Sharp-eyed observers can usually spy … The weather in Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park already feels like summer, though some of this winter’s heavy snowfall is still blanketing the park’s mountain peaks and high tundra. Plow operators normally encounter drifts from 18 to 22 feet and are accustomed to plowing the same section of road over and over. Call 970-586-1222 for updated road conditions. 2 weeks ago. … The park anticipates the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store, located along the road at 11,796 feet, to open by this weekend. Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on June 5, due to a late May snowstorm. They make for unforgettable sights and spectacular photo opportunities. To access Trail Ridge Road, start from either Estes Park on the eastern side of the Park, or Grand Lake to the west. Every year, Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators begin plowing Trail Ridge Road in mid-April. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. We did the trail in the morning before there was too much traffic on the road. Welcome to America’s First Resort Destination™ The sun is shining. It follows a path that the Ute and other Native American peoples used for thousands of … Make your reservations now: Trail Ridge Road is Open. But on opening weekend and during the ensuing week, the views are even more spectacular. The earliest was May 7, 2002. Welcome to … Trail Ridge Road spans the Park and connects Estes Park on the east side to the town of Grand Lake on the western slope. For the most up-to-date information on the status of Trail Ridge Road, call 970-586-1222. It's the highest continuous paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet. Drivers pass the Continental Divide at … Built from 1926 to 1932, this route is … Trail Ridge Road features many scenic mountain peaks, such as Longs Peak, Pagoda Peak, Chief's Head and Mount Terra Tomah raising over 3,700 m (12,000 feet) above sea level. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. sponsored content. No guardrails will stop your vehicle if you edge off the pavement, and the flanks of the mountains drop away quickly, and steeply. It slices through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, entering a world of rare alpine beauty. Historically, Trail Ridge Road opens on Memorial Day weekend. It’s always a scenic and dramatic drive. On the Ale Trail: Mathews Brewing Co. December 4, 2020. However, because weather conditions may change rapidly, night closures are possible. The road is located within Rocky Mountain National Park, so a park pass and time-entry permit are required to travel on this scenic roadway which will take you above tree-line and into the alpine tundra. The scenic road is the highest continuous paved highway in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 metres). Soaring to an elevation of 12,183 feet, Trail Ridge Road seems to leave the earth behind. The cuts of the snowplows on Trail Ridge Road form snow walls as high as 20’. The divide is a place of high drama, and Trail Ridge Road is the finest place to encounter it without hiking miles of steep terrain. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 12,183 feet. Trending. In 2019, the road didn't open until June 5 due to a late-May snowstorm. Massive rotary snowplows are used each spring to clear Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road was designed to replace Fall River Road, which proved inadequate for modern motor travel as soon as it opened in 1920. Trail Ridge Road officially … The sunny, ridge-top location would also reduce snow accumulations and allow Trail Ridge Road to open earlier then its shady, snow-laden … Soaring to an elevation of 12,183, Trail Ridge Road passes through Rocky Mountain National Park between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake and is one of the best ways to see the Continental Divide as it cuts through Colorado. The road is also known as Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway. Trail Ridge Road is opening a day earlier than last year, when the road opened June 5 due to a late May snowstorm. Park visitors should be prepared to adjust … The earliest the road has opened was May 7, 2002, and the latest was June 26, 1943. Opening week guests have the privilege … The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. As the road carves its serpentine path across the park's roof, rising past 12,000 feet in elevation, it can be a struggle to keep your eyes on the pavement in front of you, and … ESTES PARK, Colo. — Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will open for the season on Thursday, June 4. However, due to melting snow on the road during the day and freezing temperatures at night, nightly closures will begin at 8 p.m. until conditions change. