Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Shuttle Tickets
Staying in Estes Park? The Hiker Shuttle provides service to passengers from the Estes Park Visitor Center in the town of Estes Park (near the intersections of U.S. Highways 36 and 34), to Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road.
The Hiker Shuttle allows you to leave your vehicle at your lodging or at the Estes Park Visitor Center parking structure and access destinations located along the Bear Lake Road corridor. Once at Park & Ride, transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttle routes to access destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake. For more details to see a map of the shuttle routes, visit RMNP's Shuttle Buses and Public Transit webpage.
To ride the Hiker Shuttle, you must pruchase tickets on Recreation.gov. All passengers, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Hiker Shuttle Tickets are $2.00 per reservation. Hiker Shuttle tickets are not available in person at the Estes Park Visitor Center or at any of the park's visitor centers or entrance stations. Hiker Shuttle tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
One (1) person may book up to 4 Hiker Shuttle tickets per $2.00 reservation. You can make up to two (2) reservations per transaction per day for a total of 8 tickets. If there are more than 4 people in your party, the same person can purchase another $2.00 reservation with an additional 4 hiker shuttle tickets in the same transaction and email account for a total of 8 tickets.
Passengers with Hiker Shuttle Tickets will board the Hiker Shuttle outside of the Estes Park Visitor Center. The Hiker Shuttle does not pick up or drop-off passengers at any other locations in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park.
Hiker Shuttle Schedule:
- Daily Hiker Shuttle Service is available May 23 - September 1, 2025
- Saturday/Sunday Only Service begins September 6 - October 19, 2025.
Hiker Shuttle Route Schedule:
- Hiker Shuttles depart from the Estes Park Visitor Center at the following times: 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
- Hiker Shuttles pick up returning passengers from RMNP's Park & Ride at the following times: 9:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:00 p.m.
When you are ready to return to the Estes Park Visitor Center, return to RMNP's Park and Ride and board a returning Hiker Shuttle back to Estes Park. Please remember, the last bus departs from Park and Ride at 6:00 p.m. Do not be late! There are no other public transportation services available to return from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Town of Estes Park.
Hiker Shuttles provide access to the Bear Lake Road Corridor inside RMNP. A Hiker Shuttle ticket is only valid to ride on the Hiker Shuttle. It does not give you access to drive a vehicle into the park.
All passengers riding the Hiker Shuttle will need two things:
- A Hiker Shuttle Ticket and
- A site pass (purchase in advance before arrival) OR a valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands pass (also known as an interagency pass, e.g., Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass). A pass covers the entrance fee for the passholder plus 3 additional individuals ages 16 and older. Children 15 and under do not pay the entrance fee (but still must have a hiker shuttle ticket) If you don't already have an annual or lifetime pass, the most economical site pass options are: if traveling solo, purchase 1-day individual pass ($15) or for two (2) or more individuals, purchase a 1-day vehicle pass ($30).
Need to Know
- To Ride the Hiker Shuttle, Tickets are Required
All passengers, including children riding on laps, must have a ticket. One person can purchase up to 4 tickets per each reservation. You can add up to 2 Hiker Shuttle Reservations to your cart in one transaction, for a total of 8 tickets per person.
- What Will I Need to Board the Hiker Shuttle?
All passengers riding the Hiker Shuttle will need two things: a reservation for Hiker Shuttle Tickets and a valid park entrance pass
- Purchase your entrance pass before arriving. If you do not already have a valid entrance pass (see below), you may purchase a digital site passes online on Recreation.gov.
- Already have a valid lifetime or annual pass to your national parks (including the Rocky Mountain National Park Annual Pass, America the Beautiful Annual, Senior, Military, Access, 4th Grade, or Volunteer)?
- Then you are covered! Be ready to show your pass when boarding the bus
- If you don't have a valid pass and are traveling solo, the most economical option is the 1-Day Individual Pass for $15
- If there are 2 or more people in your group (and you traveled together in the same vehicle), the most economical option is the 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30.
- Plan Ahead - The Last Hiker Shuttle Departs at 6 p.m.
The last Hiker Shuttle bus departs from Park and Ride at 6 p.m. Do not be late! There are no other public transportation services available to return from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Town of Estes Park.
- Where is Shuttle Service Available?
The Hiker Shuttle provides service from the Estes Park Visitor Center, located in the Town of Estes Park, to the RMNP Park & Ride Transit Hub, located on Bear Lake Road, and back. Shuttle bus service is not available outside of the Bear Lake Road Corridor. There is no shuttle bus service on the west side of the park or across Trail Ridge Road.
Booking Windows
The hiker shuttle runs only during peak and shoulder season (late May to mid-October each year). The park releases hiker shuttle reservations on Recreation.gov using the following schedule:
- On May 1 at 8:00 a.m. MT, reservations open for: May 23 - June 30
- On June 1 at 8:00 a.m. MT, reservations open for: July 1 - July 31 including any remaining days in June.
- On July 1 at 8:00 a.m. MT, reservations open for: August 1 - August 31, including any remaining days in July.
- On August 1 at 8:00 a.m. MT, reservations will open for: September 1 - September 30, including any remaining days in August.
- On September 1 at 8:00 a.m. MT, reservations will open for: October 1 - October 19, including any remaining days in September.
Additional hiker shuttle reservations will open on Recreation.gov at 7:00 p.m. MT on the night before a desired arrival date. These will sell out quickly. Plan ahead!
Changes and Cancellations
Hiker Shuttle Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable. They cannot be gifted or transferred to another person, including parents, children or siblings. If you are unable to use your Hiker Shuttle Tickets, cancellations may be made up to 24 hours prior to your visit.
Entrance Fee. The park also charges an entrance fee separate from the hiker shuttle reservation fee. you should plan to pay the fee in advance before arrival) UNLESS you or someone in your party already own a valid America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands pass (also known as an interagency pass, e.g., Annual, Senior, Access, Military, Veterans, 4th Grade, or Volunteer Pass). These passes cover the entrance fee for the passholder plus 3 additional individuals ages 16 and older (children 15 and under do not pay the entrance fee but still must have a hiker shuttle ticket). If you don't already have an annual or lifetime pass, the most economical site pass options are: for traveling solo, purchase 1-day individual pass ($15) or for two (2) or more individuals, purchase a 1-day vehicle pass ($30).
Contact Information
Mailing Address
1000 HY 36 Estes Park CO 80517
Phone Number
970-586-1206
