11/23/2023 0 Comments Trailridge road open![]() ![]() Visit for a full, mile-by-mile description of the drive, including important tips for drivers. Crushed growth takes many decades to heal. Note about alpine tundra: This is an extremely fragile ecosystem. Many scenic drives incl Bear Lake Rd, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Pk & Trail. Many elk, deer and bighorn sheep move to the high country in the summer and can sometimes be seen from the deck of the Visitor Center. Today, Trail Ridge Rd in RMNP officially closed for the season to through travel. It can be pretty cool and windy at this altitude, so you’ll want to bring a jacket along just in case. The Alpine Visitor Center has rest rooms, a restaurant and a gift shop. Just west of the high point is Fall River Pass, elevation 11,796 feet. There are lots of trails and short hikes that start off of Trail Ridge Road. It reaches a high point, then crosses the Continental Divide before winding its way down to the town of Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road travels through forests, above tree line,and over the alpine tundra. City lights from Fort Collins to Denver are visible. The night time view from Rainbow Curve is spectacular. The many turnouts along Trail Ridge Road provide scenic overlooks and tremendous photographic opportunities, day or night. If you’re headed to Bear Lake, come prepared with 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive and proper snow tires because road conditions can change rapidly at these higher elevations. ![]() At this time, nightly closures will not be implemented. Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. On the east side of the Park, Trail Ridge Road is plowed to get to Hidden Valley for tubing and sledding. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened for the season on May 26th, at 6 a.m. It’s usually October before the Park Service gives up fighting the snow and turns the road back to Mother Nature for the winter. Although the road is most comfortable during the summer months if you want to really appreciate the snowy alpine atmosphere then visiting in May or just when the road has opened will provide. Temporary closings to the Alpine region occasionally occur in early June or late fall because of snow. To find out the current status of the road opening call 97 (open from 8am-4:30pm) to ask whether the road in spring and autumn months are opened. A Timed Entry Permit is required to drive over Trail Ridge Road between 9am and 2pm from May 26 to Oct 22, 2023. It is open to vehicle traffic from around Memorial Day weekend until the Park Service closes it in the fall. ![]() It’s the highest continuously paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet. All other main roads other than the dirt Old Fall River. Even when Trail Ridge Road is closed for the season, the road is open as far as Many Parks Curve weather permitting. The east side of RMNP has more roads and more areas to explore than just Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road spans the Park and connects Estes Park to the town of Grand Lake on the western slope. On the west side of RMNP, Trail Ridge Road is basically the only road into RMNP. Trail Ridge Road in fall: Latest winter closure was Dec.Call 97 anytime for up to date road status, especially if weather threatens. ![]()
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