In accordance with guidance from the White House, CDC, state and local public health authorities, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service are working to gradually resume operations and access to national parks in a safe manner. The National Park Service will continue to work with state and local officials as these changes are implemented.
Beginning this May through September, major road construction will occur on US 36 inside of Rocky Mountain National Park. The work will take place on a 3-mile section of US 36, just west of Bear Lake Road junction to east of Deer Ridge Junction. Beginning in May, this section of road will be closed nightly from 7 pm to 7 am, Sunday nights through Friday mornings. There will be no nightly closures on Friday and Saturday nights.
Today, Thursday, October 24, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park officially closed for the season to through travel. The most popular destinations for this time of year including Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the section of Trail Ridge Road along the Kawuneeche Valley are all open.
Old Fall River Road closes for the season to vehicles on Monday, October 7. The road will be closed to all uses from Monday, October 7, through Thursday, October 10, for park staff to conduct road maintenance. Old Fall River Road will reopen to bicycles, leashed pets and walkers through November 30. Leashed pets and bicycles are only allowed on the road, not on side trails. On December 1, the road will revert to trail status.
Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 24, in 2017 it opened on May 31 due to a late May snowstorm. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. 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 officially closed for the season last year on October 31.
