A Day to Play in the Park, Rocky Mountain Style

Join us on Sunday, Sept. 14, for a custom day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. September is peak time to hearA herd of elk in a tundra meadow near Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Gay Porter DeNileon elk bugling — that distinct call made during mating season — and view brilliant golden aspens as you immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Colorado's mountains.

We’ll travel in style in a luxury van with a knowledgeable local guide, weaving through small, historic towns and resorts and over breathtaking alpine passes while scanning the horizon for mountain wildlife, including bighorn sheep, black bears and moose.

Register by July 15 for early bird rates!

Take the back way to the lake

Our first stop will be Grand Lake, the Western Gateway to the park, where you can find unique treasures in the Grand Lake Creative District, visit the historic Grand Lake Lodge or roam the shores of the eponymous lake, the largest natural lake in the state, and view the adjacent lakes, Shadow Mountain and Granby. 

Crest Colorado’s jewel, Rocky Mountain National Park

Most of the day will be spent discovering towering peaks, encountering majestic wildlife, and savoring the unspoiled  beauty and serenity of the park. Stops include:

  • Kawuneeche Visitor Center — Find information and maps, exhibits, a Rocky Mountain Conservancy bookstore, park films and a gift shop.
  • Adams Falls — Take a short, easy hike to a towering waterfall that feeds into Grand Lake.
  • Picnic lunch — Relax in a meadow or near a subalpine lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks and enjoy a boxed lunch with deli sandwich, chips and cookie (vegetarian option available). Aspen trees in their golden glory in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Karen Petersen
  • Trail Ridge Road — Experience the awe of traveling this 48-mile nationally designated All-American Road, winding through montane forests of aspen and ponderosa pine and thick subalpine forests of fir and spruce to treeline,  The serene beauty of Grand Lake in the fall, as viewed near the entrance to the national park. Photo by Karen Petersen where the last stunted, wind-battered trees yield to the alpine tundra, reaching an elevation of nearly 11,500 feet.
  • Estes Park — Catch a glimpse of the Stanley Hotel during a brief final stop in this quaint mountain town, home to boutiques, shops, historic landmarks and the two rivers that run through the community.
  • Peak to Peak Highway — Re-live the day’s adventures with your NFPW friends as we return to Golden on this Colorado Scenic Byway.
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