Our RMNP Timed-Entry permit was between 9-11am, so we made sure to be at the entrance by 9, which was only about 2 miles from the Gateway. Our drive into the park on Trail Ridge Road gave us a very up close look at the damage from the wildfires.

After a few stops, we continued up, up, up Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Visitor Center. The visitor center is the highest in the National Park system, at 11,796 feet. We took the short paved trail up to an elevation of 12,005 feet.

After a long stop at the gift shop, we continued east to Alluvial Fan. This area was created in 1982 when a dam gave way and let loose 200 million gallons of water and giant boulders. I had read about this area before we left, and knew the kids would have a blast climbing on the boulders. It was so cool!

Our next stop was at Stanley Park, just outside RMNP. Ellie and I got on our bikes and tested out the sweet mountain bike skills area.

We got to our Airbnb in Estes Park and headed out to dinner at Antonio’s, where we ordered way too much delicious pizza.