Private Tour
Private Geology Tour in Rocky Mountain National Park
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Our resident geologist, Ranger Rod, will direct you through Rocky Mountain National Park from the comfort of your own vehicle. He will take photos of your group's adventure as you travel through time in RMNP witnessing evidence of major rock and mineral forming processes that took place billions of years ago. Discover ancient mountains that started rising shortly after the dinosaurs went extinct, as well as landscape formed by later volcanic eruptions. More recently (in geologic time) learn how the mountains were sculpted by massive ice age glaciers and about early human history after the valley glaciers covering the area melted 12 thousand years ago. Seeing these natural wonders through the eyes of an experienced local geologist, will evolve your worldview of mountain landscapes and enhance future RMNP adventures.
6 hour tour times are only available in the summertime when Trail Ridge Rd is open, 4 hour tour reservations are available year-round.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wheelchair accessible
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Retired Geologist, Professional Guide
Gear Rentals (when needed)
Timed Entry Reservations (when required)
Professional Photos (digital download)
Gratuities
RMNP Day Pass ($30)
Transportation
What To Expect
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center
Upon meeting Ranger Rod at the BMVC, you will explore a 3D map located in the building's basement to get good orientation of the park and its formations before passing through the RMNP entrance gate.
Rocky Mountain National Park
On your geologic tour of RMNP you will: be oriented to the park using 3D Maps explaining major geologic topography; explore evidence of the powerful tectonic, volcanic, and glacial forces that created the park’s landscape; decipher the geologic story behind the breathtaking scenic vistas of the park’s best overlooks and active wildlife habitats; learn how to recognize major RMNP rocks and minerals, including metamorphic Gneiss and Schist, and intrusive and volcanic rocks from inner earth; locate 5 ancient glacial valleys and today’s 8 named glaciers along with prominent peaks, and the park’s 3 mountain ranges. Relive Indigenous American legacies dating back over 11 thousand years and colorful pioneer history starting in 1800’s.
Options
6hr Geology Tour (summer only)
Duration: 6 hours: 4 hour geology tours are available year-round. 6 hour geology tours are summer-only.
4 hr Geology Tour
Duration: 4 hours: 4 hour geology tours are available year-round. 6 hour geology tours are summer-only.
Reviews
23 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
For Geology Nerds and Newbies Alike
915lindseyn,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I attempted to watch YouTube videos about the geology of the RMNP but we're disappointed in the content. We found Ranger Rod after we arrived in Estes Park via a "things to do" list and were lucky he was available with a 2 day notice. Guiding us to places in the park gave perspective to the enormity of glaciers and power of time. He came fully equipped with a rock collection, referenced printed slides to illustrate processes and recent historical events, and his use of analogies helped me visualize complex concepts. We also took time to admire wildlife and he informed us on the biology and ecology too. Plus he told us of a great place along the highway to rock hound! Is there anything this guy doesn't know? Rod loves this park and it shows.
Geology Tour Rocks!
blueiz47,
Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a Geology Tour with Ranger Rod on Sunday October 5th, 2025. He communicated ahead of time and when we met at the Visitor Center - Beaver Meadows it was an easy process. I have been to RMNP many times, but I very much enjoyed this trip learning more history about the place. Unfortunately Trail Ridge Road was closed at Rainbow Curve due to weather that had come in and was expecting to come in. Got to explore the Bear Lake Corridor - leaves were still in peak colors - EndoValley/Alluvial Fan was gorgeous and learning more about the history aspect of the floods that took that area out, what a "moraine" actually is. I highly recommend getting a tour with Rod (4 hours flew by before I even knew it).
Geology lesson for all!
Paradise559636,
Jul 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We sure enjoyed Rod! He taught us and the children so much! Truly made our experience at the Rocky Mountain National park memorable. My 4 homeschooled kids (ages 9-14) were engaged and came away with a better understanding geology.
Outstanding Trip!
Blake K,
Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The trip was fantastic, and Ranger Rod was incredible. This is one of the best ways to visit and understand the park. 5 Stars!
