A Solo Trip in
Rocky Mountain National Park
In late September, I took a week-long solo trip to Colorado! I was really grateful for the chance to spend time out west this year, especially because late September and early October is such a beautiful time of year in the Rocky Mountains. The colors, the crisp air, and the quieter trails all made it feel like the perfect time to be there.
This post documents my trip and includes the hikes I loved, camping tips, places to eat, gear rentals, and other things I learned along the way. Since this was my first solo camping trip, there were definitely a few learning curves. Still, it was such a meaningful experience. Every solo trip reminds me how important this kind of travel is for me. When I step away from daily responsibilities and routines, my thoughts have room to surface, and I can actually sit with them rather than rushing past them.
A quick note on loneliness on solo trips because people often ask if I get lonely when I travel alone. At times, I do. But more often, the freedom to move at my own pace and intentionally do what I enjoy creates a sense of warmth and self connection that outweighs the loneliness. When loneliness does show up, it is often paired with anxiety. Lately, I have been practicing letting that anxiousness exist without immediately trying to distract myself from it or push it away. I have found that practicing sitting with it, feeling into it, and deeply understanding it can be extremely helpful.
Packing
Now, onto packing. Layers are essential. I brought two thermal base layers, two mid layers, a sweatshirt, leggings, insulated hiking pants, a rain jacket or poncho, a hat, gloves, and a thinner jacket. Looking back, I would absolutely recommend bringing an insulated hiking jacket as well. I also packed two pairs of thick, high quality wool socks. Headlamps were incredibly useful for cooking or setting up camp after dark.
As for camping gear, nighttime temperatures in the Rockies were around forty degrees. I had a one person tent, a camping stove, a solo traveler pot set, a cooler, and one sleeping pad, but after the first night I rented a second sleeping pad. In hindsight, I barely used the cooler and could have gone without it. Since I was car camping, I did not need a large backpack and instead brought a smaller one for day hikes, the Osprey Daylight Pack.
Sleeping & Cold Weather Camping Tips
I flew from Detroit to Denver in the morning, picked up my rental car, rented camping gear from MSR’s Base Camp, borrowed additional gear from a friend, and stopped at Ace Hardware for firewood. From there, I drove into Rocky Mountain National Park through the Grand Lake entrance and arrived at Timber Creek Campground. This campground is on the west side of the park, which tends to be quieter than the Estes Park side. I really loved Timber Creek. The surrounding mountains felt especially dramatic, and the space itself was peaceful. A short hike nearby with great valley views is the Colorado River Trail, which is about 3.2 miles.
Despite the beautiful setting, my first night did not go as planned. I struggled to start a fire, was far colder than expected, and woke up to a flat tire on my rental car. Still, that rough start taught me a lot. Beyond simply adding more layers, I learned several small adjustments that made the rest of the trip much more comfortable.
- First, oven bags. I can’t express how helpful oven bags were. My feet are usually cold when I try to fall asleep, but that first night they were completely numb no matter how many socks I wore. The next day, I bought oven bags from a grocery store in Estes Park and put them directly over my bare feet before adding two layers of socks. My feet stayed warm for the rest of the trip, sometimes almost too warm. This was the simplest and most effective trick I learned.
- Second, either sleep on two sleeping pads or invest in a very high quality insulated one.
- Third, warm up water, pour it into a BPA free bottle like a Nalgene, and place it in your sleeping bag before bed. Drinking a warm drink before bed also helps warm up your body.
- Fourth, I took magnesium about an hour before sleeping. Research suggests it helps with muscle relaxation, and for me it worked well as an alternative to melatonin.
- Finally, all the usual sleep hygiene practices still apply, like limiting screen time before bed and writing down anxious thoughts to clear your mind.
Trail Ridge Road
The following day, after getting my tire fixed, I drove along Trail Ridge Road. There are countless overlooks along the route, and I stopped at several, including Many Parks Curve, Rainbow Curve, Forest Canyon, and the overlook near the Alpine Visitor Center. Each stop somehow felt more stunning than the last.
Hikes
I wanted to dedicate a section just to the hikes I did. Before that, a quick note about parking in Rocky Mountain National Park, especially around Bear Lake, since it can fill up quickly, especially in the mornings. If so, do not fear! You can park in the “Park & Ride” parking lot about two miles up Bear Lake Road from the Bear Lake trailhead and the Glacier Gorge trailhead. When you park here, regular buses come to pick up hikers and take them to desired trailheads. This worked out great for me when I was hiking the Sky Pond trail.
Okay, on to the hikes. Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes via the Nymph Lake Trail from Bear Lake Trailhead is about five miles. This hike was absolutely incredible, especially if you love alpine lakes. It is relatively easy for how rewarding it feels and was one of the highlights of my trip. For a shorter and more relaxed option, you can walk the loop around Bear Lake, which is 0.7 miles, or hike to Nymph Lake, about 0.5 miles from the trailhead. Despite being so accessible, Nymph Lake was, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful lakes I saw during the entire trip!
Sky Pond via the Glacier Gorge Trail is about 8.6 miles and left me speechless. The scenery kept getting more dramatic the farther I went. Around seven miles in, you reach Timberline Falls, which requires a short rock scramble. I was a bit nervous beforehand, but it felt very manageable, and everyone I saw navigated it just fine. I even spotted a mama moose and her baby along the trail.
Lily Mountain, which is outside the park, is a shorter hike with some steep elevation that leads to a great view and plenty of rocky spots to sit and snack. The scramble at the top is brief and approachable, and I saw dogs on the trail as well.
Spruce Lake was a peaceful and gentle walk, perfect for a slower day. The Lily Lake Loop is as well.
I did not end up hiking Lake Chasm because I was not feeling well that day, but I have heard and seen amazing things.
Non-hiking Beauties
One experience that is not a hike but felt completely irreplaceable was visiting Moraine Park at sunrise or sunset to watch the elk bugling during late September and early October. The elk themselves were incredible to observe, and the valley views made it even more special.
Aside from my first night at Timber Creek, I stayed at Hermit Park Campground, which is outside the park. I absolutely loved it. It was spacious, affordable, and beautiful, and waking up there each morning felt grounding. I never minded the drive through Estes Park to reach RMNP.
Before leaving Colorado, I also stopped at Garden of the Gods. It is incredible to think that those red rock formations have existed since the dinosaur era.
Closing Remarks
Overall, this trip left me feeling deeply grateful and eager to return. There is so much more of Colorado I want to explore. Thank you so much for reading!
Lastly, because this was a solo trip, I spent a lot of time reflecting on a few questions that stayed with me throughout the trip. I think these are great reflection questions for anyone.
- What does my ideal day look like, down to the smallest details?
- What do I want my life to look and feel like in ten years, and how can those answers guide the choices I make now?