Family-Friendly Educational Bus Tours
From the comfort of a 14-passenger bus, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute offers guided bus tours throughout Rocky Mountain National Park to areas including Trail Ridge Road, the Alpine Visitor Center, Kawuneeche Valley on the park’s west side, and picturesque meadow showcasing the elk rut in the fall. Each tour offers a different adventure and is led by one of our talented naturalist guides.
Entrance fees and timed entry permits for Rocky Mountain National Park are included in tour fees.
Winter Wonderland Bus Tours
Select Tuesday – Friday mornings, January – March
Looking for a warm and cozy way to experience Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter months? Rocky Mountain Conservancy offers 3-hour Winter Wonderland Bus Tours, departing from the Estes Park Visitor Center and taking participants through Horseshoe Park to Sheep Lakes and the Alluvial Fan, then to Moraine Park and Sprague Lake. These tours are suitable for all ages and abilities. Participants may choose to take a short walk at Sprague Lake, weather dependent.
These tours are available by request only, Tuesday – Friday mornings, January 7 – March 14, 2025.
Pricing: $200 for groups of up to 4 participants, $400 for groups of 5-8, $600 for groups of 9-12.
Call 970-586-3262 or email Education@RMConservancy.org for more information or to request a tour date.
Due to limited winter staffing, reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance and availability is not guaranteed. Tours may be cancelled and refunded at the Conservancy’s discretion due to unsafe travel conditions in Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park.
Summer Bus Tours
Please note: Summer bus tour tickets will go on sale in March, 2025. For private tour inquiries, please call 970-586-3262 or email Education@RMConservancy.org
Welcome to Rocky! Educational Ecology Tour, June – August
Rocky Mountain National Park is a beautiful place where gorgeous mountain vistas greet you around every corner, but it’s easy to forget about the unique inhabitants that make this area so special. Join our naturalist guide on a 14-passenger minibus as we visit iconic locations and seek out the interesting critters of RMNP. Spend the afternoon at some of the park’s most breathtaking locations, including Horseshoe Park, the Alluvial Fan, Hidden Valley, and Moraine Park, learning about the wildlife that make this region so fascinating. This tour is approximately 4 hours in length.
Adults: $75, children 12 & under: $35
Trail Ridge Road Scenic Ecology Tour, June – August
One of the premier attractions of Rocky Mountain National Park is Trail Ridge Road, the nation’s highest continuous paved highway. Trail Ridge Road meanders through various life zones on its way through the park, and over one of the largest, most pristine stretches of alpine tundra in the lower 48 states. Participants receive a unique overview of the park’s history, flora, fauna, and geology while viewing the landscapes from the comfort of our 14-passenger minibus, with opportunities for taking pictures at many stops along the way. The tour is approximately 6 hours in length and includes time for participants to eat lunch at the Alpine Visitor Center. Bring along a bag lunch or purchase light fare at the Trail Ridge Store & Cafe. This tour is also available as an on-demand private tour.
Adults & teens: $95, Children 12 and under: $45
Journey Over the Divide Scenic Ecology Tour, June – August
Rocky Mountain National Park contains breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, and opportunities to connect with the past along Trail Ridge Road, the awe-inspiring byway across the Continental Divide. Participants on this expanded tour will receive a unique overview of the park’s history, flora, fauna, and geology while viewing the landscapes from the comfort of our 14-passenger minibus as we travel from Estes Park to Grand Lake. Stops include Rainbow Curve, the Alpine Visitor Center, Milner Pass/Continental Divide, and the Holzwarth Historic Site. This tour is approximately 8 hours in length and includes time for a picnic lunch in the Kawuneeche Valley. Please plan to bring along a picnic lunch for yourself and your group. There are no concession services at the picnic areas.
Adults & teens: $125, Children 12 and under: $60
Email education@RMConservancy.org to inquire about available dates for this private tour.
Women of Rocky History Tour, select dates, June – August
Join Rocky Mountain Conservancy on a unique educational experience by bus! You will venture throughout the Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park to walk in the footsteps of magnificent women who homesteaded and visited the area. This program will include the stories and impacts of European homesteading women including Isabella Bird, Anna Wolfrom Dove, Esther Burnell, Bettie Willard, and others. This tour is approximately 3 hours in length. Adult tickets include a copy of the book “The Magnificent Mountain Woman: Adventures in the Colorado Rockies” written by Jan Robertson, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Visit Estes Park.
Adults: $50, children 12 & under: $25, Ticket sales begin in March
Fall Scenic Ecology Elk Tours
Select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons, September – October
It’s impossible to ignore the magic of fall in the Rockies! The fall rut is a spectacular display of elk mating behavior featuring bugling, posturing, and herding displays by the bulls. Paired with the reds and golds of fall foliage, this extraordinary event will be available for viewing from the comfort of our 14-passenger minibus staffed by a professional educational guide who will discuss elk ecology, interpret elk behavior for guests, and have elk artifacts such as antlers and hides for participants to see and touch. This tour is approximately 3 hours in length.
Adults: $50, children 12 & under: $25, Ticket sales begin in July
Interested in a personalized experience? We can create a custom tour for you and your group!
More information here: Custom Learning Experiences