Looking to spend a week at Rocky Mt NP mid Sept 2015 on the way to Utah, any suggestions on which CG to stay at IN the park? Obviously we can make due without hookups, looking for as quiet and private a CG as is available, prefer non generator area too. Views, wildlife, and being close to activities comes 2nd. Will be arriving from the east, thinking of staying in one CG for 7 nights but spending a couple of those nights at a hotel in Grand Lake to see the west side.Best I can tell is Moraine, Glacier, or Aspenglow. Coming from a long way off so I'll make reservations. 21' FW, 35' overall. Any CG or site suggestions?

I don't think your likely to find a NP CG that takes RV's that bans generators. They all have generator hours but they allow their use. Typical hours are 8 AM to 6 PM possibly with a break in the middle.Likewise you aren't going to find a small secluded CG that takes RV's in RMNP. They range from 50 to 250 sites per CG. I would strongly advise getting reservations no later than January. It's not as bad as Yellowstone or Yosemite but they do fill up fast especially for popular periods.Go to the park's site: RMNP CG and they describe the available CG.

If you are intent on quiet and private you won't find it in RMNP. Unless they are able to pave the main road into Moraine P:ark it will be very busy and quite dusty as it was this fall. Generators are allowed in RMNP campgrounds. These conditions are not unusual in most national parks. They are all busy,

Moraine Park is the best campground in RMNP, hands down. IMHO. We always stay in spots that are on the south side.Miles

We were 31 year residents of Estes Park and guides in RMNP. Kind of know the place. There is absolutely NOTHING available as you described in RMNP or Estes Park. The quietest campground is perhaps Estes Park Campground at East Portal. Moraine Park and Aspenglenn campgrounds are in a beautiful setting, but you will have to listen to generators in not quite hours. Go to the RMNP website for more information. Mid September is prime leaf color time and elk rut. September is almost as busy as summer prime time. The solitude you seek is available not far from the maddening crowd in RMNP, but you will have to find it. 95% of RMNP is designated wilderness and probably 95% of the people are crammed into 5% of the Park. You will not find a wilderness experience in a campground in the Park, but you can find wilderness near those campgrounds by getting off the beaten path.We love RMNP with all our heart and soul. The wife's family started vacationing there in 1917, and I married the place in 1974.PM me with contact information and maybe I can help you.

Padlin wrote:Looking to spend a week at Rocky Mt NP mid Sept 2015 on the way to Utah, any suggestions on which CG to stay at IN the park? Obviously we can make due without hookups, looking for as quiet and private a CG as is available, prefer non generator area too. Views, wildlife, and being close to activities comes 2nd. Will be arriving from the east, thinking of staying in one CG for 7 nights but spending a couple of those nights at a hotel in Grand Lake to see the west side.Best I can tell is Moraine, Glacier, or Aspenglow. Coming from a long way off so I'll make reservations. 21' FW, 35' overall. Any CG or site suggestions?I spend a lot of time in RMNP, since I'm only 45 minutes away, and all 3 of the campgrounds on the east side have their appeal. I personally prefer Glacier Basin, as it's easier to get reservations most of the time. There is one loop in Glacier Basin that prohibits generators, I believe it's "C" loop. I've stayed in "D" loop as it's more open and the sites are not quite as close together as the others. The generators can only be run at certain times, and folks abide by that. However, it closed for the season in mid-September this year; it's season is shorter than Moraine Park and Aspenglen. If you come in early September, I highly recommend "D" loop. D142 is a nice pull through with plenty of room. D146 and D148 are also good sites. "C" loop is primarily tent sites, but there are some RV sites. "A" and "B" loops are in the trees, which for me, makes them feel closed in. There's some good sites there, notably B046 and B048 as well as A014 and A016; not so much of that closed in feel. Some of the sites in those two loops are very tight to get a trailer in, and it seems to be popular with the pop up crowd. Moraine Park has multiple loops as well. "C" loop has some good sites, my preference are the ones on the outside of the loop, near the amphitheatre (which is not overly busy) -- C227/C230/C232/C234 are all good sites, back ins that are easy to get in to. It also has mainly RV/Trailer sites, not so much for tenting. Tenting is more in the "A" and "D" loops. "B" loop is first come/first served and those sites go fast. Like with "C" loop, my preference is for the sites on the outside of the loop, as they are generally easy back ins and have a good view of the meadow where the Elk like to gather, some better than others. I've not stayed at Aspenglen, but it's not a bad CG, just not what I prefer. It's also reservations only during the season. It usually remains open through September; this year, it closed this weekend, Oct 18. There's also Timber Creek on the west side, but it's not what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice CG, but there was significant beetle kill in that area years back, and they cut all the trees down. It's very quiet over there, since it's harder to get to, and it's recommended to come in from the west/south via Granby and Grand Lake, rather than up and over Trail Ridge Rd. In mid-September, Trail Ridge can get snow, and it's challenging enough in good weather, never mind with snow on it. Some folks say to go ahead and tow across it; I don't recommend it for a variety of reasons, most of which are why you won't see a lot of trailers or motorhomes up there. Good to plan ahead for a trip to RMNP. PM me if you'd like to know more or have any questions.

RMNP | Good Sam Community

Thom02099
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2014
WEST SIDE HIKING TRAILS

Lots of trails on the west side, and far less people on them!
4runnerguy
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014
The trouble with hiking on the west side of the park is that there are few shorter trails like there are on the east side. Many of the west side trails are 10+ miles round trip. They also generally start at lower elevations so one has to traverse long segments through the forest to get up to timberline and the views. I generally recommend the east side trails to those who haven't been to the park before. I've spent many days hiking all over RMNP and I personally prefer the east side trails for our hiking. For us, the scenic rewards outweigh the crowd factor.
Busskipper
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014
4runnerguy wrote:
The trouble with hiking on the west side of the park is that there are few shorter trails like there are on the east side. Many of the west side trails are 10+ miles round trip. They also generally start at lower elevations so one has to traverse long segments through the forest to get up to timberline and the views. I generally recommend the east side trails to those who haven't been to the park before. I've spent many days hiking all over RMNP and I personally prefer the east side trails for our hiking. For us, the scenic rewards outweigh the crowd factor.

Add to that the fact that once you get on the trails you leave the CROWD. Few actually get off the pavement, but the rewards are just unbelievable in the views and the memories once you leave the Pavement. One note about hiking this time of year - check the weather as it usually will change and you can get caught with out all the right gear. (SNOW) Let someone know where you are and when you will return! I speak from experience.

JMHO

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