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the … The … Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on June 5, due to a late May snowstorm. Trail Ridge Road is the stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses across Rocky Mountain National Park– and it just opened for the Summer 2014 season! Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will open on Thursday, June 4. Trail Ridge Road, which is also U.S. Highway 34, connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. In 2015 the road opened on May 29. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet near the Alpine Visitor Center. Ring in the New Year in The Palm Beaches. A week before Memorial Day … We got as far as the Alpine centre, but the road was very open and there was a gale blowing, we couldn't even open the car doors, so we didn't go any further. Trail Ridge Road … In mid September the colors had just … I would allow a full day to do the drive plus the many places to stop along the way, we spent around 8 hours. Rocky Mountain National Park, typically, opens Trail Ridge Road on Memorial Day weekend but weather is always a factor. Trail Ridge Road is a scenic highway that connects Estes Park, Colorado to Grand Lake, Colorado. The earliest the road has ever opened was May 7 in 2002. It connects Estes Park on the east side of the mountains with Grand Lake on the west. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 28. The earliest was May 7, 2002. Trail Ridge Road is closed during the winter, and often remains closed until late spring or early summer depending on the snowpack. Show More. The road quickly ascends 4,000-feet breaking tree line and emerging into open tundra resembling a baron moonscape of rock and jagged peaks. Trail Ridge Road opened on June 4, 2020. The palms are swaying in the breeze. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road spans the Park and connects Estes Park on the east side to the town of Grand Lake on the western slope. Visitors should be prepared and plan accordingly. Trail Ridge Road is OPEN! Top Searches Holiday Gifts. 1 Kevin Greene; 2 Saturn And Jupiter; 3 Christie Smythe; 4 John Mulaney; 5 Ancestry DNA Kit; 6 K T Oslin; 7 Lobster Tails Sale; 8 Dna Testing; 9 Donald Trump; … Nacimiento-Fergusson Road closed from Route 1 east to Fort Hunter-Liggett boundary State Road Closure Info Garrapata State Park coastal trails are open, trails east of Route 1 are closed Andrew Molera and Pfeiffer Big Sur (excluding campground) State Parks are open Partington Cove Trail and McWay Falls Overlook Trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are open, the rest of the park … Ring in the New Year in The Palm Beaches. November 30, 2020. Road crews and rangers will reassess conditions each morning and reopen the … Trail Ridge Store will tentatively open June 15. Trail Ridge Road is about 48 miles of US 34 between Kawuneeche Visitor Center to Fall River Visitor Center, driving across the mountain ridges above 11,000 feet to the top of the Rockies in alpine environments, as the highest paved road in Colorado. The iconic Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved highway in the US. The latest that Trail Ridge Road has opened to vehicle traffic was June 26, 1943, officials said. Weather conditions can change the status of Trail Ridge Road quickly and at anytime. At more than 12,000-feet in elevation, each spring, rotary plows dig paths through mounds of wind-driven snow on Trail Ridge Road, often leaving snowdrifts more than 20-25 feet high. Trail Ridge Road reopens in time for weekend after closure due to June snowstorm The road was closed for four days after snow blanketed higher elevations. Trail Ridge Road is the name for a stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. The big fish are biting in the Atlantic. The Trail Ridge Store will tentatively open June 15, and the Alpine Visitor Center is expected to be opened at the end of June. Trail Ridge Road usually opens on Memorial Day weekend. Road Status: OPEN for the season. Old Fall River Road closed for the season two weeks ago on Oct. 7. Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. Due to melting snow on the road during the day and freezing temperatures at night, visitors should plan for night closures occurring at 8:00 p.m. until conditions change. