 the park announced that from now on all backcountry campers will need to make permit reservations through Recreation.gov. Phone, mail, email and fax reservations are no longer accepted at the Backcountry Office. Before making a reservation, the site will require you to set up an account. This new system will allow you to view permit availability, book a reservation, and pay online. Additional information with important links are available on the park's online Backcountry Camping Guide page.
The Backcountry Camping Guide contains additional information on how to plan a trip, obtain a backcountry/wilderness permit, use the trails, set up camp, hike in a cross-country area, and care for the backcountry/wilderness. It also details the range of opportunities for camping in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park: designated sites (individual and group), stock sites, cross-country areas, bivouac areas (for technical climbers only) and winter areas.
To purchase the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map for Rocky Mountain National Park, please click here.