Estes Park & Roccky Mtn Natl Park

[RVcrazy]

Is hwy 34 open yet to be able to cross to view the park? If not, what are our options? We are concerned about all of the thunder storms and are looking at changing our route that was going through Cheyenne Wyoming. Any advice? Thanks!

[Lauren]

Agreed, flatlanders drive it and most of the issues on it are caused by them either going so slow they create traffic issues, driving down the middle as they are scared of the edge, stopping in the road to look at the wildlife, etc.

Basically, as I have said on here many times, it depends on the comfort level of the driver to drive this.

You say hubby is not happy without guardrails. He would NOT be happy driving it.

Do yourself and everyone else a favor and take an alternate.

[Canuckistani]

34 is really not rustic - it's a paved two lane road, albeit without shoulders in most places. I would say take 34 through Granby & go all the way through park, visit the Alpine Visitor Center & enjoy the sites.

Thousands of people drive the road everyday, and majority of them are what Coloradoans call "flatlanders" - people with minimal mountain driving experience from places like Kansas or Nebraska. As you are, they are here to visit Colorado & see our beautiful landscape. To do that, you have to drive some twisty roads - it's part of the experience! Don't over think it - just enjoy the drive!

I wouldn't drop all the way south to I-70, traffic & driving on I-70 can be more stressful than on the smaller mountain roads where the pace is much calmer. I-70 through the mountains can be compared to the Indy 500 sometimes...

[RVcrazy]

My hubby is not happy without guardrails! We have our new truck, no RV yet. We are currently sitting in Craig, CO & want to see some of RMNP. Unfortunately, our truck is full of stuff that will make stopping enroute difficult. Are we better off taking 40 to 70 to 7 and approaching the park from the east entrance? It is sounding like 34may be a bit more "rustic" than we may be ready for... It just looked like a good way to get the flavor of the park for a future visit. No hotel reservations yet. Thanks!

[Thom02099]

+1 to what Lauren said.

Guess we need to know which direction you're planning to go through RMNP-- RV'less heading to pick up your new RV, or taking your brand-spanking new RV back through RMNP. Also, what sort of rig are you talking about?

Taking any sort of trailer or motorhome through RMNP on Trail Ridge Rd is NOT for the faint of heart. Also as Lauren said, there's a lot of roadway that's shelf road with no guardrail and depending on what time of the week and day you go through, traffic can be fairly significant.

[Lauren]

I am still trying to figure out if you are driving the RV on Hwy 34 thru the Park as an option. Depending on it's size and your mountain driving experience I would very much caution you on this - dropoffs (unprotected), blind hairpin turns, steep, drivers who take their half out of the middle, slow / stopped traffic, etc.

I lived in Estes 8 years and could write a book on things that happen up there.

The drive from Estes to the Alpine Visitor Center in a toad or tv is a must though if you feel ok with it.

[Thom02099]

RVcrazy wrote:
Is hwy 34 open yet to be able to cross to view the park? If not, what are our options? We are concerned about all of the thunder storms and are looking at changing our route that was going through Cheyenne Wyoming. Any advice? Thanks!

US 34/Trail Ridge Rd is open through RMNP, has been since Memorial Day weekend. Recent storms we've had, with hail here in the lower elevations, would likely be snow up there, and would melt during the day. I was up there about 10 days ago, the snow is melting rapidly. As with all things weather related in RMNP, it can change in a heartbeat and then change again in another. You can always check www.cotrip.org for up-to-the minute conditions on all roads or call 970-586-1222 for RMNP-specific road conditions.

ETA: Also, you're far more likely to run into adverse weather in lower elevations and particularly out east from the Rockies, than you would in the mountains per se. If your concern is hail and tornados, eastern Colorado and points east will be far more susceptible to such weather than actually IN RMNP on Trail Ridge Rd.

[RVcrazy]

Thanks!

[Canuckistani]

If you come to Cheyenne & then head to the park, you'll be backtracking quite a bit.

I wouldn't worry too much about the storms, they are typically intermittent in the park, and move out quickly. Though this year has been wetter than usual (2.5+ inches at our house just last night), it's just rain. Rocky Mountain National Park is truly beautiful, so if you have a chance to see it, by all means you should. Unfortunately, if you're under a time constraint, getting to the park from your typical route of across 80 & down 25 means you're going to add time to your travels.

If you can afford the time, my recomendation would be to head south off I-80 at exit 187 to Craig, CO, and then head east on 40 to Granby, where you'd get on 34 all the way through the park, down Big Thomspon Canyon to Loveland, and out to I-25 to continue on your journey.

[RVcrazy]

We are still trying to figure out if we are going south to avoid some of the thunderstorms and come in the west side to the park, or if we will continue to Cheyenne and then south to Estes Park. We could also come down to I70. Your advice? We have seen recnet photos of damaging hail that are making us rethink our itinerary... Thanks!

[Canuckistani]

Road through the park was pretty much unaffected by last fall's floods, so no worries there.

Are you wanting to stay in Estes Park itself, or are you passing through? If you're not RVing & looking into hotels/motels, Estes has a full range of accomodations, everything from flop motels to high end uber-expensive B&B's. Estes is a tourist town, so your prices are going to reflect that.

[RVcrazy]

How about the road through the park? We have never been there... No RV yet. Where would you suggest staying? We are on our way to pick up our new-to-us RV in Chanute, KS next week and are trying to avoid storms with damaging hail & tornadoes... Thanks!

[Canuckistani]

Yes, highway 34 from Loveland to Estes Park is open. There is quite a bit of construction happening (not all related to the road) in the area, but it's still a beautiful drive!

Please note that there are slow vehicle pulloffs available in many spots up the canyon - please use them if you have a stream of cars behind you!