Photography in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to do photography. I know, because I’ve spent nearly 20 years as a professional nature photographer focused on this park. Over these years I’ve hiked to nearly every remote location and I’ve taken many thousands of photos, yet I am still finding beautiful new views and compositions.

While some photographers complain about the lack of iconic views, this is actually a good thing because it helps you to not get stuck photographing the same thing as everyone else. In Rocky, photographers are able to see that there is natural beauty everywhere.

Because of the geography of Rocky Mountain National Park, morning is generally the best time of day to photograph. In the early morning the mountains light up with the warm light of the rising sun. This can make for dramatic photographs. In the evening, it is best to head to the top of Trail Ridge Road to watch the back side of Longs Peak glow and then watch the sun set over the Never Summer Mountains.

A couple of great sunrise locations are:

• Sprague Lake
• Moraine Park
• Dream Lake

A few good sunset locations:

• Rock Cut (Trail Ridge Road)
• Forest Canyon Overlook (Trail Ridge Road)
• Gore Range Overlook (Trail Ridge Road)
• Bear Lake

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Get the Guide!

If you’d like a more complete guide to Photographing Rocky Mountain National Park, consider buying a copy of, “The Photographer’s Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park”. It is the most comprehensive book available on photographing Rocky and is written to help both the amateur and professional photographer.

This is your guide to photographing Rocky Mountain National Park, with 136 photo locations, 40 maps, full-page color photos, and the guidance of a professional photographer who has spent nearly 20 years photographing its amazing landscapes.

Have you ever wanted to take spectacular photos of Rocky Mountain National Park but do not know how or where to start? Do you want to capture photographs of one of Colorado’s most beautiful wild spaces but are unsure of how to find the best locations? Then this guidebook is what you need! Award-winning author and nature photographer Erik Stensland has created a stunning anthology for photographers of all skill levels that will guide them through the 415 square miles of Rocky Mountain National Park to the best locations for photography. Stensland has spent nearly two decades exploring RMNP, becoming intimately familiar with the many moods of the park and the changes in light throughout the seasons. He knows when the alpine wildflowers and vibrant autumn colors will peak.

In this book, Stensland uses his breadth of knowledge to assist you translating the stunning views before you into the best photos possible, all while putting the well-being of nature first. This guidebook is filled with his own color photos, easy-to-read maps, and descriptions of when and where you should be for different subjects. These are accompanied by tips and insights only a local would know.

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If you’re a photographer and love to take photos of the natural world, I strongly encourage you to become familiar with the Nature First Principles. Nature First is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible nature photography. Its lessons are ones that we should all be aware of. The most important of which is to prioritize the well being of nature over photography. Let's not be so focused on getting a certain image that we let ourselves damage the landscape, disturb the wildlife, or break park regulations just to get a photo.

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Commercial Photography or Videography

In most cases, permits and fees are not required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that involves eight or fewer individuals. In order to avoid permit and fee requirements, the filming, still photography, or audio recording must meet all of the following conditions:

• Occurs in areas open to the public;
• Uses hand-carried equipment only;
• Does not require exclusive use of a site;
• Does not adversely impact park resources, values, or other visitors; and
• Is not likely to result in additional administrative costs for the NPS.
• Permits and fees are never required for filming, still photography, or audio recording that is associated with an activity or event that has been authorized under a written instrument (e.g., permit or agreement), such as a wedding, sporting event, demonstration or other activity.
• All filming, still photography, and audio recording is treated the same under the new law. It does not matter whether it is commercial, non-commercial, for content creation, by a student, or conducted by media or for news gathering.
• When a filming, still photography, or audio recording permit is required, the National Park Service will charge location fees and fees to recover its costs to administer the permit, including application fees.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording remain subject to all other laws and regulations applicable to visitors to park areas, including those requiring permits for certain activities (e.g., special events or demonstrations) and those prohibiting disturbance or other negative impacts to natural or cultural resources.
• Individuals and groups conducting filming, still photography, or audio recording are subject to entrance and/or recreation fees that may apply in park areas even when a permit is not required.