Cub Lake with reflections. Yellow and brown grasses line the edge of the lake.
  1. Home
  2. National Parks
  3. Colorado
  4. Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park Photography Guide

National Park · Colorado

  • Bortle 3
  • 59 photo spots
  • Clearest: September
Photo: NPS/J.Marino · Public domain (NPS)

Rocky Mountain National Park is a National Park in Colorado. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 59 photo locations inside or next to the park.

Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
59
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 3
Rural sky
Clearest month
September
46% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Estes Park
15.1 km (9.4 mi)

Light at Rocky Mountain

Live
Sunrise
7:20 AM
Sunset
6:17 PM
Golden hour AM
7:03 AM – 7:57 AM
Golden hour PM
5:40 PM – 6:34 PM
Blue hour AM
6:52 AM – 7:03 AM
Blue hour PM
6:34 PM – 6:44 PM
Full darkness
7:48 PM – 5:50 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:33 PM / 1:21 AM
Day length
10h 57m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Denver. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Best photo spots in Rocky Mountain

We matched 59 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Rocky Mountain. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.

Scenic Viewpoints (2)

Scenic Viewpoint
Forest Canyon OverlookLarimer County · 3,567 m
Scenic Viewpoint
Gore Range OverlookLarimer County · 3,663 m

Waterfalls (25)

Chasm FallsWaterfall
Chasm FallsLarimer County · 2,760 m
Copeland FallsWaterfall
Copeland FallsBoulder County · 2,598 m
Adams FallsWaterfall
Adams FallsGrand County · 2,584 m
Ouzel FallsWaterfall
Ouzel FallsBoulder County · 2,895 m
Alberta FallsWaterfall
Alberta FallsLarimer County · 2,867 m
Fern FallsWaterfall
Fern FallsLarimer County · 2,686 m
Calypso CascadesWaterfall
Calypso CascadesBoulder County · 2,832 m
Waterfall
Marguerite FallsLarimer County · 2,880 m
Waterfall
Bridal Veil FallsLarimer County · 2,715 m
Waterfall
Cascade FallsGrand County · 2,682 m
Waterfall
Columbine FallsLarimer County · 3,501 m
Waterfall
Fan FallsBoulder County · 3,383 m

Mountain Peaks (15)

Longs PeakMountain Peak
Longs PeakBoulder County · 4,340 m
Hallett PeakMountain Peak
Hallett PeakGrand County · 3,840 m
Taylor PeakMountain Peak
Taylor PeakGrand County · 4,006 m
Mount IdaMountain Peak
Mount IdaGrand County · 3,915 m
Fairchild MountainMountain Peak
Fairchild MountainLarimer County · 4,116 m
Mount MeekerMountain Peak
Mount MeekerBoulder County · 4,227 m
Mount RichthofenMountain Peak
Mount RichthofenGrand County · 3,929 m
Mount AliceMountain Peak
Mount AliceBoulder County · 4,048 m
Mount JulianMountain Peak
Mount JulianLarimer County · 3,938 m
Chief Cheley PeakMountain Peak
Chief Cheley PeakLarimer County · 3,906 m
Twin Sisters PeaksMountain Peak
Twin Sisters PeaksLarimer County · 3,454 m
Hagues PeakMountain Peak
Hagues PeakLarimer County · 4,096 m

Lakes (6)

Lake AgnesLake
Lake AgnesJackson County · 3,251 m
Poudre LakeLake
Poudre LakeLarimer County · 3,278 m
Sprague LakeLake
Sprague LakeLarimer County · 2,648 m
Dream LakeLake
Dream LakeLarimer County · 3,020 m
Fern LakeLake
Fern LakeLarimer County · 2,910 m
Grand LakeLake
Grand LakeGrand County

Mountain Passes (8)

Fall River PassMountain Pass
Fall River PassLarimer County · 3,585 m
La Poudre PassMountain Pass
La Poudre PassGrand County · 3,104 m
Milner PassMountain Pass
Milner PassGrand County · 3,279 m
Cameron PassMountain Pass
Cameron PassLarimer County · 3,124 m
Mountain Pass
Wind River PassLarimer County · 2,789 m
Mountain Pass
Ptarmigan PassGrand County · 3,709 m
Mountain Pass
Stone Man PassGrand County · 3,812 m
Mountain Pass
Boulder-Grand PassGrand County · 3,681 m

Ghost Towns (1)

Lulu CityGhost Town
Lulu CityJackson County

Fire Lookouts (1)

Shadow Mountain LookoutFire Lookout
Shadow Mountain LookoutGrand County

Wilderness Areas (1)

Never Summer WildernessWilderness Area
Never Summer WildernessGrand County

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Rocky Mountain the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:24 AM8:06 AM4:19 PM5:01 PM243°9h 37m
February6:57 AM7:35 AM5:01 PM5:39 PM254°10h 41m
March7:15 AM7:51 AM6:34 PM7:10 PM268°11h 55m
April6:25 AM7:02 AM7:05 PM7:42 PM284°13h 17m
May5:48 AM6:26 AM7:34 PM8:13 PM296°14h 25m
June5:33 AM6:14 AM7:54 PM8:35 PM302°15h 02m
July5:46 AM6:26 AM7:53 PM8:33 PM300°14h 47m
August6:15 AM6:52 AM7:24 PM8:02 PM289°13h 47m
September6:44 AM7:20 AM6:38 PM7:13 PM275°12h 29m
October7:14 AM7:51 AM5:47 PM6:24 PM260°11h 10m
November6:50 AM7:30 AM4:07 PM4:47 PM246°9h 57m
December7:20 AM8:03 AM3:55 PM4:38 PM240°9h 19m

Computed for the park's reference point (40.3557, -105.6973); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Rocky Mountain, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:20 AM – 5:20 AM0.011°
March4:31 AM – 5:41 AM1.218°
April2:29 AM – 4:39 AM2.220°
May12:24 AM – 3:54 AM3.521°
June10:39 PM – 3:29 AM4.821°
July10:30 PM – 2:00 AM3.521°
August9:44 PM – 12:04 AM2.320°
September8:46 PM – 9:56 PM1.217°
October7:55 PM – 8:05 PM0.211°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.

Weather & best time to visit

Weather can change quickly in Rocky Mountain National Park due to the mountains and elevation. Elevation in the park ranges from 7,800 feet above sea level to over 14,000 feet at the top of the tallest mountain peaks. Weather conditions can change quickly throughout the day. For detailed weather information, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/all-about-weather.htm For the most up-to-date weather forecasts, visit the National Weather Service webpage for Rocky at https://www.weather.gov/bou/rmnp

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (67%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Entrance feeCost (USD)
Entrance - Private Vehicle$30.00
Entrance - Private Vehicle$35.00
Entrance - Per Person$15.00
Entrance - Motorcycle$25.00

Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.

Getting there

Rocky Mountain National Park is located in northern Colorado. To visit the east side (near Estes Park, CO), follow U.S. I-25 to U.S. Hwy 34 or 36 west to Estes Park. To visit the west side of the park, follow I-70 to U.S Hwy 40 towards Granby, take US Hwy 34 east to Grand Lake, CO.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Climbing
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Skiing
  • Cross-Country Skiing
  • Snow Play
  • Snowshoeing
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Park Film
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Nearby parks

Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentCO
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument164 km away · National Monument

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Rocky Mountain National Park?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Rocky Mountain?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Rocky Mountain?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Rocky Mountain?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 3.
What time is sunset in Rocky Mountain?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:24 PM local time; see the live widget for today.