A Visiting Angler’s Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park

In Episode 27 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, myself along with some special guests discussed a few fishing destinations in the Western United States. Payton Skidmore of Skiddy Fishing talked about the Uinta Mountains of Utah, Keegan Uhl of Mostly Tenkara discussed the Eastern Sierras and I talked about Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado (RMNP).

As I had gathered the information and organized my thoughts on the topic of RMNP for the podcast, I figured it would be worth getting all the details written down as a reference for Tenkara Angler readers.

Rocky Mountain is a great destination for the tenkara angler. And better yet it’s a fun destination for the whole family and/or the significant other as well. I don’t really think of RMNP as a fishing destination, I think of it more as a hiking destination with the added bonus of very plentiful fishing. Generally I plan most of my hikes so that some fishing can be included. My wife is very tolerant of this and she’ll usually bring along a packable chair and a book or a knitting project so that when I stop for spot a bit of angling she can relax waterside.

Unless you’re willing and able to hike a good distance to some of the more remote lakes, you’re generally not going to be catching large fish, but I feel the setting quite makes up for it. Though RMNP is a very popular park, you’ll not run across that many anglers.

What to expect: Great hiking, amazing views, wildlife, lots of small to medium sized streams, both tumbling mountain streams and meandering meadow types, alpine lakes, fairly easy hiking access to plenty of water and even drive-up access to some good fishing, remote backcountry destinations if you’re up for the challenge, a nice small-town base of operations with plenty of lodging, restaurants and shopping or of course camping in the park if you prefer.

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Location and Getting There

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in North Central Colorado. If flying, you’ll fly into either Denver or Colorado Springs. Driving time to the park is about 3 hours from Colorado Springs and about 1hr 45min from the Denver airport. I much prefer the experience of flying into the smaller Colorado Springs airport and will usually do that if I can.

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When to Go and What to Expect Weather-wise

Rocky Mountain park is a high elevation destination with elevations ranging from 7,600 ft to 14,259 with many sections of trail (and alpine lakes) are above the tree line (approx. 11,500 ft). As such you need to plan accordingly. You generally cannot count on the highest trails being snow free until some time in July. For fishing you’ll also need to consider run-off for the flowing waters and ice-out for the high elevation lakes.

Long story short – to take advantage of all the park has to offer in regard to both hiking and fishing look to plan a trip in August or very early September. If you’re able to go after schools are back in session, then crowds will be slightly reduced. On our latest trip to RMNP we were there from September 13-20 and this was pushing it a bit with regard to weather. We generally had nice sunny days with high temperatures in the 50s ( this is highly dependent on elevation of course), but we did wake up to heavy frost several times. And on several days we were not able to travel the entire length of the Trail Ridge Road through the park due to snow and ice at higher elevations. The upside of this timing was that the elk rut had started and that made for some great elk viewing.

• Acclimation: If you don’t live at elevation then you may want to allow for a few days of acclimation at the lower elevations before tackling any higher elevation hikes. I’ve never had any particular issues in this regard, so I can’t speak to it personally but it’s not uncommon.
• Thunderstorms: Afternoon thunderstorms are very common in the summer and you should expect to see them daily. Plan your outings accordingly. Parking lots at trail heads can fill early (a bit more on this later) so getting out on the trail early is important for both parking and safety. If hiking above tree line (or fishing in the open meadow sections), pay close attention to the weather. I play it very cautiously and head back at the first sign of thunderstorms – you do not want to be caught above tree line or in meadows during a storm. Generally I plan morning hiking trips so that I can be back to my vehicle by noon. Then I’ll see how the weather is and look into post-storm afternoon outing.
• Changes with elevation: Plan on and be prepared for extreme weather changes. It’s not usual to start a hike in warm weather and run into freezing temps or even snow once you gain elevation. This isn’t always the case of course, but it happens often enough. If hiking up in elevation I always make sure to have a backpack with extra layers and rain gear.
• A word on hydration: Due to elevation, generally arid climate and physical exertion on demanding trails it is very easy to get dehydrated. Take plenty of water and/or be prepared to filter or treat water. I generally like to have 2-3 liters with me for a half-day hike., and I’ll bring along a water filter for good measure.

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Type of Fishing

Fishing in RMNP is going to be small to medium sized streams as well as alpine lakes. There is plenty of easily accessible fishing without much hiking at all – but for those that are more adventurous a long hike and spending a night or two in the backcountry will get you more solitude and some good lake fishing. Personally I’ve only done day hikes though. 

There are both cascading mountain streams as well as meadow streams in the park. 

You can catch brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout in the park. Generally the fish are not going to be big in most of the streams, but some of the lakes produce some bigger cutthroat. 



• Essential Book: There is one essential book to get if you’re fishing the park it’s Steven Schweitzer’s Book: A Fly Fishing Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park . It’s a thorough guide to the park’s water – and even serves as a good hiking guide (if you like to hike along streams).

