Family-Friendly Educational Bus Tours
From the comfort of a 15-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 meadows 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.
Interested in a personalized experience? We can create a custom tour for you and your group! More information here: Custom Learning Experiences
Summer Bus Tours
To request a private or custom bus tour, please complete this online form: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request
Thanks to a generous donation, we purchased an ADA accessible bus in late 2024. If you would like to request this vehicle for your program, please select the “ADA transport” option during checkout!
Welcome to Rocky! Educational Ecology Tour, most Wednesdays and Fridays, 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 as we visit iconic locations and seek out the interesting critters of RMNP. Spend the morning at some of the park’s most breathtaking locations, including Sheep Lake and Horseshoe Park, Many Parks Curve, Moraine Park, and Sprague Lake, learning about the wildlife that make this region so fascinating. This tour is approximately 3 to 4 hours in length.
Adults: $80, children 12 & under: $50
Trail Ridge Road & the Alpine Visitor Center Scenic Ecology Tour, most Thursdays and Saturdays, 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 enclosed bus, 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.
Adults & teens: $120, Children 12 and under: $80
Journey Over the Divide Scenic Ecology Tour, June – August, private groups only
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 park’s magnificent landscapes as we travel from Estes Park to Grand Lake. Stops include Rainbow Curve, the Alpine Visitor Center, the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, and the Kawuneeche Valley, where participants have the option of taking a short walk to the Holzwarth Historic Site. This tour is approximately 8 hours in length and includes time for lunch in the Kawuneeche Valley. Please bring along a picnic lunch for yourself and your group. There are no concession services at the picnic areas.
Two weeks advance notice required. Subject to staff availability. Groups of up to 12 people: $1,200
To request this private bus tour, please complete this online form: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request
Fall Scenic Ecology Elk Tours
Most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons, September – October
Please note: Fall bus tour tickets will go on sale in July. To request a private or custom bus tour, please complete this online form: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request
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 by the bulls. You’re invited to witness this extraordinary event along with the spectacular reds and golds of the fall foliage. This tour is 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 2 hours in length.
Adults: $50, children 12 & under: $35
Interested in a personalized experience? We can create a custom tour for you and your group!
More information here: Custom Learning Experiences or request a private tour here: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request