Advice for RMNP Trip
Months ago my husband and I reserved the dates on our calendars to go on a long-awaited trip to Estes Park (we're from MO)...we are just beginning our planning process and realizing how hard it's going to be to get access to RMNP park with how quickly the drive in permits/campsites sell out. We've never done this before if you can't tell lol. Planning to arrive Sep 3rd & leave Sep 8th-this is labor day weekend-_- Can you help guide me in what to do?
We are planning to tent camp, but drinking water, electric, & bag/regular showers (if I dare to request such a thing) would be nice. I was thinking we could try for the campsites that they release 7 days in advance at Aspenglen, Moraine, or Glacier Basin campgrounds. Picking those campgrounds blindly because they seem most central, and Moraine and Glacier Basin would include access to Bear Lake Road. I guess another option may be to try to somehow get timed entry passes and camp somewhere nearby that's not a part of RMNP that has better availability. I don't think we could rely on the whole "try to reserve the next days' timed entry pass the night before" thing because we may not have cell service during our trip. I do know we can plan to enter some parts of the park before 9am without a pass. The before 5am entry area would be doable maybe 1 day out of the trip. Would it be a "fulfilling" trip if we spent most of our trip inside the areas of the park outside of Bear Lake Rd corridor, that you only have to get to before 9am, or is the Bear Lake Rd area where all the coolest stuff is? (Lol)
We really want to make the trip happen these dates and would be bummed to wait for next year, so please share any ideas/suggestions you have, even if they get away from my loose "plan"! Like even if you have ideas of beautiful spots/hikes/campgrounds outside of the park! Thank you so much in advance!