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Park Passes, Timed Entry System and Shuttles

Park Passes

Whether taking a shuttle in, walking in or driving in you’ll need a park pass to enter RMNP. Park passes can be purchased at the staffed park entry points or in advance online. There are numerous options ranging from park-specific daily, weekly and annual passes. In addition to park-specific passes there’s the annual America the Beautiful pass that covers entrance fees to all National Parks as well as as day-use fees to lands managed by other federal agencies including: US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and US Army of Corps of Engineers.

• For current pricing and info check out the RMNP Fees and Passes webpage.

Timed Entry Permit

Except at certain times you will need a Timed Entry Permit, in addition to your park pass to enter RMNP. These Timed Entry Permits will need to be purchased in advance of your visit. Generally you can purchase these online around the 1st of the month prior for the next month. So for example passes for September become available on August 1st, But that’s not the case for all months – so you need to check the website if you plan to go. 

The passes are good for a 2-hr window of entry do you’ll get a pass for say 6—8 AM for example. The passes will go quickly so you’ll want to get them as soon as they become available.

To complicate matters RMNP has two different timed entry passes: Timed Entry and Timed Entry +Bear Lake Road. If you want access to the entire park you’ll need the Timed Entry+Bear Lake Road pass.

If you were not able to get a pass you can enter before 5AM or after 6PM for Bear Lake road corridor and before 9AM and after 2PM for the rest of the park. Though parking at popular trail heads will generally fill up early.

Also, If you don’t have passes they release more at 7PM for the next day – but these go quickly too. And you can only have one pass a day so if you already have a pass in your name and are trying for a better entry time for example – then someone else in your party will need to try and purchase them.



• For up-to-date details and an explainer video go to the RMNP Timed Entry System Page.
• To book your reservations check the RMNP Timed Entry page at recreation.gov.

If you’re camping in the park:
For visitors who have a campground reservation to stay overnight at Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, or Timber Creek Campgrounds, a timed entry reservation is included with your campground reservation. Campers who have reservations for Glacier Basin and Aspenglen Campgrounds will have access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor as well as all other areas of the park.

Campers will be able to initially enter the park beginning at 1 p.m. on the first day of their camping reservation, which is also the check-in time for all park campgrounds.

Shuttles

The are free shuttles within the Bear Lake road corridor of the park (you’ll need a Entry+ Timed entry permit to gain access to the area). Parking at popular trailheads in the Bear Lake corridor can often fill up early – and you may need to park at a larger park-and-ride area and take a shuttle to the trailhead. No additional passes or fees are needed for these shuttles once you are within the park. 



To confuse matters there is also what’s called the Hiker Shuttle that leaves from the visitor center in the town of Estes Park and goes to the park and ride on Bear Lake road – for this shuttle you will need to purchases tickets ahead of time. If you ride this Hiker Shuttle into the Bear Lake road corridor you do not need a Timed Entry Pass+, but you still need a park pass. 




• For details, maps, etc. go to the RMNP Shuttle Buses and Public Transit Page.

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Base of Operations and Lodging

Estes Park on the eastern side of the park and its immediate surroundings serve as the main portal to the RMNP. It’s here that you’ll find all types of lodging, stores, restaurants and all other amenities. Estes Park is a fairly quaint tourist town if you’re used to large tourist meccas. But it has everything you need and it’s close to the park. You can also find some lodging and amenities on the western side of the park in Grand Lake, but on a much smaller scale. I feel that staying in the Estes Park area gives you easier access to more fishing and hiking.

And of course if you want to camp, there are numerous campgrounds located in the park.

YMCA of The Rockies Estes Park Center

YMCA of The Rockies Estes Park Center is a Naples family favorite. The YMCA has 850 acres adjacent to the park. There are 9 hotel style lodges and about 250 modern cabins. There are activities on site such as horseback riding, mini-golf, swimming, ropes courses, organized hikes, fly fishing guides, craft center with crafts for adults as well as kids, cafeteria and cafe. It’s a really nice place to stay for families. On our most recent trip we were able to observe bull elk sparring right on property.

There’s also a direct access to RMNP and hikers can gain access to some park trails from the YMCA property. From a hiker lot on the YMCA property anglers can be fishing on Glacier Creek (border between the park and the YMCA) in about 10-15 minutes of hiking. It’s a productive stream in this stretch with brook trout, brown trout and rainbows. 



Plus a huge bonus is that you can catch a free park shuttle at the RMNP Tuxedo Park stop (about a 15 minute hike from the hiker lot on YMCA property). On this shuttle you can get to all the Moraine Park trailheads directly or you can get to the Park and Ride lot on Bear Lake road where you can transfer to the Bear Lake road shuttle, opening up the Bear Lake corridor trail heads. When we stayed at the park we were able to get a timetable for the Tuxedo Park shuttle stop from info center at the Sweet Memorial building at the YMCA. If you plan to use this walk-in access to RMNP shuttles from the YMCA this means that you will not need a timed-entry permit, but you still need park passes.

