Beginning September 1st, the primary release of tickets will only be available from October 1st through October 12th, 2020. The the $2.00 reservation fee must be paid prior to arriving at the park and you must show your reservation to enter. No refunds for no shows or cancellations less than 24 hours in advance. The alpine parkway opened Thursday. Outlying areas include: Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet, North Inlet, etc.Â. The 70,000-acre lake and its 1,000+ miles of shoreline provide excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking. No recreational use is permitted in Rocky Mountain National Park when using this permit. On September 1, reservations will be available for the month of October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked. As it winds across the tundra's vastness to its high point at 12,183 feet elevation, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) offers visitors thrilling views, wildlife sightings and spectacular alpine wildflower exhibitions, all from the comfort of their car. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, seen here on May 1, opened June 4/NPS file. If you are planning to visit one of the parkâs outlying areas, please print and display your timed entry permit on your dashboard. While this level of visitation means that new and larger audiences are learning about and experiencing this incredible place, it also presents challenges.Â, In 2020, Rocky Mountain National Park will implement a timed entry reservation system in order to reopen the park and meet the CDC, state and local guidance related to Covid-19.Â, Each private vehicle entering the park will need a reservation for each day the vehicle will be in the park. Frequently Asked Questions on Timed Entry Permit System at Rocky Mountain National Park, Private Vehicle Entrance (Entrance Fee-Free Days). Ridge Road Campground is located on a scenic peninsula on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, and is one of the area's first campgrounds. "It is hard to describe what a sensation this new road is going to make," predicted Horace Albright, director of the National Park Service, in 1931 during the road's construction. Trail Ridge Road is awesome! Reservations to enter the park are available through Recreation.gov. At this time Trail Ridge Road is closed while they clear the ice and snow, but guests may access the first 10 miles of the park (up to the Colorado River Trail) The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. Ridge Road Campground is located on a scenic peninsula on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, and is one of the area's first campgrounds. On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days that have not been booked for August. Trail Ridge Road was designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as an All-American Road, the highest level of designation, in 1996. In 1896, Indian Ridge was offered for sale by the Hartwell Abbots. A limited number of reservations are held and available two days in advance (not yet released tickets) at 8 a.m. MT on a rolling daily window. Annual and Lifetime passes are accepted as your entrance fee. The next release will be on July 1, for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July. Following this initial release of inventory, reservations will be available one month in advance on the first of the month at 10 a.m. MT. The permit system will apply to all areas of the park. 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. Eleven miles of this high highway travel above treeline, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the park's evergreen forests come to a halt. Trail Ridge Road is closed during the winter, and often remains closed until late spring or early summer depending on the snowpack. In a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top!Â, More people than ever before are coming to experience the grandeur of Rocky Mountain National Park: in 2019, the park had over 4.7 million visitorsâ the third most visited national park in the country. Visitors are allowed to have up to 1 private vehicle reservation per day for only 1 time slot. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. The Alpine Visitor Center at the road's summit will not open until the end of June. ... Reservations are available to enter the park from Thursday through July 31. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/trail-ridge-road--2 By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. Longer, if possible. Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park's heavily traveled highway to the sky, inspired awe before the first motorist ever traveled it. It is open only to the Grand Lake Entrance on the west side of the park due to area closures related to the East Troublesome Fire. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Despite a growing season that may last just 40 days, many bloom exuberantly, adorning the green summer tundra with swatches of yellow, red, pink, blue, purple and white. (970) 586-1206 For additional information about entry tickets, please visit Frequently Asked Questions on Timed Entry Permit System at Rocky Mountain National ParkÂ. Forested moraines, great heaps of earth and rock debris left behind by melting Ice Age glaciers, rise above lush mountain meadows. I lived in Boulder off & on for 35 years, including working in both Estes Park and Grand Lake a couple summers when I was in high school. Trail Ridge Road, June 2020 (credit: Peter Pridavok). Bicycles are permitted on all roads that are open to motor vehicles, both paved and dirt, unless otherwise posted. No timed entry reservations will be required to enter the park starting October 13th. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road more than lives up to its advanced billing. National Park Service plow operators began clearing the snow in the middle of April. The permit system applies to all areas of the park. All of the passes mentioned will be available at the entrance station. Pass holders must provide Annual or Lifetime Pass (if applicable) for validation. Visitors are required to have a reservation to enter any portion of the park. On September 1, reservations will be available for the month of October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked. Hardly. Through winter, the Information Office is open 8:00 am–4:30 pm Mon–Fri. Currently, reservations are available to enter the park through July 31. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability between 6 a.m. through 5 p.m. At this time, reservations are not required prior to 6 a.m. or after 5 p.m. The park charges a $25 fee per day and definitely due to the virus you should book your reservation 2 hour time slot prior to arriving. The sun beats down with high- ultraviolet intensity. But for all its harshness, the Trail Ridge tundra is a place of vibrant life and vivid colors. Put aside at least a half day for the trip. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will open for summer season on Thursday, June 4, 2020 Timed Entry highest paved road … While safe to drive for most passenger vehicles, Old Fall River Road has a dirt surface and is winding and narrow. At treeline, the last stunted, wind-battered trees yield to the alpine tundra. Why Are Mature Sequoias Dying At Kings Canyon, Sequoia, And Yosemite National Parks? Reservations to enter the park are available through www.recreation.gov. Spring storms often impact plowing activities. National Park Service plow operators began clearing the snow in the middle of April. Trail Ridge Road is the name for a stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. This recorded message has the most up-to-date information on whether Trail Ridge Road is open or closed and is available 24 hours per day. The changes that occur en route are fascinating to observe. Timed Entry Reservations will end on October 12, 2020. Recreation.gov! If you are planning a trip to RMNP, remember there is now a time-entry permit system and you will need a reservation. Learn more. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222. To increase park access while providing the public a reasonable opportunity to comply with health guidelines related to COVID-19, the park has temporarily implemented a timed entry system. They are advised not to ignore all that awaits in the verdant country below the alpine tundra. Reservations to enter the park are available through www.recreation.gov Currently, reservations are available to enter the park through July 31.