Ride a Shuttle Bus to the Trails in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park was the fifth most popular in the country in 2024 with nearly 4.2 million visitors. Many of those folks head to the park’s popular eastern side, closest to Denver. Rocky Mountain’s popularity is for good reason, but it can lead to congestion, especially at the smaller parking lots in Moraine Park and along Bear Lake Road. That’s why the park offers a free shuttle service in the summer months to help visitors reach trailheads and viewpoints, without the hassle of searching for a parking spot. If you’re visiting the park this summer between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., chances are most parking lots will already be full. Rangers often place a sign out at the bottom of the road when the Bear Lake parking area is full, so you don’t have to test your luck. Instead, head to the Bear Lake Park & Ride, or the Estes Park Visitor Center, to easily find a spot in large lots and board the shuttle to the park. Here’s everything you need to know about the Rocky Mountain shuttle bus system.

Rocky Mountain National Park Shuttles

There are three shuttles lines that operate in the park. The first two are free and operated by the National Park Service. They access Moraine Park and the Bear Lake Road Corridor. The last shuttle runs from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Bear Lake Park & Ride, where you can transfer to the other shuttle lines, and requires a reservation.

See the Most Up-to-Date Route Map and Schedule

Bear Lake Shuttle Route

In 2024, the Bear Lake Shuttle ran every 10-15 minutes between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., May 24 to October 20. This shuttle is free, but note you will need a timed-entry reservation that includes the Bear Lake Road Corridor to access the Park & Ride. The shuttle begins at the Bear Lake Park & Ride near Glacier Basin Campground, and ends at the Bear Lake parking lot. The stops in order are:

• Bear Lake Park & Ride
• Bierstadt Lake Trailhead
• Glacier Gorge Trailhead
• Bear Lake Parking Area

Moraine Park Shuttle Route

In 2024, the Moraine Park Shuttle ran every 60 minutes between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m, May 24 to October 20. The last shuttle leaves Fern Lake at 6:30 p.m. This shuttle is free, but note you will need a timed-entry reservation that includes the Bear Lake Road Corridor to access the Park & Ride. The shuttle begins at the Bear Lake Park & Ride near Glacier Basin Campground, and ends at the Fern Lake Bus Stop. The stops in order are:

• Bear Lake Park & Ride
• Sprague Lake/Glacier Creek Stables
• Glacier Basin Campground
• Bear Lake Park & Ride
• Hollowell Park
• Tuxedo Park
• Moraine Park Campground (C Loop)
• Cub Lake Trailhead
• Fern Lake Bus Stop

Hiker Shuttle Route from Estes Park

If you don’t want to deal with parking inside Rocky Mountain National Park at all, head to the Estes Park Visitor Center in town with a big parking garage and ride the Hiker Shuttle instead. The Hiker Shuttle goes straight to the Bear Lake Park & Ride, where you can transfer to the other park shuttle lines to access trailheads along Bear Lake Road and in Moraine Park. These are the only shuttles that operate in the park, so if you want to explore Trail Ridge Road, the west side, or any other locations, you’ll need to drive there.

In 2024, the Hiker Shuttle ran approximately every hour from 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 24 to September 2. On weekends, the shuttle operated until October 20. This route requires a reservation, which can be made one month in advance on Recreation.gov. The reservation costs $2, but that fee covers up to four passengers. Just be sure to choose the correct number of seats when making your reservation. You can’t ride any other park-bound bus besides the time you have reserved, but on the way back to Estes Park, you can catch any return shuttle. The good news? You don’t need a separate timed-entry reservation for the park if you have a shuttle reservation.

Estes Park Visitor Shuttles

The town of Estes Park also provides free shuttles from its downtown visitor center to various stops in town (but not into the park). The five shuttle routes operate daily from Memorial Day through mid-October, and off-season for special events. Get more details at Visit Estes Park.

Do I Need a Timed-Entry Reservation If I’m Riding the Shuttle?

If you plan to ride the free park shuttle from the Bear Lake Park & Ride, the answer is yes, you will need a timed-entry reservation between May 23 and October 13, 2025. Make sure you reserve the Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road option, as you’ll need this to access the Bear Lake Park & Ride.

If you want to take advantage of the Hiker Shuttle from Estes Park, you will not need a separate timed-entry reservation, but you will need a reservation for the shuttle itself.