Fall Private Elk Rut Rocky Mountain National Park Tour
Description
Join us for a safari-like experience during the elk rut! Drive through Rocky Mountain National Park on a 4, 5, or 6 hour private tour with only your party & guide! On our Rut Tour, you'll be taken up the iconic Old Fall River Road where you will see beautiful mountain views & waterfalls, stop at the highest visitor center in the US National Park System, drive back down the highest continuous paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road and witness the elk rut mating season in Moraine Park. When Old Fall River Road isn't open, you will drive up & back down Trail Ridge Road. This tour is NOT a hiking tour, and focuses more on driving in the National Park with small strolls throughout. *Wildlife is unpredictable & we cannot guarantee sightings, but we try our best to scout the prime locations! 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 Options
Itinerary
See the historic and famously haunted Stanley Hotel on your drive towards Rocky Mountain National Park with history and stories of this iconic location.
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
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!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
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!
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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.
Reviews(35)
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.
Appreciate it! Riley
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.
Thank you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot, these kind of reviews help me feel like I'm doing the best job I can! Riley
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!
Thank you! Riley
For anyone wanting to take a deeper dive into Rocky Mountain National Park, I highly recommend the Elk Rut tour with Riley Higgins. Having toured the park the prior two days on our own, believing we’ve seen close to everything, the Elk Rut tour with Riley took us into far more than we had experienced. He took us down the Fall River road, provided interesting stories about the parks history, its flora & fauna, as well as the parks lore. I give an outstanding endorsement to Riley Higgins and his Elk Rut tour.
Thanks so much! I'm glad I could help you enjoy RMNP more than you already had! Riley
We had a wonderful tour with Riley on our last day in Estes Park and the only day Trail Ridge Road was open during our stay. Riley is very accommodating and made the tour so enjoyable. He has a great amount of knowledge about the park’s history, wildlife and geography. Would 100% recommend a tour with Explore Estes.
Thank you so much! I'm glad we were able to get up Trail Ridge Road during your tour! Riley
We took the tour the first day we were in Estes Park. Best decision ever. Riley and Marriah are the wonderful couple that own and operate Explore Estes which provides several excellent tours as well as the only ride service in Estes Park. We used them to tour RMNP and to get to dinner every night of our trip. They have first rate cars and are always on time. Made our trip run like clockwork. Highly recommend them for your tour and transportation needs while enjoying Estes Park and RMNP.
Thank you for the kind words! And thank you so much for supporting our small business! Riley
We had a beautiful day out with our tour guide Riley ( if this is not your name I am sorry) you know we were older and can’t hear well. Anyway this young man was very knowledgeable about the park. We saw the most beautiful places and lots of elk which was what I wanted to see. He was a very sweet young man it was like our own son carried us on tour. It was great from start to finish. I highly recommend this tour!
Thank you for the sweet words! I'm glad y'all had a great time! Riley
This was a wonderful tour—a perfect afternoon!! Riley was great! He shared his vast knowledge of the Rocky Mountain National Park in such an easy, entertaining way. He had to adjust the tour due to the Fall River Road being closed and the Trail Ridge Road being partially closed. But we still got to see so much of this beautiful park. We saw many, many elk!!And heard lots of interesting stories. We would advise this tour to all!
Thank you! Hopefully you'll get to come back someday and get up those gorgeous roads, but you're right there's a lot of beauty to still see! Riley
The drive had a scheduled route and our driver made some modifications based on conversations in the car. Our driver was very knowledgeable about the area and history and provided insight to the various areas of the drive.
Thanks for your review! It helps more than you know! Riley
Informative, outdoor adventure giving a great overall view of RMNP. Our tour guide, Riley, was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and personable.
Thank you so much! Riley
