Exploring Rocky Mountain National Park by snowshoe is a wondrous experience, and park rangers are ready to lead you into this park this winter. Not only will you enjoy the solitude that winter brings to the park, but also gain opportunities to spy wildlife that somehow tolerate the cold and snow.

Beautiful backcountry areas can be reached on snowshoes, skis, and at lower elevations - even with hiking boots. Elk, coyotes, deer, snowshoe hares, and other wildlife remain active through the winter. Their story is told by the tracks left in the snow.

Rocky Mountain National Park offers ranger-led snowshoe ecology walks for beginner-level snowshoers on the east side, and for beginner and intermediate-level snowshoers and cross-country skiers on the west side of the park. Reservations are required, but there is no additional fee beyond the regular park entrance fee.

Snowshoeing is easy to learn and opens up a new way to see the beauty of nature during its quietest season. For beginners, the snowshoe program is a two-hour exploration of the natural world of the subalpine forest. No previous snowshoe experience is required.

On the east side, this walk is held on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. through March 23. The beginner snowshoe tour on the west side is held on Saturdays at 1 p.m. through March 16. Beginning on February 2, an additional west side tour will be offered at 9 a.m. on Saturdays through March 16. For more experienced snowshoers, a two-hour snowshoe walk is offered on the west side of the park on Sundays at 1 p.m. through March 10.

Tubing is another fun winter activity at Rocky Mountain National Park. NPS photo.

Previous snowshoeing experience is recommended because of the elevation gain, mileage, pace and terrain covered in this program.

Ranger-led cross-country ski tours are offered on the west side of the park on Saturdays at 9 a.m. through January 26. Participants ski a snow-draped landscape and learn about the Kawuneeche Valley.

All snowshoe walks and ski tours require reservations. Reservations can be made in advance, seven days or less prior to the desired program. Participants must furnish their own equipment, including poles with baskets, and be at least 8 years old.

To make reservations for east side snowshoe walks, call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. To make reservations for west side snowshoe walks, call the Kawuneeche Visitor Center at (970) 627-3471 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily.

Frontcountry and backcountry camping take place in the winter too. Timber Creek Campground and designated sections of Moraine Park Campground are open all winter; the fee is $14 per site per night. Water and dump stations are not available in winter at the campgrounds. Self-registration permits for backcountry camping in winter zones are available.

Wildlife can be easier to see in winter. NPS photo.

There is no charge in the winter for backcountry camping. Sledding activities can be enjoyed in Rocky Mountain National Park at the Hidden Valley area. Hidden Valley slopes have been contoured to enhance the safety of sledding and other snowplay activities. The gentle sledding hill is especially enjoyed by younger park visitors.

Facilities at Hidden Valley include a warming hut, which is open weekends, and heated restrooms which are open daily. This area is also a good base location for visitors interested in backcountry skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing in the undeveloped areas in and around Hidden Valley.

Podcasts on Winter Recreation and Introduction to Snowshoeing can be found on the park website at this page.

Backcountry users should be aware of avalanche conditions, always check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center website before an adventure.

Full Moon Walks are offered on the east side of the park on January 26 and February 25. Times and locations will vary each month. Reservations are necessary and may be made seven days in advance by calling (970) 586-1206.

Whenever visiting Rocky Mountain National Park to snowshoe, ski or hike, stop by a park visitor center or call (970) 586-1206 for current road and snow conditions.