Latest COVID-19 Update from Rocky Mountain National Park
To protect the health of those who live, work, and visit national parks and National Park Service (NPS) facilities, and in support of President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing the NPS has implemented a mask requirement for employees, visitors, partners and contractors.
At Rocky Mountain National Park, face masks are now required in all park buildings and facilities. Masks are also required throughout Rocky Mountain National Park when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, parking lots, pull-offs and overlooks.
Park rangers are on duty to provide information, protect visitors and park resources, and uphold this requirement.
Timed Entry Permit System in Effect May 28 Through October 11
Rocky Mountain National Park will be implementing a new pilot temporary timed entry permit reservation system beginning on May 28, 2021. Park staff are managing for significant increases in visitation to public lands in Colorado, including Rocky Mountain National Park, along with continued Covid-19 concerns, ongoing park seasonal staff shared housing challenges, reduced shuttle bus capacity and residual fire impacts in some areas of the park from historic fires in 2020.
For more information, check out the Timed Entry Permit System page on our website.
Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Stores Open
Park Rangers are available to assist park visitors at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, and the Wilderness Office. Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Stores are open at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, the Fall River Visitor Center, and Kawuneeche Visitor Center.
- Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is open daily from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
- Fall River Visitor Center's Nature Store is open daily from 9 am to 5 pmdaily
- The Kawuneeche Visitor Center is open Wednesday-Sunday 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Due to COVID 19, the number of visitors will be limited inside the buildings.
Rocky Mountain Conservancy continues to offer Rocky-themed merchandise on their website.
Recreate Responsibly
When recreating, park visitors should follow the National Park Service mask mandate, maintain social distance and avoid high-risk outdoor activities. Please do not visit if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19. Park staff will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
- Keep your distance and be aware of the mask requirement.
Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail or in a parking lot. If staying at least six feet from others is not possible, wear a cloth face covering as recommended by the CDC. Cloth face coverings must be worn while in park visitor centers, park restrooms, and on shuttle buses. when operating this season. Masks are also required throughout Rocky Mountain National Park when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, parking lots, pull-offs and overlooks.
- Keep it with you.
If you brought it, take it with you. Trash pickup and restroom facilities will continue to be limited in many park areas. Follow Leave No Trace principles.
- Know your limits.
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest search and rescue parks in the country. Many of these incidents could be avoided with visitors planning and making responsible decisions. Winter-like conditions exist in high elevation areas of the park. It is critical to make wise choices to keep our national park rangers and first responders out of harm’s way.
- Protect wildlife.
Obey speed limits and be aware of wildlife. During the closure, due to lack of vehicular traffic, park rangers have observed more wildlife congregating adjacent to or on internal park roads.
Learn more about safety at Rocky Mountain National Park.
