Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle Tickets
Staying in Estes Park? The Hiker Shuttle provides shuttle bus service to passengers from the Estes Park Visitor Center in the town of Estes Park (near the intersections of U.S. Highways 36 and 34), to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road.
The Hiker Shuttle allows you to leave your vehicle where you lodge or parked in the Estes Park parking structure (adjacent to the Estes Park Visitor Center) and access many of Rocky Mountain National Park's most well known destinations within the Bear Lake Road corridor. The Hiker Shuttle will take passengers to the Park & Ride Transit Hub. Once at Park & Ride, transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttle routes to access destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.
Additionally, the park's shuttle system allows you to create your own “loop” hikes. Hikers can start their day at one trailhead and exit at another within the Bear Lake Road Corridor. For more details to see a map of the shuttle routes, visit RMNP's Shuttle Buses and Public Transit webpage.
To ride the Hiker Shuttle, all passengers must reserve Hiker Shuttle Tickets in advance. Reservations can be made on a first-come, first-served basis through www.recreation.gov. Hiker Shuttle Tickets are only available through Recreation.gov. Hiker Shuttle Tickets cannot be purchased in person at the Estes Park Visitor Center or at any of RMNP's visitor centers or entrance stations.
All passengers in a party are required to have a Hiker Shuttle Ticket. One reservation will cover from 1 to 4 Hiker Shuttle Tickets, which is good for up to 4 people in a party - regardless of age.
- When making your Hiker Shuttle reservation, remember to select the quantity of tickets that corresponds with the number of people in your party. Every person, including infants and young children, must have their own Hiker Shuttle Ticket to ride the Hiker Shuttle bus. The number of tickets available is equal to the number of available seats on the Hiker Shuttle bus.
- Seats are limited on the Hiker Shuttle - please reserve only the number of tickets you need so others may enjoy the park experience.
There is a $2 processing fee for each Hiker Shuttle reservation. Hiker Shuttle reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Are there more than 4 people in your group? A second person with a separate Recreation.gov account will need to book the additional Hiker Shuttle Tickets for your group. One Recreation.gov account holder can only reserve one reservation per day.
Passengers with Hiker Shuttle Ticket Reservations will board the Hiker Shuttle outside of the Estes Park Visitor Center. The Hiker Shuttle does not pick up or drop-off passengers at any other locations in Estes Park or in Rocky Mountain National Park.
After boarding the Hiker Shuttle, the bus will drive passengers to the Park & Ride Transit Hub inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Once at Park & Ride, passengers may transfer to the park's free Bear Lake or Moraine Park Shuttles to reach destinations located along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
Hiker Shuttle Schedule:
- Daily Hiker Shuttle Service is available May 24 - September 2, 2024
- Saturday/Sunday Only Service begins September 7 - October 20, 2024.
Schedule for Hiker Shuttle buses departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center and going to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride: 9:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:15 p.m.
The Hiker Shuttle will pick up returning passengers from Park & Ride and return to the Estes Park Visitor Center at the following times: 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:45 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 6 p.m.
When you are ready to return to the Estes Park Visitor Center, simply return to RMNP's Park and Ride Transit Hub and board a returning Hiker Shuttle back to Estes Park. Please remember, the last bus departs from Park and Ride at 6 p.m. Do not be late! There are no other public transportation services available to return from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Town of Estes Park.
Please keep in mind that Hiker Shuttle tickets only allow you to access to the Bear Lake Road corridor inside RMNP. Your Hiker Shuttle ticket is only valid for the Hiker Shuttle. You cannot use a Hiker Shuttle ticket when entering Rocky Mountain National Park via a personal vehicle.
All passengers riding the Hiker Shuttle will need two things: a Hiker Shuttle Ticket and a valid park entrance pass. Individual 1-day entrance passes can be purchased on Recreation.gov or upon arrival. If you, or someone in your group, already has an America The Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass, this pass will cover your park entrance fee (not the Recreation.gov processing fee for Hiker Shuttle reservations). A pass covers the individual park entrance fee for the passholder and up to 3 others.
Need to Know
- Why is RMNP Requiring Reservations to Ride the Hiker Shuttle?
Seating capacity on the Hiker Shuttle bus is limited and rider demand is high. In 2019, visitors interested in riding on the Hiker Shuttle experienced wait times from one to two hours to board a bus. The park is piloting park wide timed entry reservations and the Hiker Shuttle is included in that system.
Reservations improve the visitor experience by guaranteeing that everyone in your party will be able to board a specific bus at a specific time. They also help minimize congestion, crowding, and wait times.
- How Do I Make a Reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets?
All Hiker Shuttle Tickets are available online through Recreation.gov (take time to set up or update your Recreation.gov account first) or by:
Using the Recreation.gov Mobile App
Calling the Recreation.gov Reservation Line: 877-444-6777
Calling the Recreation.gov International Line: 606-515-6777
Calling the Recreation.gov TDD Line: 877-833-6777
- When Will Hiker Shuttle Tickets Be Available to Reserve?
Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- Release Date: May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of May 24 - June 30
- Release Date: June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of July 1 - July 31
- Release Date: July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of August 1 - August 31
- Release Date: August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of September 1 - September 30
- Release Dates: September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for the Reservation Dates of October 1 - October 20
Additional Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov beginning at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date, beginning on May 23.
- Entrance Fees
In addition to your Hiker Shuttle Ticket, all passengers will need a valid park entrance pass.
If you, or someone in your group, already has an America The Beautiful Interagency Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass, this pass will cover your park entrance fee (not the Recreation.gov processing fee for Hiker Shuttle reservations). A pass covers the individual park entrance fee for the passholder and up to 3 others. You will be asked to show your park pass and your Photo ID upon arrival. All entrance passes will be checked at the time of boarding the Hiker Shuttle.
- When Does the Last Hiker Shuttle of the Day Depart from Rocky Mountain National Park?
The last Hiker Shuttle bus of the day departs from RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub at 6 p.m. Shuttle riders are strongly advised to watch the time when exploring the park. Make sure that all members of your party return to the Park & Ride Transit Hub well before 6 p.m. The bus will not wait for you!
If someone misses the last bus of the day, there are no other buses or public transit available that provide service to Estes Park.
- May I Transfer My Hiker Shuttle Reservation to Someone Else to use?
No. Hiker Shuttle reservations are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
Booking Windows
In 2024, Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov based on the following schedule:
- Release Date: May 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of May 24 - June 30
- Release Date: June 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of July 1 - July 31
- Release Date: July 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of August 1 - August 31
- Release Date: August 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of September 1 - September 30
- Release Date of September 1 at 8 a.m. MDT for Reservation Dates of October 1 - October 20
Additional Hiker Shuttle Tickets will be released on a first-come, first-served basis on Recreation.gov beginning at 7 p.m. MDT the night before a desired arrival date, beginning on May 23.
Changes and Cancellations
Reservations for Hiker Shuttle Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable. They cannot be gifted or transferred to another person, including parents, children or siblings. If you are unable to use your Hiker Shuttle reservation, cancellations may be made up to 24 hours prior to your visit.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1000 HY 36 Estes Park CO 80517
Phone Number
970-586-1206
