You are here

Just About All Of Rocky Mountain National Park Open To Visitors

Share

Just about all of Rocky Mountain National Park has reopened to visitors, though fall is bringing snows to the park's high country. NPS photo.

Just about all of Rocky Mountain National Park, which was hit by torrential flooding two weeks ago, has been reopened to visitors.

By this afternoon gates were to be opened on Bear Lake Road, Upper Beaver Meadows, Lumpy Ridge and Longs Peak Road. Trail Ridge Road opened earlier in the day after a second convoy of critical rock crusher equipment moved through the park from Grand County to Estes Park.

Areas that remain closed due to severe flood damage were: Twin Sisters Trail; Aspenglen Campground, Longs Peak Campground, McGraw Ranch Road and Cow Creek Trailhead; North Fork Trail; and, the Ypsilon and Lawn Lake trails.

Wild Basin beginning at the entrance station was closed, but the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead was open. Endovalley Road and Old Fall River Road were closed to all use, including pedestrian traffic. Condition assessments was continuing in these areas; while some areas may remain closed for the long term, additional sites will be reopened as quickly as possible, the park reported.

Fees at the entrances, campgrounds and backcountry will not be charged through the weekend.

Loop B and C of Moraine Park Campground were open for camping beginning this evening. Water, toilets and the dump station are provided. Timber Creek Campground is open on the west side of the park in the Kawuneeche Valley, but the water is off and dump station is closed. Campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, and Kawuneeche Visitor Center are open daily. Alpine Visitor Center is open, weather and road permitting.

The backcountry is open throughout the park, with the above exceptions. Backcountry permits are available for trips on the west side of the park today and for the east side of the Continental Divide starting Friday. Backcountry conditions are changing daily so overnight users should check trail and site conditions on the park’s website or through the Backcountry Office prior to planning trips.

Backcountry travelers will encounter different conditions than they have experienced in the past. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is designated wilderness, where self-reliance and adventure are expected. Hikers should be prepared to take responsibility for their own actions; search and rescue may be delayed.

Be prepared to stay overnight even if you are a day hiker. Hiking poles may be helpful on uneven trails. Route finding skills may be required. Carry a map and compass and other backcountry travel essentials. Expect missing foot bridges, uneven trail surfaces, unstable slopes, falling trees due to soil moisture, rutted trails, damaged water bars and steps, standing water, difficult water crossings, and missing directional signs. Be prepared; hike at your own risk.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.