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Fall Private Elk Rut Rocky Mountain National Park Tour

Fall Private Elk Rut Rocky Mountain National Park Tour

Overview

Join us for a safari-like experience during the the elk rut! Drive through Rocky Mountain National Park on a 4 - 5 hour private tour with only your party & your guide! On our Rut Tour, you will be taken up the famous Old Fall River Road where you will see beautiful mountain views & waterfalls, stop at the highest visitor center in the US National Park System, drive back down the highest continuous paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road and witness the elk rut mating season in Moraine Park. When Old Fall River Road isn't open, you will drive up & back down Trail Ridge Road. This tour is NOT a hiking tour, and focuses more on driving in the National Park with small strolls throughout. *Wildlife is unpredictable & we cannot guarantee sightings, but we try our best to scout the prime locations!

We only offer pickup for guests staying in Estes Park. If you are staying outside of Estes Park, we can meet you at the free parking garage for the Estes Park Visitor Center for pickup.

City: Estes Park

Sun 25 May

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $170.00

Make a reservation

Sun 25 May

Starting at $170.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Timed Entry Permit

Private transportation

Bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle

All Fees and Taxes

Binoculars / Spotting Scope

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Carseat must be provided for infants

What To Expect

Rocky Mountain National Park

Our Elk Rut tour in Estes Park is all about taking a beautiful drive into the Rocky Mountain National Park. We'll take you as high up the mountain as the weather allows through beautiful scenic mountain passes. You'll see the city of Estes Park from above, beautiful lakes, meadows, waterfalls, and wildlife. At sunset, you will get to witness the elk gather in Moraine Park for the elk rut. Don't worry about the timed entry permit, your entrance and permit into the Rocky Mountain National Park are included!

Old Fall River Road

When open, (typically July through September) our driver Riley will take you up Old Fall River Road, a one-way dirt road that goes up to the Alpine Visitor Center. You'll experience thrilling cliff-side mountain driving, see beautiful wildlife, flowing waterfalls, and more! When Old Fall River Road is not open, you will drive up Trail Ridge Road as far as it is open for the season.

Alpine Visitor Center

When open, take a short stop at the highest Visitor Center in all of the US National Park System (typically June through September)! Our driver will spend 20 minutes here for you to shop. Grab a snack, snap some photos, or get your National Park Passport stamped!

Trail Ridge Road

On the drive to Moraine Park, our driver will take you down the highest continuous paved road in the United States, Trail Ridge Road. Witness the changing beauty of the ecosystems within the Rocky Mountain National Park from the upper tundra to the lower montane. In October, you will drive up Trail Ridge Road as far as it is open for the season.

Moraine Park Museum

To finish your tour, you will stop around sunset time in the Moraine Park to witness the elk rut. Here, you can see the winding Big Thompson River with the elk fighting for their harems!

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (21)

S22FKjamier

Sep 2024

This tour was AhMazing! Riley was the perfect guide for us! His knowledge and enthusiasm about the park were well articulated. He delivered on everything noted in the reservation, and More! Very professional yet Fun too! We all 4 highly recommend seeing Rocky Mountain Natl Park with Explore Estes & Riley! Thanks Riley, we’ll be back!

Linda_H

Oct 2023

Loved the scenery and the elk. I have never seen so many in one place. We really enjoyed this tour and our guide was very informative. I would love to make a trip back to make it to the Alpine visitor center as it was closed on this trip. I would definitely pick Riley for another perfect tour.

gruyter

Oct 2023

Explore Estes is a great service that I highly recommend. Riley gave my wife and I a fantastic and informative tour of RMNP. I booked the tour for our first day in Estes Park/RMNP so we could have an intimate tour from a local guide who knows the area. The idea being we could have the best information to make the most of our trip. Riley from Explore Estes delivered. Riley was conversational and provided history and local lore to complement the tour. Another aspect of Explore Estes is the blog on their website which provides tips and information for planning your visit. When my wife and I return to Estes Park for another visit, I would book a tour with them again. We did not use their transportation service on this trip, but that is another service they offer.