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Trail Ridge Road Through Rocky Mountain National Park Closed For Winter

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By NPT Staff - October 30th, 2017

Conditions somewhat like this have led to the winter closure of Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park has officially closed for the season to through travel due to winter weather.

Elsewhere in the park, the most popular destinations for this time of year, including Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the section of Trail Ridge Road along the Kawuneeche Valley, are all open. These are all great areas for hiking and wildlife watching.

Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet and few guard rails and no shoulder. Conditions of drifting snow, high winds and below freezing temperatures occur above 10,000 feet. During the winter season, weather permitting, Trail Ridge 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. Trail Ridge Road normally opens the last week in May, weather permitting. This year Trail Ridge Road opened on May 31.

Old Fall River Road closed for the season on October 2. Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road will remain open to bicycles and leashed pets until December 1, re-opening on April 1, except during road maintenance operations and emergency closures as posted. Cyclists and pet owners may utilize the road at their own risk. On December 1, both of these roads will revert to "winter trail status" which means that bicycles and leashed pets are no longer permitted beyond the closed gates but pedestrians are.

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