Trail Ridge Rd/RMNP Not Opening for Memorial Day
For those of you with plans to visit Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend and beyond...
From 9News in Denver last night, it's official. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will not be opening for the Memorial Day weekend. With the prolonged moisture (in various forms) that we've had this month, the NPS staff not able to get the plowing completed for the traditional opening. There was no indication from the news report as to when they expected to have it open, since it's going to be weather dependent. Current forecast for the Alpine Visitors Center calling for more snow at the higher elevations for the next several days. Pictures from the Visitors Center show that the buildings are still nearly completely buried in snow, with only a portion of the roofs showing. The parking lot is a massive snow drift.
Currently, Trail Ridge on the Estes Side is open to Many Parks Curve, about 8 miles up from the Beaver Meadows entrance. They previously had it open to Rainbow Curve (past the old ski runs), but apparently have pulled back from that location for visitor access. Bear Lake Road is open and ready for visitors; last report I saw was that there was 29 inches of snow on the ground. Don't know if that takes into account any recent snow fall, that's the last report I've seen. Many of the trails in the area will still be snow covered/packed.
Additionally, 9News reported 2 nights ago that Mount Evans Rd (topping out at over 14000 feet) near Idaho Springs will also not be opening for the Memorial Day weekend, since they've had 4 feet of new snow up there recently. Again no indication as to when it might be opened.
From 9News in Denver last night, it's official. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will not be opening for the Memorial Day weekend. With the prolonged moisture (in various forms) that we've had this month, the NPS staff not able to get the plowing completed for the traditional opening. There was no indication from the news report as to when they expected to have it open, since it's going to be weather dependent. Current forecast for the Alpine Visitors Center calling for more snow at the higher elevations for the next several days. Pictures from the Visitors Center show that the buildings are still nearly completely buried in snow, with only a portion of the roofs showing. The parking lot is a massive snow drift.
Currently, Trail Ridge on the Estes Side is open to Many Parks Curve, about 8 miles up from the Beaver Meadows entrance. They previously had it open to Rainbow Curve (past the old ski runs), but apparently have pulled back from that location for visitor access. Bear Lake Road is open and ready for visitors; last report I saw was that there was 29 inches of snow on the ground. Don't know if that takes into account any recent snow fall, that's the last report I've seen. Many of the trails in the area will still be snow covered/packed.
Additionally, 9News reported 2 nights ago that Mount Evans Rd (topping out at over 14000 feet) near Idaho Springs will also not be opening for the Memorial Day weekend, since they've had 4 feet of new snow up there recently. Again no indication as to when it might be opened.