T7671XBjuliet,
Jul 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My husband and I spent 5 delightful hrs with Ranger Rod recently touring Rocky Mt. Park. Rod talked about the fauna, flora, and the history of the geological formations throughout our tour. We saw a lot of wildlife and the views were fantastic. It was a great day.
Private tour of RMNP - wonderful geology tour of all the spots you can drive to.
carolsZ9508KE,
Oct 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The entire tour was wonderful!!! My tour guide, Rod, was friendly, knowledgeable, and included taking pics of me around the park. He can make the geology simple or more complex as you wish. So many mountains and so many rock samples. Go if you can.
A geologist learns a lot about Rocky Mountain National Park
Travel50046439497,
Oct 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A delightfully comprehensive tour of the geology, landforms, ecology, and human history of Rocky Mountain National Park. As I geologist myself, I was very impressed by the knowledge and expertise our guide Rod had across such a diverse spectrum of subject matter. I learned many new things about the park, and specifically about the geology. Some examples include the comparatively recent flooding that created the alluvial fan area; that the flat, smooth topography on the high peak is likely the result pre-glacial erosion (peneplanes); the existence of the 'iron dike' trending NW through the park: And that 20 million year old 'lava' flows are preserved near the high point of Trail Ridge Road. The tour was further enhanced by Rod's knowledge of the best places to view the stunning natural beauty of the park, including sightings of both elk and bighorn sheep. A fantastic experience and time very well spent - thoroughly enjoyable!
RMNP Geology Tour for Geologists
geoffhX3276PL,
Sep 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00On a beautiful early summer day, my wife and I, and a good friend of ours, were treated to an outstanding geologic tour of RMNP led by Ranger Rod. My friend and I are geologists who recently retired in the Fort Collins area. We have a reasonably good level of knowledge of the geology of Northern Colorado that we have gained from numerous hikes in the area. My wife is not a geologist but she is a geology enthusiast. Our tour started outside the park with an overview of the metasedimentary rocks along Hwy 34 in the lower portion of the Big Thompson Canyon, and then a stop along CR43 to look at an outstanding pegmatite outcrop on the way to Glen Haven. Once in the park we learned about the granite exfoliation domes and Tors that make up the area around Lumpy Ridge. We were then treated to an overview and a tour of the role glaciers have played in shaping the landscape of RMNP. With the use of a fantastic hand-painted panoramic hiking map of RMNP (painted by James Nehues of ski area map fame), Rod pointed out a number of long glacial valleys, cirques and moraines including some very impressive lateral and terminal moraines that we had not noticed during previous visits to the park. A stop to see the man-caused alluvial fan from the 1982 Lawn Lake dam failure, and hear the story of how it blew through the Fall River Valley lateral moraine, was very interesting. We continued on up Trail Ridge Road with a stop at Hidden Valley to see the 1 billion year old Iron Dike that we had never seen or heard of before. We then continued up to the higher country to get an overview of the Never Summer Mountains and to learn that they are the glaciated remnants of magma chambers formed "only" 23 million years ago. The tour ended with a short walk around Sprague Lake with impressive views of Long's Peak. What a great day with a great guide. Rod's knowledge of the geology of RMNP is tremendous and his ability to tell the geologic story in a way that geologists and non geologists alike can easily understand, was impressive. I highly recommend this guided trip for geologists and curious non geologists as well.
Amazing sites in RMNP plus learning the geology of the park at the same time!
568karlak,
Sep 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you want a tour of the amazing vistas of RMNP while learning how these sites were formed millions of years ago this tour is for you! Rod is so good at explaining complex geological terms in a way that they are easily understand. Plus he has a great sense of humor and is an excellent photographer. As part of the tour you will receive photos of your group and of the geological features seen on the tour! I highly recommend this tour - one of the best I've done!
An awesome tour by Rod
GrandTour02255138917,
Sep 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Rod was one of the top tour guides that my wife and I have ever had. It was great having a geologist as our tour guide. He pointed out so many interesting things and if I can only remember 25% of them, that is great. Brought us to some of the "off the beaten track areas". My hat is off to Full Potentially Wilderness. They asked me several questions on the type of tour we wanted and Rod was assigned to be our tour guide. A perfect match. Thank you Rod.
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Operated by Full Potential Wilderness