How to avoid the crowds this fall

By Mary Anderson

As the weather gets cooler and the leaves turn, Rocky Mountain National Park visits will spike again. Thought the summer was the busiest time? Think again. According to Kyle Patterson, the park’s public affairs officer, fall weekends are easily in the top 10 busiest weekends of the year. But don’t let out a sigh of disappointment just yet. We’ve got you covered with five hidden gems in Rocky Mountain National Park to help avoid some of the crowds.

1. Backcountry Campsites

Scheduling for campsites in the park begins March 1 each year and often fills up immediately. Backcountry sites are a great way to escape the crowd and camp in solitude. But even the closer sites like the Boulder Field keyhole route and Glacier Gorge fill up quickly. If you’re willing to travel further into the park, you’ll have a better chance at claiming a spot. Or, if you wait a week or so, the requirements change in October and backcountry campsites are available first come, first served.

Some sites Patterson suggests you could have the most luck with are, on the west side:

• The Dutchtown wilderness camping site, located 6 miles from the Colorado River Trailhead

• The Ditch Camp wilderness camping site, located 4.6 miles from the Colorado River Trailhead.

Or, on the east side:

• Beaver Mill wilderness camping site, located 3 miles from the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead

• Happily Lost wilderness camping site, located 6. 2 miles from the Dunraven Trailhead

Remember, colder weather means even colder nights. Be prepared for snow and below-freezing temps. Overnight travel in the wilderness also requires a permit. These are available at either of the two Wilderness Offices within the park.

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2. Ranger-led Programs

Backcountry campsites are great, but if you don’t have the means or experience, it might not be an option. The ranger-led programs, according to Patterson, are something most people do not take advantage of in the park. Great for families, the programs offer the chance for a fun educational experience ranging from a brief stroll to awesome hikes within the park. For kids, there is the junior ranger program. Families can stop by a visitor center to pick up the booklet with hands-on activities throughout the park. All the programs are free and you don’t need a reservation in the fall. The park hasn’t limited the number of people (yet).

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Photo courtesy of the Rocky Mountain National Park

3. The Elk Rut

It’s elk mating season. Since early to middle September, the meadows of Rocky Mountain National Park have become a stage for the elk rut nature show. Big bull elk gather harems of cows by making a bugling sound. Although they rarely fight, there can be interaction between males posturing to intimidate each other. Thousands of people come to see this phenomenon as the elk are more active at dawn and dusk. But, the big crowds are normally at dusk. If you want to see the rut with less company, it is best to wake up early and get there at dawn.

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4. Lulu City

For those looking to get the blood moving, hiking in the park can be a nightmare. Due to congestion and safety issues, access to the Bear Lake and the Wild Basin areas was closed by 10:30 a.m. every weekend this summer. And services for the shuttle, which also fills up, ends Oct. 9. Located on the west side of the park, Lulu City used to be a booming mining town. Now, only a field remains.

Starting at the Colorado River trailhead, the easy to moderate hike is 7.4 miles round trip with a 350-foot elevation gain. Two miles into the trail, you can see some remains of log cabins and tailings from the Shipler Mine. Perfect for hikers of all abilities, the trail parallels the Colorado River, so the vegetation is lush. You can turn around and come back at any point or continue all the way to Lulu City.

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5. Granite Falls

Located on the west side of the park, the hike to Granite Falls is extensive: 5.2 miles one way (10.4 total), the trail has a 1,046-foot elevation gain. But, there are not as many visitors, especially during the weekdays. Follow the Tonahutu Trailhead upstream to find the waterfall featuring a 50-foot drop through a course of rocks.

Other tips:

• Like many things in life, the harder you work, the sweeter the prize. The further you go into the park, the less people you are going to see.

Come on a weekday. Weekdays in October are nearly 50 percent less visited than weekends. Midweek is the best. Visiting on a weekday opens up possibilities outdoor enthusiasts, Patterson points out, and it can “really make a difference in their experience in the park.”

• Consider the west side. About 80 percent of visitors come in through the east side and many of the parking lots fill up quickly causing people to head west anyway.