April 30, 2026, 5:02 a.m. MT
- Rocky Mountain National Park will require reservations from May 22 through mid-October, with two different reservation options available.
- Eldorado Canyon State Park requires reservations on weekends and holidays from May 1 through Oct. 1.
- Reservations for Mount Blue Sky and Brainard Lake Recreation Area will also be required for the 2026 season.
Timed-entry reservation permits to Rocky Mountain National Park and Eldora Canyon State Park open May 1, with reservations for other popular Colorado public lands to follow.
Here is what you need to know to get your reservations in 2026:
Rocky Mountain National Park
- First day you can start reserving: 8 a.m. MT May 1 for reservations for May 22 through June 30. Reservations for subsequent months start the first of the month for any times not yet booked that month and the entire next month.
- Opening and closing system dates: Reservations are required May 22 through Oct. 13 for all areas of the park except the Bear Lake Road Corridor, where reservations are required through Oct. 18.
- Two reservation options: Reservations for the Bear Lake Road Corridor include the corridor and rest of the park. Those are required from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Another option includes all of the park except the Bear Lake Corridor, with those reservations required from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Entering the park without a reservation: Visitors do not need a timed-entry reservation if entering the park before or after the restricted hours for the Bear Lake Road Corridor and rest of the park. However, entrance fees are still required.
- Information: More information about the timed-entry reservation system is available on Rocky Mountain National Park’s website. For reservations, visit recreation.gov.
Eldorado Canyon State Park
- Reservation dates: May 1 through Oct. 1.
- When you can reserve: Reservations can be made 30 days in advance through cpwshop.com, with a minimal number of reserved entries available 24 hours in advance.
- Days reservations required: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays only. Reservations cannot be booked in person at the park entrance or visitor center.
- Information: Visit the park’s page on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
Mount Blue Sky
Formerly known as Mount Evans, Mount Blue Sky boasts the highest paved road in the U.S. The road climbs 7,000 feet in its 28 miles to just below the summit at 14,130 feet.
It has been closed since Labor Day 2024 due to construction. Weather permitting, it will reopen Memorial Day weekend in 2026.
Denver Mountain Parks took over management of the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area from the Arapaho National Forest.
Reservations are expected to go live in early to mid-May, with the first reservations available May 22, 2026. To make reservations, visit recreation.gov.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the Arapaho National Forest.
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