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Some Fishing Tips and Info

Head to the RMNP Fishing page for pertinent details regarding fishing in the park including info on closed waters and catch limits, etc.

A Few Destinations per Timed-Entry Corridor

As RMNP has the two distinct Timed-Entry corridors, I thought it would be helpful to provide a few destinations in each area to get you started in your explorations (but really you should get the book mentioned earlier to assist your explorations). Bear in mind that these are just a few of the easy to access spots, just the tip of the iceberg, the park has a lot of water to fish.

Timed Entry

These are a few places to try if you’ve got the basic Timed-Entry permit. Also you can gain entry before 9AM or after 2PM without the Timed Entry Permit.

• Fall River and Roaring River: The Fall River has nice stretches of meadow stream (fishing can be tough in smooth flat water), and the Roaring River is a classic cascading willow lined mountain stream. The Roaring is a tributary of the Fall. They are located in the Northeast of the park and can make a nice combination. Access the very bottom end of the Roaring River from the Alluvial Fan parking area and the upper part via the Lawn Lake trail.
• Colorado River: Located on the western side of the park, nice meadow sections of the Colorado River can be accessed off of the Trail Ridge Road. I’ve often seen moose along the Colorado in the park. This is a good choice if staying in the Grand Lake area.

Timed Entry Plus Bear Lake

You’ll need the Timed Entry Plus permit to access these areas by car. Optionally, as mentioned you can get tickets for the Estes Park Hiker shuttle and utilize the free shuttles in the park. Or come in before 5 AM or after 6 PM.

• Big Thompson River in Moraine Park: a really nice meadow stretch of water
• Glacier Creek: This is a long stream with lots of water and there is easily accessible water along Bear Lake road that fishes well.
• Dream Lake: Dream lake is an easily accessible lake (via the Bear Lake trailhead) and I’ve always done well fishing there for cruising cutthroat near the banks. It’s an extremely popular trailhead and the lot can fill quickly, so consider parking at the Park-and-Ride lot and taking the shuttle to the trailhead.

Rods

You’re generally not going to run into any giant fish – so most tenkara rods will get the job done. I like to pack numerous lines through for different stream sizes, and I like to have a long floating line (made of euro-nymping line) for lake fishing where some extra reach can be useful, though on this trip I was able to get lake fish right along the shore in the shallows (I’m certainly no lake fishing expert though). I actually used my super-packable Tanuki Tenkara pocket Ninja (11’ ) most of the time. It was just so convenient to pack in a backpack.

Flies

The fish in the higher-gradient streams were pretty opportunistic and I could have success on size 12 sakasa kebari and the like – but sometimes I did need to go deeper with weighted flies to get any action. I didn’t fish any meadow streams on this visit but I had on previous visits and the fish were a bit fussier and I generally had luck with smallish, size 16 and smaller patterns. On the lakes that I visited – It was a mixed bag – one lake the fish weren’t very picky but on another fish were consistently coming up to tiny midges and pretty much ignored anything large- so have some tiny stuff just in case. I’d recommend visiting a local fly shop upon arrival to get the lowdown.

Local Fly Shops


As to fly shops there are several in Estes Park so you’ll have local access to flies, tippet, etc that you need. But I don’t think you’ll find any tenkara specific gear, so make sure you’ve got all the tenkara lines that you’ll need – and when I travel I always make sure to have at least one extra tenkara rod with me.

Licenses

To fish the park you’ll need a Colorado license. As of this writing, a five day non-resident license (with the needed habitat stamp) was about $52 and the additional days can be added for $8 /day. A season long non-resident license is about $120 and runs from March 1st to March 31st of the next year.

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The Donut Haus


I’m a big donut fan and a must-stop location for me is The Donut Haus. Sadly The Donut Haus lost their former location, a quaint yellow wooden building, to eminent domain for a traffic circle. It now resides inside a Sinclair gas station – still the same great donuts but a much less quaint location. If you’re a fan of donuts it’s a must stop.

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Bonus Destinations

So if you’re at RMNP there are two “bonus” locations to check out. The first is the Big Thompson River below Estes Lake. It runs through a beautiful canyon with lots of public water and a chance at seeing bighorns (which we’ve seen every time we have driven there). This begins just in Estes Park – so very close by. 

Another spot to check out is the Cache la Poudre river – starting near Fort Collins and heading west on Hwy 14 you can drive along the river on the Cache la Poudre North Park Scenic Byway. Along the way there are many miles of public access to fish the river along with numerous National Forest campgrounds, picnic areas and trails. 

We drove the 2 hrs from Estes Park down the Big Thompson Canyon and then west along the Cache la Poudre byway to the Big South Trail which follows the river south into it’s headwaters in RMNP. It was a nice relaxing day of scenic driving, hiking and fishing.

I hope the confusing issues with park passes and timed-entry permits doesn’t scare you off, and I hope that I clarified it a bit. RMNP really is a magical place to hike and fish. Give it a try! I know I’ll be back.



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This article originally appeared in the 2026 print issue of Tenkara Angler magazine.

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