Hotels near Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is the headline October day trip from Denver, with more than 570 km (355 miles) of trails and 77 peaks above 3,660 m (12,000 ft). Early October brings the last of the aspen season around Bear Lake and along Bear Lake Road, and it is also the height of the elk rut, when bull elk bugle and gather their herds in the meadows at dawn and dusk.

Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side are the best places to watch the rut from a safe distance. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the US at 3,713 m (12,183 ft), usually closes for the winter in mid to late October, so drive it early in the month. Entry costs around $30 (about €26) per vehicle for a day, non-US residents may pay an additional fee, and a timed-entry permit has typically been required into mid-October.

Pro Tip: Reach Moraine Park before sunrise, when elk are most active and traffic is light, and stay at least 23 m (75 ft) away from the animals, as bulls are aggressive during the rut.