Trail Ridge Road is open to vehicles for the 2022 Season!
Remember - Timed Entry Permit Reservations + a valid Park Entrance Pass are Required to Drive Over Trail Ridge Road between 9 am and 3 pm.
Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any national park in the United States, with Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) cresting at 12,183 feet above sea level. This is the highest continuously paved road in North America.
Be prepared for varying conditions when driving on Trail Ridge Road. Conditions can change quickly and visitors should be prepared for wind, snow, ice, rain, and freezing temperatures to occur at any time.
Road closures may occur at any time due to weather and road conditions. For the most current information on Trail Ridge Road, call the Trail Ridge Road recorded phoneline at 970-586-1222.
Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented a temporary timed entry permit reservation system which began on May 27. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the busiest national parks in the country, with over 4.4 million visitors in 2021. Visitor crowding and congestion at RMNP have led to increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity. The park has piloted various visitor use management strategies since 2016, including first-come, first-served and different park wide Timed Entry Permit Reservation systems in 2020 and 2021 and will be piloting a system again in 2022.
There are two types of reservations available. One permit is for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor and access to the rest of the park. This reservation period is from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The second permit is for the rest of Rocky Mountain National Park, excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor, and includes Trail Ridge Road. This reservation period is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park.
Trail Ridge Road Recorded Status Line: 970 586-1222
This recorded message has the most up-to-date information on the status of Trail Ridge Road. This information is available 24 hours a day.
Extreme weather can change the status of Trail Ridge Road at any time—be ready to adjust your travel plans if needed, and always check the weather before you start your drive.
There are no shoulders and few guardrails.
Trail Ridge Road is not plowed between 4 pm and 7 am.
A vehicle is driving on Trail Ridge Road in the fog.
NPS/Marino
Where Can I Learn About the Current Status of Park Roads?
Road conditions in the Colorado rockies may change quickly due to blowing snow and incoming storms. Conditions at 5,000 feet are dramatically different from conditions above 8,000 feet.
Temporary road closures may be put in place at any time for motorist safety, based on weather and road conditions.
For the latest information on park road status, keep an eye out for variable message boards in the park and follow us on Twitter @RockyNPS.
Since conditions change quickly, road status updates are not posted on the park's website.
Where Can I Get More Information on Park Roads?
You can call Rocky Mountain National Park's Information Office at 970 586-1206.
The Information Office is open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturdays - Sundays during the winter season.
You can also call the Recorded Trail Ridge Road Status Line at (970) 586-1222.
How Can I Find Information on Roads Outside the Park?
Old Fall River Road remains CLOSED to vehicles. Old Fall River Road typically opens to vehicles early to mid-July.
The park's roads crews are working on the spring opening. Old Fall River Road is closed to all users Tuesday-Friday from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm.
From Friday after 4:30 pm through Monday, the road will re-open in winter road status. This means that the road will open to hikers, people walking dogs on leash, and cyclists, but not to vehicles.
When active snowplowing operations are taking place, signs will be posted stating "Road Closed to All Vehicle Traffic." When these signs are in place, there is no pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicle access beyond the posted "Road Closed" signs. These closures are rolling closures that will move as determined by conditions and active snowplow operations. Violators will be cited.
Do not park and block "Road Closed" Gates. Any vehicles blocking road access gates will be towed and/or cited.
While safe to drive for most passenger vehicles, Old Fall River Road has a dirt surface and is winding and narrow.
The road is one-way only from Endovalley Picnic Area to above treeline at Fall River Pass.
Vehicles over 25 feet or pulling trailers are prohibited.
Hiker Shuttle picking up passengers at the Estes Park Visitor Center
NPS
Interested in Learning About Rocky's In-Park Shuttles, the Hiker Shuttle, and Other Public Transportation Options?
