There’s more than one way to reach the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park from the east, now that snow clearing and road maintenance has been completed on scenic Old Fall River Road, which is really old by the way.
Construction on Old Fall River Road began in 1913, two years before President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that made Rocky Mountain the country’s 10th national park. The 9.4-mile dirt road, which was completed in 1920, is open only to one-way westbound traffic, skirting the base of 12,454-foot Mount Chapin. It connects with Trail Ridge Road at the Alpine Visitor Center, elevation 11,800 feet.
Trail Ridge Road was built from 1929-33. Bountiful winter snow and late-spring snowstorms delayed its opening this year to June 5. Old Fall River Road, which opened on Friday, usually is open by the Fourth of July.
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