Family-Friendly Educational Bus Tours
From the comfort of our new 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 tundra, Alpine Visitor Center, 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
Summer bus tours have ended for 2025 and will resume in June, 2026. Tickets for summer 2026 tours will go on sale in March.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view! Spend some time exploring the park and learning from our knowledgeable naturalist guides, and leave the driving to us!
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 plant and animal inhabitants that make this area so special. Join our naturalist guide on a 14-passenger minibus as we visit scenic locations and seek out the interesting wildlife of RMNP. Spend the morning at some of the park’s most breathtaking locations, including Sheep Lakes and Horseshoe Park, Many Parks Curve, Moraine Park, and more, learning about the wildlife that make this region so fascinating. Leave the driving to us while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the magic of Rocky!
This tour runs 3 to 4 hours in length and is suitable for all ages. We will be getting on and off the bus and walking a short distance over level ground at each stop. All required park entrance fees and permits are included in your registration.
When: Tours depart at 8:00am and return between 11:00am and 12:00pm. Our return may be delayed due to traffic conditions in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Where: This tour departs from and returns to the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Rd, Estes Park. Look for the marked Rocky Mountain Conservancy vehicle in the parking lot. Your guide will meet you at the vehicle. Please note that you do NOT need to print paper tickets. We will use the name on your reservation to check you in when you arrive.
What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, a jacket or sweatshirt, and a bottle of water. A camera and binoculars are also nice to have along.
Adults: $80, children 12 & under: $50
Trail Ridge Road & the Alpine Visitor Center 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 bus, with opportunities for short walks and taking pictures at many stops along the way.
The tour is approximately 5 to 6 hours in length and includes time for participants to eat lunch at the Alpine Visitor Center or Hidden Valley. Bring a picnic lunch along or purchase light fare at the Trail Ridge Cafe. All required park entry fees and permits are included in the ticket price.
Sit back, relax, and leave the driving to us while you take in the wonder of the Rocky Mountains!
When: Tours depart at 8:00am. Approximate return time is between 1:00pm and 2:00pm. Our return may be delayed due to traffic conditions in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.
Where: Meet your guide and board the bus at the Fall River Visitor Center, 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park. Look for the marked Rocky Mountain Conservancy vehicle in the parking lot. Your guide will meet you at the vehicle. Please note that you do NOT need to print paper tickets. We will use the name on your reservation to check you in when you arrive.
What to bring: Wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers as it will be cool and windy at the Alpine Visitor Center. Bring a bag lunch and plenty of water for everyone in your group. Don’t forget your camera, and binoculars can be nice to have, too.
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.
Minimum five business days advance notice required. Subject to staff availability. Groups of up to 14 people: $1,200
To request this private bus tour, please complete this online form: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request
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
Fall Scenic Ecology Elk Tours
Select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons, September – October
Tickets for Fall 2026 tours will go on sale in June.
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 2.5 hours in length.
Thanks to a generous donation, we purchased an ADA accessible bus with a wheelchair lift in late 2024. If you would like to request this vehicle for your program, please select the “ADA transport” option during checkout!
Adults: $50, children 12 & under: $25
Looking for a tour on a specific date or want to book a private tour for your group? Please complete our online form to inquire about availability: Rocky Mountain Conservancy Program Request