Rocky Mountain National Park Audio Tour Guide
Estes Park
Discover Rocky Mountain National Park with our self-guided audio tour. Enjoy stunning views, fascinating insights, and travel tips—all from your vehicle.
Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Estes Park - This beautiful town is a the place to stop before your trip. There’s one seasonal cafe and no gas in Rocky Mountain National Park, so make sure to stock up on all the supplies you need before you get there. There’s numerous picnic areas in the park, so keep that in mind when shopping. Estes Park has plenty of shops and gas stations, and if you’re coming from farther away, you’ll have even more options.
  • Beaver Meadows Visitor Center - Here’s a perfect place to pick up a trail map. It’s chock full of information that’ll help you decide which trails are right before you. It also has park maps, bathrooms, gifts and souvenirs.
  • Moraine Park Discovery Center - This is a wonderful place to learn about the park’s geology and history. In fact, the building itself has quite the historical significance. It’s the last standing building that was part of the Moraine Park Lodge, a place popular with tourists when the park was a popular vacation destination.
  • Bear Lake Trail - At the Bear Lake Trailhead you’ll have the option to hike several different trails. The quickest, and most popular, is the Bear Lake Trail which takes around 15 minutes. But there’s others that range from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
  • Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead - Like most trailheads in the park, this one also offers access to several different trails. Many are long though! If you’re up for an easy, just over three-hour hike, we recommend the Glacier Gorge Trail. It’s popular for birding and camping.
  • Bierstadt Lake - Just over three miles long, this trail is popular for snowshoeing, horseback riding, and of course, a gorgeous lake.
  • Horseshoe Park - What gives this valley its name is the glacial melt that carved it into the shape of a horseshoe millions of years ago. Today, it’s home to spacious meadows that attract wildlife.
  • Sheep Lakes - As the name suggests, here you’ll find park information and exhibits. It’s located right by the four beautiful Sheep Lakes. It’s also a popular spot for bighorn sheep and elk.
  • Alluvial Fan Trail - What’s an alluvial fan, you ask? Well, it’s where water cascades over boulders moved there by a massive flood in 1982. A sort of waterfall, really. This easy trail passes right by it.
  • Beaver Ponds - Here you can take a five-minute walk along a boardwalk through wetlands created by beavers. Long ago beavers built a dam and organic material gathered behind it. Once it collapsed, that soil flowed out, creating the wetlands there today.
  • Hidden Valley Trail - At this peaceful stop, you’ll find an easy, half-mile nature trail, picnic tables, and flush toilets. It’s a lovely place to stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh air.
  • Many Parks Curve Overlook - From this one you’ll see Horseshoe Park, Moraine Park, and Beaver Meadows. There are viewing platforms around the entire curve for different perspectives.
  • Rainbow Curve Overlook - And another! This stop is a viewpoint above the treeline. You’ll see unobstructed views of nearby peaks and valleys.
  • Forest Canyon Overlook - A short walk through the tundra at the overlook affords visitors a view down into a river flowing through a canyon. You’ll see Hayden Gorge and Gorge Lakes.
  • Tundra Communities Trail - This one-mile trail features interpretive signs about the flora and fauna that live in the tundra. You’ll also get to see the Mushroom Rocks, boulders that are over a billion years old and they look like, well, you can imagine.
  • Lava Cliffs Overlook - The cliffs you’ll see from here are made of the only volcanic rock in the park. They’re part of the Never Summer Mountain Range and are actually the park’s youngest.
  • Gore Range Overlook - Here you’ll see awesome views of Gore Range, the Never Summer Mountains, and the flat-top of Longs Peak.
  • Alpine Visitor Center - At the highest elevation visitor center in any national park, you’ll find a seasonal cafe and the usual offerings from a place like this. This is the only place where you can grab a bite to eat in the park. There are also epic views from the nearby Alpine Ridge Trail.
  • Medicine Bow Curve - From this gorgeous overlook, you’ll see the Medicine Bow Mountains, La Poudre River, and Wyoming on a clear day. Keep an eye out for wild life too.
  • Milner Pass - You’ll stand right on the Continental Divide here. It’s also home to the Ute Trailhead and views of Poudre Lake.
  • Lake Irene Picnic Area - This is home to a half-mile loop around Lake Irene. Across the street from there is Sheep Rock, where bighorn sheep like to sunbathe.
  • Farview Curve Overlook - This overlook lies at 10,000 feet elevation! It offers views of Kawuneeche Valley, the Colorado River, the Never Summer Range, and Jackstraw Mountain.
  • Colorado River Trailhead - As usual, there are several trails here to choose from, ranging from easy to strenuous. We recommend the Colorado River trail.
  • Beaver Creek Picnic Area - During fall, it’s common to see elk run here. It has tables, toilets, and fire grates.
  • Beaver Ponds Picnic Area - Another picnic area! You’ll find it offers great bird watching, two ponds, tables, and toilets.
  • Holzwarth Historic Site - Originally homesteaded by early settlers, this now offers a 1.5 miles stroll around the land. Some original structures are still standing.
  • Bowen Mountain - As the name suggests, this roadside overlook offers views of Bowen Mountain and the Colorado River.
  • Bowen-Baker Trailhead - Trailheads of different levels can be found here. Even if you don’t hike, it’s a wonderful place to spend some time. There’s a gorgeous meadow, picnic tables, and bathrooms.
  • Coyote Valley Trailhead - This is an easy, riverside, one-mile trail that’s wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly.
  • Bowen Gulch Trail - Since this trail is 15-miles long, the attraction is really walking along the river and exploring this beautiful area. Take a stroll along part of it and turn back when you’re done enjoying the beautiful scenery.
  • Harbison Meadows Picnic Site - Originally homesteaded by two sisters, today this area is a gorgeous meadow with picnic tables. It’s also a popular place with wildlife.
  • Kawuneeche Visitor Center - What’s unique about this visitor center is it has a Rocky Mountain Conservancy Bookstore. So if you saw or heard about something today you want to learn more about, here’s an opportunity.

$10-$20 for souvenirs

  • Grand Lake - Food ranges from simple to high-end, and there’s even a museum and historical society. Of course, there’s also that beautiful lake! So be sure to explore at least a little more before leaving town.
What's Included
  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
  • Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
  • Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
  • Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
  • Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
  • Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
  • Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
What's Not Included
  • Private transportation
  • Meals and refreshment
  • $10-$20 for souvenirs
  • $5 Kauffman House, under 12 is free
  • Parking Fees
  • Entrance Fees
Additional Information

Explore the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains like never before on our guided tour of Rocky Mountain National Park!

This self-guided audio tour will take you on a journey through the park’s iconic peaks, and stunning alpine lakes, with views of breathtaking wildlife.

Turn your phone into a personal guide as we share fascinating insights into the park’s geology, ecology, and history.

With stops at multiple viewpoints and scenic overlooks, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the park’s stunning vistas and capture unforgettable photos.

The tour provides directions, stories, music, and travel tips - all in the comfort of your own vehicle.

It’s like having a tour guide along for the ride. We’ve done all the planning, so you don’t have to!

Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.

  • Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
  • Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
  • Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
  • Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
  • Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
  • The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
  • What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
Location
Estes Park
Recommended Start Time: Before 8:00 a.m. *A Timed Entry Reservation is needed to enter Rocky Mountain National Park May through October. Check out the tour FAQs for more information.*
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1
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June 2024
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