Rocky Mountain National Park is as known for it's gorgeous views as it's huge tourist traffic - 4.1 million in 2015 alone, to be more precise. When one fantasizes about walking Bear Lake, they imagine the beauty and serenity of their surroundings; the quiet, the chance to see wildlife, the solitude. What they don't realize is that the parking lot for Bear Lake fills up no later than 8am and instead of peaceful serenity they are greeted by hordes of tourists, clamoring onto shuttle buses and frantically taking pictures of elk herds in passing.

It's hardly enticing to the Colorado native who merely wishes to explore the park and soak up all that the surroundings have to offer...

Thankfully, there is a solution - visit the park at night!

The main appeal to making the trip into the park at night is of course stargazing. This time of the year the temperature will quickly drop to 45 degrees, but the road's highest point at 12,183 feet give a wonderful perch to watch each one twinkle alive.  But the stars aren't the only thing worth seeing after the busiest hours for the park have come and gone...

Wildlife reveals itself in the twilight hours and the sunsets are unrivaled. The Alpine Visitor Center is the perfect spot to watch the sky turn orange and pink, and also for up-close views of elk roaming through.

A day pass will cost you $20, or you can purchase the annual Rocky pass for $50. There are all sorts of ways to experience the park at night - visit for one of theirstargazing events, camp, take a full moon hike or drive up and pull off the road to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way.