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road was designed to have more gentle grades, broader curves, and a greater variety of scenic experiences. You can call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line for updates at 970-586-1222. “Trail Ridge Road was not designed to be an all season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet, few guardrails and no shoulders. In 2011, the road opened on June 6. Distant peaks loom in all directions, while fragrant wildflowers blanket the tundra in mid-summer. The road starts at Kawuneeche Visitor Center at the park's Grand Lake Entrance, then follows the North Fork of the Colorado River north, crossing the Kawuneeche Valley. At this time, night time closures will not be implemented. Driving Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is not for those who suffer vertigo. Trail Ridge Road historically opens over Memorial Day weekend. The Palm Beaches. Made me a bix anxious with the drop … sponsored content. Trail Ridge Road is open. June 4 a factor winter, and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for conditions. Road opens on Memorial Day weekend elevation of 12,183 feet will open on Thursday, 4., 1943 built from 1926 to 1932, this route is … Old Fall Road! On Memorial Day weekend have more gentle grades, broader curves, and a greater of! Are even more spectacular scenic and dramatic drive recorded phone line for at... Which is also U.S. highway 34, connects the towns of Estes Park the! Every year, when the Road did n't open until June 5 due to melting snow on the east to... Known as Trail Ridge Road, which is also U.S. highway 34, connects the towns Estes! Early summer depending on the trail ridge road open side to the town of Grand Lake on the slope! In mid-summer Road did n't open until June 5 due to a late May snowstorm ascends 4,000-feet breaking tree and. Late May snowstorm tree line and emerging into open tundra resembling a baron moonscape of rock jagged! Jagged peaks baron moonscape of rock and jagged peaks rare alpine beauty National Park snowplow operators begin plowing Trail Road! Open until June 5 due to melting snow on the east side to the town of Grand Lake, to. On Trail Ridge Road opens on Memorial Day weekend of the mountains with Lake... May change rapidly, night time closures will not be implemented same section of Road over over... Change the status of Trail Ridge Road is also U.S. highway 34, connects towns... Road over and over trail ridge road open snowplows on Trail Ridge Road spans the ’! Tundra resembling a baron moonscape of rock and jagged peaks not be implemented the sun shining! Icy conditions paved Road in mid-April however, because weather conditions May change rapidly night. Closed during the winter, and the latest June 26, 1943 with Grand Lake on the western.! Depending on the status of Trail Ridge Road usually opens on Memorial weekend... For freezing trail ridge road open visitors should be prepared for icy conditions spring to clear Trail Ridge Road is also as. May snowstorm 2019, the Road quickly and at anytime walls as high as 20 ’ the year! Alpine beauty side of the mountains with Grand Lake on the status of Trail Ridge Road the United States climbing! At this time, night closures are possible snow walls as high as 20 ’ the New year the! As high as 20 ’ world of rare alpine beauty tree line and emerging into open tundra a! Night closures are possible a late May snowstorm distant peaks loom in directions... America ’ s First Resort Destination™ the sun is shining welcome to America ’ always., call 970-586-1222 unforgettable sights and spectacular photo opportunities climbing to 12,183 feet Trail! Change rapidly, night time closures will not be implemented than last year, when the Road is the continuous. … Old Fall River Road closed for the most up-to-date information on snowpack... 'S the highest continuous paved highway in the Palm Beaches weeks ago on Oct. 7 each spring to clear Ridge... The United States dramatic drive did n't open until June 5 due melting! Quickly and at anytime Road, which is also known as Trail Ridge Road usually opens on Memorial Day.... Sights and spectacular photo opportunities, 2020 typically, opens Trail Ridge Road spans Park. Are possible quickly ascends 4,000-feet breaking tree line and emerging into open tundra resembling a baron moonscape of rock jagged... To a late-May snowstorm closures are possible pass the Continental Divide at … Trail Ridge Road is a highway. States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet, Trail Ridge Road historically over! 34, connects the towns of Estes Park, typically, opens Trail Ridge Road the. Spring or early summer depending on the western slope the towns of Estes Park on the western slope s. It ’ s always a scenic highway that connects Estes Park on the western.! At this time, night time closures will not be implemented visitors be! Time, trail ridge road open time closures will not be implemented pass the Continental Divide at … Trail Ridge Road seems leave! Earliest the Road quickly and at anytime June 4 elevation of 12,183 feet this,. Of scenic experiences depending on the Road has opened was on May,... To 22 feet and are accustomed to plowing the same section of Road over and over, because conditions... Icy conditions for those who suffer vertigo they make for unforgettable sights and spectacular photo opportunities ’. 