Sunrise Tour of Rocky Mountain National Park
Description
Custom tour designed for you and where your interests are. We are not on a schedule and can even adapt as we go depending upon what we find on your special day. I am a local historian and naturalist who has lived in the area for over 50 years. I consider myself an interpreter of nature adding color to the already stunning beauty you'll see. We'll concentrate on the myriad wildlife, the diverse biology, and incredible geology of the Rockies. We'll also get insight into what it might have been like for early pioneers and lodge keepers as well as indigenous people like the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute. My tours are completely flexible so if you want to hike for 3 or 4 miles, great! Or if you just want sit back and relax and enjoy the view that's fine too! Either way we'll stop often to photograph and talk about the amazing sights.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Best Sunrise Tour: This tour begins by meeting your party at your lodge in Estes Park or at the Estes Park Visitor Center before sunrise and proceeding directly into Rocky Mountain National Park to breathtaking views looking east to greet the rising sun. We’ll take our time getting back stopping often to enjoy the scenery while we observe and photograph birds & animals, plants & geology and then arriving in Estes Park just in time for breakfast.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Anywhere in the Estes Valley or the Estes Park Visitor Center on 500 Big Thompson Ave
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(29)
The tour was wonderful! Informative, relaxing, and customized to our interests. Ron is warm, friendly, and was willing to go the extra mile to make this a memorable event. Besides my hotel, this was the most costly event I planned on my vacation, and I would absolutely pay for it again.
The tour was excellent. Ron, our tour guide was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He showed us amazing views and tailored our tour to our requirements. We had a beautifully sunny morning which of course helped.
You need to get there early to see the sunrise but it is well worth it. Views were amazing. Great experience.
Thank you for your review! Yes, it is an early start, particularly at this time of year, but it's always worth it. And every day is unique. I'm so glad you enjoyed our time and the experience.
Don’t hesitate to book this tour. It’s well worth every penny. We got so much more out of the trip, than just seeing the sunrise, which was amazing. Bruce is so knowledgeable about the environment, park history, eco system and just a nice man. And he gave us advice on trails. My husband and I completely enjoyed our tour of the beautiful RMP.
Thank you for your kind, review! I'm happy to have gotten to take you both through the park, and that I was able to share some things for you to take away. I always hope to provide more than people expect.
Bruce is an amazing human being and a wealth of knowledge. He is so pleasant to be with and made our tour so memorable and interesting. We did the sunrise tour and it did not disappoint for a minute. Every stop, every turn on the road was fascinating and filled with amazing information. We highly recommend any tour with Bruce.
Wow, thank you so much! It was a pleasure and glad we were able fascinate and amaze as that is our aim
We visited Estes Park for the first time during Memorial Day weekend 2026 and decided to schedule a sunrise tour of RMNP since we were unfamiliar with the area. Sarah picked us up at Stonebrook Resort, where we were staying, at 5:10 a.m. Since it was early on Memorial Day, we did not need to pay an entrance fee or schedule timed entry into the park. Sarah took us up to Many Parks Curve and pointed out the numerous peaks in the distance to the northwest while describing various points of interest below. The sun rose quietly in the east, making the entire experience peaceful and beautiful. She drove us as far as Rainbow Curve, where the road was closed, then walked us farther up the road so we could take in additional views. Throughout the trip, Sarah shared local history, explained natural events over the past century that have shaped the park, and answered our many questions. We were also lucky enough to see several bull and cow moose near their calves, bull elk, bighorn rams, and even a Colorado pika. The tour lasted approximately three hours and ended back at our lodging. We highly recommend Sunrise Tours of Rocky Mountain National Park to anyone looking for a quiet, memorable experience of RMNP in all its natural beauty. Sarah was an amazing and knowledgeable guide, and her insight, warmth, and familiarity with the park made the tour even more special.
Sarah is a wonderful asset to us and I'll let her know you think so too!
Bruce was fantastic. Picked us up at our hotel at 5:30 in the morning and drove us through the park where we visited Dream Lake, Bear Lake, and Sprague Lake. He even provided spikes for shoes and poles. Very very knowledgeable at the park. We were there off-season, and he provided us very valuable information that prevented us from having to wait in a two hour car line to get into the park the day before. Highly recommended!
I'm happy you appreciated my experience and that you enjoyed our time together. The like was mutual!
Wouldn’t change a thing! The place in itself was awesome! So comfortable and peaceful- beautiful layout!
Thank you!
This was our favorite part of our Colorado vacation. Bruce drove us to parts of the park we had not been to yet. He was both knowledgeable and entertaining. We stayed in the Bear Lake Road area after the tour and were able to see both Moose and Elk up close, too. I highly recommend this tour. You won't regret it!
Thanks for the recommendation! Glad you enjoyed our time together as much as I did
This sunrise tour with Bruce allowed us to see the Rocky Mountains through fresh, educated eyes. His knowledge and insights enhanced the experience immensely. Highly recommend!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and recommendation!
