Trail Ridge Road, the iconic thoroughfare that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park, closes today for the season, the National Park Service announced.
The scenic, 48-mile road connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake through the national park. It closes each winter to prohibit cars from entering potentially dangerous driving conditions. With 11 miles located at 11,500 feet in elevation or more, Trail Ridge Road travels through tundra with few guardrails and no shoulders. Weather can be unpredictable at that altitude.
According to the announcement, Trail Ridge Road will remain open to Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park and to Milner Pass on the west side of the park, weather permitting. Closures will continue to move down in elevation for the winter season to Many Parks Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side, NPS said.
Though visitors cannot travel end to end, Rocky Mountain National Park remains open through the winter season for hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and sledding. Even better: You don’t need a reservation.
Trail Ridge Road is expected to reopen in May 2022, weather permitting.
