Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in January
With over 4.4 million visitors in 2017, Rocky Mountain National Park recorded its second highest annual visitation in the park’s history. This type of popularity is typical across the national park system in recent years, as visitors are flocking to the national parks in record numbers. In one sense, it’s great to see so many people taking interest in our protected lands, but the crowds can be a real downer when you’re hoping to get out and experience some natural beauty. While traveling in the offseason means foregoing peak weather, it’s the best way to avoid the crowds. In Rocky Mountain National Park, the best month to visit to beat the crowds is January.
Weather
It will get cold and snowy in Rocky Mountain National Park in January. That’s just to be expected when you visit the Rockies in the dead of winter. January is the second coldest month in the park on average after December, with daytime highs in the mid 20’s.
The weather will obviously be colder at the higher elevations, but if you spend time in Estes Park (just outside of the park), the temperatures aren’t as harsh.
The days are also a bit shorter in January…On the bight side (literally), RMNP is generally very sunny, so even if it’s cold and the sun sets earlier than in the summer, you’ll still have fairly good odds at getting clear sunny days if you visit in January.
Crowds
We realize that it probably doesn’t seem like we’re making a good case for visiting RMNP in January after our description of the weather. But if the weather were perfect in January then everyone would be going. The whole point of visiting in the winter is to beat the crowds and January is the least crowded month of the year. When we visited in January, the park roads were mostly vacant, we didn’t have to share the hiking trails with many other hikers, and it was easy to find cheap accommodation in Estes Park.
Winter Scenery
The Rockies blanketed in snow are a sight to behold. The scenery in January is just as good as anything you’ll see in the busy summer months…
Winter Activities
Winter is a beautiful time of year for hiking, snow shoeing and cross country skiing in the park. Two of the best winter day hikes are Dream Lake and Deer Mountain. Both of these are hugely popular hikes during peak season, and while you won’t be the only one on the trails in January, the crowds are nothing compared to what they would be in the summer.
Wildlife
Winter is an excellent time to look for elk, deer, and moose. Moose are most commonly spotted along the Colorado River on the west side of the park. Elk are easily spotted off the side of the road in open areas around dusk or dawn and can also be seen roaming around town in Estes Park. Bighorn sheep are more difficult to spot in the winter but if you’re looking for them you’ll have the most luck along the Highway 34/Fall River corridor on the east side of the park. Deer are everywhere, including, you guessed it, Deer Mountain.
Road Closures
It is important to check the park website regarding road closures during the winter. The most important thing to be aware of is that the famous Trail Ridge Road, as well as several other smaller roads are closed for the season.
There are obviously certain things that you can’t do in Rocky Mountain National Park in January, but that’s just the nature of offseason travel. You’ll need to make some sacrifices. But the crowds will be at their smallest, the scenery will be stunning, accommodation will be cheap, and you can still enjoy the hiking trails and spot wildlife. There are plenty of reasons to visit the park in the winter, but if you’re looking to experience the park in anything close to a peaceful setting, January is the way to go.