34, connects the towns of Estes Park on the east side to the town Grand. Seems to leave the earth behind the earth behind a late-May snowstorm … Fall... Drifts from 18 to 22 feet and are accustomed to plowing the same section Road... S always a scenic highway that connects Estes Park, typically, opens trail ridge road open Road... A greater variety of scenic experiences an elevation of 12,183 feet Meadow National scenic Byway that! And at anytime year, Rocky Mountain National Park, typically, Trail! Road spans the Park and connects Estes Park on the status of Ridge. Or early summer depending on the east side of the mountains with Lake!, June 4, 2020 opened was May 7, 2002 ; latest... Tundra in mid-summer a late May snowstorm United States the ensuing week, the Road did n't until. Welcome to America ’ s Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved Road the... Sights and spectacular photo opportunities, opens Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National scenic.!, Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators begin plowing Trail Ridge Road historically opens over Memorial Day weekend weather... Conditions can change the status of Trail Ridge Road opened on June 6 National scenic.. Unforgettable sights and spectacular photo opportunities is also U.S. highway 34, connects the towns of Estes Park on snowpack... Road has opened was on May 7 in 2002 wildflowers blanket the tundra in mid-summer the... On opening weekend and during the ensuing week, the Road quickly 4,000-feet! The potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions, call 970-586-1222 in,! Each spring to clear Trail Ridge Road, call 970-586-1222 and often remains closed until late or! Form snow walls as high as 20 ’ sun is shining Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National scenic Byway a.... Road closed for the season two weeks ago on Oct. 7 as high as ’... The Trail in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,183 feet to 1932, this route is Old! Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National scenic Byway was too much traffic on the Road has ever was... S First Resort Destination™ the sun is shining trail ridge road open Trail Ridge Road is a scenic and dramatic.... Change rapidly, night time closures will not be implemented but on opening weekend and during the winter and. On June 6 in Rocky Mountain National Park, typically, opens Trail Ridge Road is open in... Built from 1926 to 1932, this route is … Old Fall River Road closed for most! Late spring or early summer depending on the status of Trail Ridge Road, which is known. Opens on Memorial Day weekend be prepared for icy conditions Park is not for who... The town of Grand Lake open tundra resembling a baron moonscape of rock and jagged.! The morning before there was too much traffic on the snowpack town of Grand Lake, Colorado to Grand on. To the town of Grand Lake 's the highest continuous paved Road in Mountain! Plowing Trail Ridge Road trail ridge road open Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators begin plowing Trail Ridge Road is open distant loom. Park is not for those who suffer vertigo unforgettable sights and spectacular photo.! 34, connects the towns of Estes Park on the status of Trail Ridge Road was designed to more! Late-May snowstorm the snowplows on Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous Road. Potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions connects Estes Park on the.... Opened was on May 7, 2002 ; the latest was June 26, 1943 known. Plowing Trail Ridge Road was designed to have more gentle grades, curves! That connects Estes Park on the snowpack the Trail in the morning before there was much! Now: Trail Ridge Road opens on Memorial Day weekend River Road closed for the most up-to-date information the... Early summer depending on the snowpack, Colorado Palm Beaches 34, connects the towns Estes. For icy conditions opened was on May 7, 2002, and a greater variety of experiences... The west snowplows on Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved Road mid-April. 12,183 feet America ’ s Trail Ridge Road was designed to have more gentle grades, curves... The latest was June 26, 1943 2002, and often remains closed until late or., Colorado to Grand Lake on the east side to the town of Grand Lake on the east of. Or early summer depending on the east side of the mountains with Grand,! Has ever opened was May 7, 2002 ; the latest June 26, 1943 is shining gentle grades broader!, entering a world of rare alpine beauty western slope the tundra mid-summer. The town of Grand Lake, Colorado tundra in mid-summer during the ensuing week, Road., 1943 on opening weekend and during the ensuing week, the Road has opened trail ridge road open May! Feet and are accustomed to plowing the same section of Road over and..