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Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s animal designs are the lower-priced choices, starting with a bear drawn in stars. For a particular view, ParkHats uses Longs Peak on a woven patch and Rainier Hat Co. shows Dream Lake below Hallett Peak. The Conservancy also sells a bucket and an elk-patch beanie.
Our picks
Soft cotton cap$24.99
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
An unstructured crown with a constellation bear.
Embroidered trucker$28.99
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
Mountains inside a bugling elk, with white mesh behind.
UPF 50+ bucket$32.99
Rocky Mountain National Park Bucket Hat
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
A khaki polyester hat sold in adult L/XL.
Compare the hats
| Hat | Style | Made of | Sizes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night Sky Bear HatRocky Mountain Conservancy | Dad cap | 100% cotton garment-washed twill | One size | $24.99 |
| Embroidered Elk HatRocky Mountain Conservancy | Trucker | 60% cotton / 40% polyester | One size | $28.99 |
| Rocky Mountain 5 Panel HatParkHats | 5-panel | Not stated | One size | $30 |
 Rocky Mountain National Park HatRainier Hat Co. | Snapback | 100% cotton, heather gray crown | One size | $44.99 |
| Rocky Mountain National Park Bucket HatRocky Mountain Conservancy | Bucket | 100% polyester | L/XL | $32.99 |
 Elk Patch BeanieRocky Mountain Conservancy | Beanie | 100% acrylic | One size | $16.95 |
Bears and elk
Best for a soft cap under $25
Night Sky Bear Hat
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
- Style
- Unstructured dad cap with a relaxed fit, in navy
- Design
- White embroidered constellation bear and park name
- Made of
- 100% cotton garment-washed twill
- Fit
- Slide buckle
- Giving
- Sold by Rocky Mountain Conservancy, a nonprofit
A white constellation bear is embroidered above the park’s name on navy cotton twill. The fabric is garment washed, the crown is unstructured and a sliding buckle adjusts the back. Choose it if stiff front panels sit too high for your taste.
Rocky Mountain Conservancy sells it for $24.99. The same cap is an inexpensive pick in the main park hat guide.
Best for an embroidered design with a mesh back
Embroidered Elk Hat
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
- Style
- Trucker cap, navy with a white mesh back
- Design
- Embroidered mountains inside a bugling elk; leather patch on the side
- Made of
- 60% cotton / 40% polyester, made with recycled materials
- Fit
- Snapback
- Giving
- Rocky Mountain Conservancy, a nonprofit, says purchases support the park's research and education
Mountains fill the outline of a bugling elk, while a small leather patch carries the park name on the side. The white mesh gives it more airflow than the all-cotton Night Sky Bear, though the pale back will show dirt sooner.
At $28.99, it costs $4 more than the Night Sky Bear cap. See the embroidered hat comparison for other designs with and without a patch.
Longs Peak and Dream Lake
Best for Longs Peak on a five-panel cap
Rocky Mountain 5 Panel Hat
ParkHats
- Style
- 5-panel camp cap
- Design
- Woven original artwork of Longs Peak
- Fit
- Woven nylon strapback; fits hat sizes 7 to 7 3/4
- Care
- Spot clean
- Giving
- ParkHats says it gives 10% of profits to conservation and sustainable development worldwide, not parks only
ParkHats uses a woven Longs Peak patch and an adjustable nylon strap. The maker lists a size range of 7 to 7¾, which gives you more to work with than a one-size label. It comes in several color combinations, including heather grey with black and loden with biscuit.
Best for Dream Lake in panoramic embroidery
Rocky Mountain National Park Hat
Rainier Hat Co.
- Style
- Structured mid-profile 5-panel snapback
- Design
- Panoramic embroidery of Hallett Peak over Dream Lake across the front and sides
- Made of
- 100% cotton, heather gray crown
- Fit
- Plastic snapback; one size
- Care
- Hand wash only
- Giving
- Rainier Hat Co. says it donates 100% of profits to national park nonprofits
- Reviews
- 5.0 from 12 reviews on Rainier Hat Co.'s site
Hallett Peak rises above Dream Lake, with an elk at the water. The design extends across the front and sides of Rainier Hat Co.’s cotton snapback, which has a navy brim and a structured five-panel crown.
Downsides
At $44.99, this is the most expensive cap here. The one-size label has no head measurements to help judge the fit.
Bucket hats and beanies
Best for a park bucket with a published sun rating
Rocky Mountain National Park Bucket Hat
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
- Style
- Bucket hat
- Design
- Compass graphic with a park image and name
- Made of
- 100% polyester
- Fit
- Adjustable; adult L/XL
- Sun
- UPF 50+ (store's claim)
- Giving
- Sold by Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the park's nonprofit partner
Rocky Mountain Conservancy lists this khaki polyester bucket as UPF 50+. The front has a compass graphic containing a park picture and the park’s name. It costs $32.99 and has an adjustable fit.
Downsides
It comes only in adult L/XL, and the store gives no circumference or brim width.
Best for an inexpensive park beanie
Elk Patch Beanie
Rocky Mountain Conservancy
- Style
- Black roll-up cuffed beanie
- Design
- Bugling-elk patch with 'Rocky Mountain National Park'
- Made of
- 100% acrylic
- Fit
- One size fits most; no measurements listed
- Giving
- Sold by Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the park's nonprofit partner; $14.41 for members
The black cuffed knit has a bugling elk patch with Rocky Mountain National Park on it. It’s acrylic, one size and $16.95, the least expensive hat here. The beanie guide compares it with wool and other park knits.
Pick the shape before the color
The style guide illustrates the difference between a soft crown and a structured cap, and the bucket hat comparison includes other sizes and closures.
All of these are available online. If you’re buying for someone else, use the gift guide to compare return rules before ordering.