Rocky Mountain National Park Family Adventure

Our trip begins this morning in Denver, Colorado where we meet our guides & fellow family adventurers. A brief orientation before loading into our private van ensures we're ready for the days ahead as we set out for Rocky Mountain National Park. The Rockies are rich in history and our guides take advantage of the scenic drive to share the story of this beautiful region. Arriving at the park, we head to our campsite where we'll enjoy a wonderful lunch and set up our cozy basecamp home for the next 4 nights. Our accommodations include roomy oversized tents, allowing us plenty of space to stretch out and stow our gear. Next stop is our first of many amazing hikes that offers glimpses of the magnificent wilderness we'll explore in the days ahead. Once we've completed our hike, we'll return to camp for a delicious guide-prepared dinner together. A campfire under a star-filled Rocky Mountain sky brings this incredible first day to a close. Lunch and Dinner included.

Hiking: 4 miles with minimal elevation gain and loss; Van transfer: 2 hours; Camp elevation: 8,500'

The sounds of birds and chipmunks awaken us in our comfy tents, and we begin our first full day of adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park. A hot breakfast helps fuel our hike to a series of beautiful alpine lakes crowned by towering granite peaks. Situated in the Tyndall Gorge, Bear Lake is by far one of the most popular and most photographed lakes in the park. After Bear Lake, our trail takes us on a gradual ascent to Nymph Lake, lined by pond lilies and offering stunning views of Longs Peak (14,259') and Glacier Gorge. Prepare for jaw-dropping scenery when we reach Emerald Lake, with the jagged spires of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain dominating the skyline. After soaking in the dramatic scenery, we return to camp where some relaxation time and dinner awaits us in our comfortable outdoor home. All meals included.

Hiking: 4.2 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +800' / -800'

Today we see the Rockies from a new perspective. After a hearty camp breakfast, we load into our van and drive over to meet our river guides for a fun morning on the Cache La Poudre River. After a safety talk and rafting instruction, we hop in our rafts and enjoy thrills and stunning scenery in equal measure. Get ready for splashing and laughing on Colorado's only designated "Wild and Scenic River." We raft a stretch of the river that's perfect for families, even those with no previous rafting experience. After a delicious lunch recapping our paddling exploits, we return to camp in mid-afternoon and have plenty of time to play games, relax in the fresh mountain air, or catch up on some summer reading. Another night of stargazing and roasting marshmallows with newfound friends is the perfect end to an adventure-filled day. All meals included.

Rafting: 3 hours; Van transfer: 3 hours roundtrip

This morning we take a scenic drive along the eastern slope of Longs Peak in the Tahosa Valley to the Wild Basin Trailhead. Here we load up our daypacks with lunch, snacks and cameras before setting out to visit three distinctly beautiful waterfalls. Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls each have their own special look and feel and offer a variety of great photo opportunities. In the rushing streams, the songbird known as the water ouzel (or American dipper) entertains us as it flies, floats, swims and wades in an unending search for aquatic insects. Our guides prepare a special farewell dinner for us tonight—a celebration of our adventure together and an opportunity to share stories and reflect on the joys of time with family in the restorative wilderness. All meals included.

Hiking: 5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +887' / -1,670'

No experience in Rocky Mountain National Park would be complete without driving across the Trail Ridge Road—widely considered the most beautiful drive in America. Gaining 4,500' in elevation during our drive, we see the vegetation and terrain transform drastically while we try to spot marmots, pikas, elk herds and bighorn sheep. We'll stop to enjoy a few short hikes at over 11,000' in the alpine tundra before continuing on Trail Ridge Road towards the west side of the park and the headwaters of the Colorado River. En route, we visit Holzwarth Historic Site for a short, easy walk before resuming our drive back to Denver. We anticipate getting back to the Denver host hotel between 5pm and 6pm. Breakfast and lunch included.

Hiking: 1 mile above 11,000' with minimal elevation gain/loss; Drive along Trail Ridge Road and back to Denver (with numerous stops): 4 hours