Fall Private Elk Rut Rocky Mountain National Park Tour
301944P1
301944P1
301944P1
301944P1
301944P1
301944P1
Overview
We only offer pickup for guests staying in Estes Park. If you are staying outside of Estes Park, we can meet you at the free parking garage for the Estes Park Visitor Center for pickup.
Tour at a glance
What's included
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Timedy Entry Permit
- Binoculars / Spotting Scope with 4K video
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entrance fees
Not included
- Government fees
- Lunch
- Infant Car Seat
Itinerary
-
1
See the historic and famously haunted Stanley Hotel on your drive towards Rocky Mountain National Park with history and stories of this iconic location.
Pass by (no stop) Admission free -
2
Rocky Mountain National Park
Our Elk Rut tour in Estes Park is all about taking a beautiful drive into the Rocky Mountain National Park. We'll take you as high up the mountain as the weather allows through beautiful scenic mountain passes. You'll see the city of Estes Park from above, beautiful lakes, meadows, waterfalls, and wildlife. At sunset, you will get to witness the elk gather in Moraine Park for the elk rut. Don't worry about the timed entry permit, your entrance and permit into the Rocky Mountain National Park are included!
30 min Admission free -
3
Alluvial Fan
Our your way up to the tundra, you'll stop for a guided walk around the Alluvial Fan to see Horseshoe Falls and learn the history of this unique feature in the National Park
30 min Admission included -
4
Old Fall River Road
When open, (typically July through September) your guide Riley will take you up Old Fall River Road, a one-way dirt road that goes up to the Alpine Visitor Center. You'll experience thrilling cliff-side mountain driving, see beautiful wildlife, flowing waterfalls, and more! When Old Fall River Road is not open, you will drive up Trail Ridge Road as far as it is open for the season.
1h Admission included -
5
Alpine Visitor Center
When open, take a short stop at the highest Visitor Center in all of the US National Park System (typically June through September)! Your guide will spend 20 minutes here for you to shop. Grab a snack, snap some photos, or get your National Park Passport stamped before heading back to Estes Park!
30 min Admission included -
6
Trail Ridge Road
On the drive to Moraine Park, your guide will take you down the highest continuous paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road. Witness the changing beauty of the ecosystems within the Rocky Mountain National Park from the upper tundra to the lower montane. In October, you will drive up Trail Ridge Road as far as it is open for the season.
1h Admission included -
7
Moraine Park Museum
To finish your tour, you will stop around sunset time in the Moraine Park to witness the elk rut before heading back to Estes Park. Here, you can see the winding Big Thompson River with the elk fighting for their harems!
1h Admission included
Meeting & pickup
Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.
We are only able to offer pickup for guests within Estes Park. Send us your pickup address in Estes Park (any location) and we'll be sure to arrive promptly at your tour start time. If you’re staying outside of Estes Park, please meet us at the Estes Park Visitor Center Parking Garage. Just look out for our blue Subaru Ascent!
Schedule
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that you need to bring your own infant seats if you are with an infant during the tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveller reviews
Totally enjoyable 4 hr. wildlife and scenery tour with Riley from the convenience of pickup and return at our hotel. Clean, comfortable, safe and will move at your pace to take in the beautiful and rugged RMNP. Definitely recommend using this family owned business. Riley was quick telling old, new and even quirky history of the park and region. We will definitely use Explore Estes next trip!
We spent a wonderful afternoon with Riley. He shared the history of Estes Park and RMNP as well as his knowledge of the fauna and flora. He made special efforts to help us find moose and elk. We are very appreciative of our terrific tour today!
Riley’s knowledge about the park was what made this tour special plus he really catered to our expectations of what we could see or do along the way making the tour feel personalized. 10/10
We had the absolute best tour of Rocky Mountain National Park with Riley! He was prompt and picked us up right on time at our hotel, was knowledgeable and fun to talk to, took great photos of us around the park, and was prepared with a scope, water, and trekking poles. He was so enthusiastic and we had the most wonderful time. It was the highlight of our trip! I can't speak highly enough about him or the tour!
We had a great private tour with Explore Estes. Riley was very knowledgeable and friendly. He allowed us to adjust the tour as we went. I highly recommend this tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rob and I had a fabulous time on this tour with Riley. He took us to many beautiful sites in the Rocky national park, had a lot of interesting information about the mountains we saw and stories to share with us, and in the end we saw herds of elk coming down the mountain to feed, as well as some herds in a private backyard . We had the experience of hearing the bugle of the male elk . Thank you Riley for a memorable trip!
If I could give 10 starts I would as this was the best decision I made for our entire time in Colorado. I wish everyone could experience Estes and RMNP with Riley as their guide. Very knowledgeable about the area, Riley showed us places that were not overly populated with tourists (like ourselves) but had the best views we could have hoped for during our limited time in RMNP. We started and ended the elk tour seeing about 100 elk, hearing the bull bugle, it was magical. Thank you Riley for setting the standard for every tour guide going forward.
This was an amazing way to see the highlights and breathtaking beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park! Our guide Riley was knowledgeable, kind and accommodating, showing us all the best sights while catering to our interests. We strongly recommend this tour to make the most of your time in the park!
Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this experience last?
It lasts 6h.
Is hotel pickup included?
Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.
Can I cancel for free?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.
Which languages is the guide available in?
Guide languages: EN
On which days does it run?
It runs Every day. Starts 07:00, 12:30
How fast is the booking confirmed?
Instantly. Your e-ticket arrives by e-mail right after booking.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, this is a private experience for your group only.
Where do I complete the booking?
On viator.com, a Tripadvisor company, with live availability and secure payment. TourViaGo is a Global Partner of Viator.
Product code 301944P1
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