🏔️ Rocky Mountain National Park — Hiking & Alpine Lakes | Sept 5–13, 2026
📍 Destination: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado
📅 Dates: Saturday, Sept 5 → Sunday, Sept 13 (9 days)
🛫 Flying from: Jacksonville, FL (JAX → DEN)
💰 Est. Budget: ~$1,100–$1,300 total (flights, lodging, food, transit)
🚗 Car: None — 100% public transport

About the Trip
I’m planning a week-long hiking trip to one of the most scenic national parks in the US — Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The plan is simple: fly into Denver, take the Bustang bus ($15 roundtrip!) straight to the park, and spend the week exploring alpine trails using the free in-park shuttle network. No car rental, no stress, just mountains.
September is the sweet spot — trails are fully open, the aspen trees start turning gold, elk rut begins, and the summer crowds have thinned out. Best of all, it’s the cheapest month to fly this route.

The Itinerary (rough plan)
•  Day 1 (Sat): Fly JAX → Denver, Bustang to Estes Park
•  Days 2–3: Bear Lake corridor — Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Sky Pond (my personal highlight)
•  Days 4–5: Moraine Park area — Cub Lake, Fern Lake, Glacier Gorge
•  Day 6: Flexible weather/rest day — Estes Park town, Sprague Lake
•  Day 7: Repeat favorite trail or try something new
•  Day 8 (Sat): Bustang back to Denver, fly home or one night in Denver
•  Day 9 (Sun): Fly DEN → home

Transit Plan (no car needed at any point)
✅ JAX → DEN flight (~$280–$380 RT)
✅ DEN Airport → Union Station via RTD A Line ($10)
✅ Denver Union Station → RMNP Park & Ride via Bustang ($15 RT)
✅ All RMNP trailheads via free Bear Lake & Moraine Park shuttles

Who I’m looking for
•  Someone who loves hiking over sightseeing from a car window
•  No car needed or expected — you must be comfortable with the transit plan above
•  Budget-conscious but not willing to skip scenic beauty
•  Easygoing — some days will be intense hikes, some will be chill
•  Ideally 1–2 people (solo hikers or a small group welcome)
I’m a 34-year-old software developer, easygoing, well-traveled, and an active sports person. Looking for a compatible hiking partner to share costs (especially lodging — splitting a room saves each of us ~$200!) and the experience.
Drop me a message if this sounds like your kind of trip or if you have a better plan! 🏕️