Tundra Curves on Trail Ridge Road, May 28, 2019/NPS.

After a delay due to icy conditions, the popular Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season.  

Historically, Trail Ridge Road opens on Memorial Day weekend. Last year the road opened on May 24, but in in 2017 it opened on May 31 due to a late May snowstorm. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 12,183 feet and connecting the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake in Colorado. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 31. 

National Park Service plow operators normally begin clearing the snow in the middle of April. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center. In fact, the visitor center is the highest in the National Park Service, sitting at 11,796 feet above sea level. Spring storms often impact plowing activities, however 2019 was a bit of an anomoly. Initially, crews ran into average or below average snowpack in many locations ... until May. Numerous spring storms brought significant snow and drifting above 11,500 feet, leading to the delay.

Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures, visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. At this time, nighttime closures will not be implemented. However, because weather conditions may change rapidly, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at (970) 586-1222. Park staff will update the recorded line during and after regular office hours, when the road status changes.