ESTES PARK — Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park officially closed Friday to through travel for the season.
A RMNP news release stated that Trail Ridge Road is not intended to be an all-season road. It has 11 miles of road above 11,500 feet, few guard rails and no shoulders.
Drifting snow, high winds and below-freezing temperatures are all common winter weather conditions above 10,000 feet.
Trail Ridge Road typically reopens the last week of May, weather permitting. This year, the road reopened May 31.
Weather permitting, the road will be open to Many Parks Curve on the east side of the park and to the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side of the park during the winter season. The section of Trail Ridge Road along Kawuneeche Valley, a popular destination for hiking and wildlife watching this time of year, is open.
Old Fall River Road closed for the season Oct. 2.
Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road will remain open to bicycles and leashed pets until Dec. 1, reopening April 1, except during road maintenance operations and emergency closures as posted.
On Dec. 1, both roads will be designated “winter trail status,” which means bicycles and leashed pets are prohibited behind the closed gates, but pedestrians are permitted.
More information about Rocky Mountain National Park is available at www.nps.org/romo and by calling the RMNP information office at 970-586-1206.
