Longs Peak Trailhead

Posted On: 9/19/2026 By: outrundeath
Info: Arrived at TH @ ~1015am Friday morning 18 SEP 2026 .... Zero parking spaces available, the lot was more than full, even unlined car shaped possibilities for fitting a car had a vehicle crammed into them ... no surprise here, Long's weekend popularity is well-known ... talked to a couple of rangers, they said go back down the road a bit and park on the side of the road, technically it's against the signage which says no parking, but they said cars are rarely if ever ticketed for violating the side of the road no parking rule. So I did this, and walked back up to the TH. After changing my socks, to women came down the trail to their car at approx 1030AM ... I asked if they were leaving, they said they were, I hurried back down to get my car a re-park in their soon-to-be empty spot. I parked and started up the trail at ~1035AM ... I passed many ppl coming down the trail from their hike at that time and realized ... 1030AM was just about the right mid-morning-timing to get a parking spot in the full lot ... after all the early morning hikers were just beginning to come off the mountain ... food-for-car-logistcs-planning-thought

cheers
outrundeath

Posted On: 8/17/2026 By: wmagnuson7
Info: Just FYI, I arrived on Sunday, August 16th at 4:00 a.m. and only had to park 0.15 miles from the trailhead.

Posted On: 7/26/2026 By: Chasssbarc
Info: Arrived at 1:50am on Saturday 7/25 to a full parking lot and multiple cars already parked on the road.

Posted On: 7/22/2026 By: treyem
Info: I found some nice trekking poles on Monday at Longs trailhead. Message here if you're looking for them and what they look like. I'm happy to hook you back up with them if they're yours.

Posted On: 7/24/2026 By: Hiker_Nick
Info: Arrived a trailhead around 5:10am on Wednesday. Lot was already full but there was still plenty of room on the side of the road not too far down but was filling up as I parked. Started by 5:40am. Some work was being done on the trail by great volunteers but easily one of the best 14er trails I've done. Almost a paved path for large sections that make it easy to cover ground quickly. Instructions from the site were great along with plenty of painted markers when you start scrambling. Most of the hike I had plenty of solitude until just before the keyhole. Summited by 10am and conditions were clear with great views. There was a bit of a crowdon the way up but I wasn't too slowed down till coming down after the chute when we had a friendly traffic jam. After passing the keyhole on the way down plenty of solitude again. Finished by 2:40pm. Overall great hike and would highly recommend, but reddit isn't totally wrong about how early you need to get there for parking.

Posted On: 8/31/2025 By: vivianandmarcin
Info: Got one of the last spots in the lot at 0230.

Posted On: 8/16/2025 By: kempenjn
Info: Lot was full by 2:40am with two dozen cars on the road. Several cars parked in clearly signed "no parking" area.

Posted On: 8/3/2025 By: econner
Info: Sunday, Aug 3, 2025. Arrived at the Longs Peak Trailhead at 3:40am. Parking lot was full and cars were parked down the road about 0.25 miles. Found a spot around there.

Posted On: 2/14/2025 By: RWSchaffer
Info: Access to the Longs Peak trailhead now requires purchase of a park entry permit.
See: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm
The relevant sentences are: "A valid entrance fee or park pass is always required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes, but is not exclusive to, Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet, and North Inlet."
This policy is posted both on the sign out at CO 7 and on the side of the information kiosk at the trailhead.

Posted On: 8/21/2024 By: Summitwise
Info: Arrived at the Longs Peak Trailhead at 1:00am on Tuesday, August 20th. Parking lot was 50% full.

Posted On: 8/18/2024 By: jennkmho
Info: Got to the TH at 1:30am Saturday. Parking lot was already full and there were about 20 cars parked on the road.

Posted On: 7/23/2023 By: Ryan987
Info: Plenty of Longs condition reports but I want to add that I arrived today at 1:45 AM and the lot was around 80 percent full.

Posted On: 1/7/2023 By: Carl_Healy
Info: Plowed and no ice or snow patches large enough to be of consequence.

Posted On: 9/1/2022 By: madmattd
Info: Got a spot just across from the trailhead sign at 2:45am. Lot was fairly full but still at least a dozen spots left at 3am. It did fill at some point as there were a couple dozen cars parked along the road in the mid afternoon, due to several "no parking" zones, most were ~1/4mi down the road.

Posted On: 3/19/2021 By: merrion13
Info: Park service has not finished plowing the lot from last weekend's storm. Room for about 7 cars in the main lot, and a few more parked on the side just near the lot. There are snowbanks on the sides of the road otherwise, so parking definitely limited until more thawing which based on today was happening quickly.