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Trail Ridge Road Opens After Snow Delay In Rocky Mountain National Park

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Compiled from NPS releases

Published Date

June 1, 2025
A clear road runs along a mountainside amid snow-capped mountains.

Trail Ridge Road above Rainbow Curve, taken May 29, 2025/NPS

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is plowed and open for the season, with some important caveats.

While the road is open during the day, nightly closures are currently in place. Visitors should also be prepared for icy conditions due to melting snow and the potential for freezing temperatures. Drivers should also note that weather conditions can change rapidly at higher elevations. Anyone traveling the route should call the park's Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at 970-586-1222 for the latest status updates.

The Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store are currently closed. Visitors are reminded to respect all barricades. Those entering closed areas will be cited

Crews started plowing Trail Ridge Road in the middle of April. They start separately on the west side of the park and the east side of the park, working until they eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center.

Although dates can vary, the route traditionally opens on or around Memorial Day weekend. Last year the road opened on May 31. This year park officials said there was too much snow heading into the holiday. Spring storms often impact plowing activities, and May was no exception. Storms brought significant winds at higher elevations, additional snow accumulation, deep snow drifts, freezing temperatures, and ice that presented additional challenges for plow crews.     

Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 12,183 feet. Rocky Mountain National Park's Alpine Visitor Center is the highest in any national park. The earliest the road has opened was May 7, 2002, while the latest was on June 26, 1943. 

The park, located just northwest of Denver, is known for its scenic drives along roads including Trail Ridge, Old Fall River and Bear Lake.     

Timed Entry Reservations In Rocky Mountain National Park   

The park has a timed entry reservation system in place to help manage traffic during certain times of day. Two types of reservations are available. They are:

  • the Bear Lake Road Corridor, including the entire corridor and rest of the park, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  • the rest of the park, including Trail Ridge Road but not the Bear Lake Road corridor, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Reservations allow park visitors to enter the park within a two-hour window of availability. Visit the park's website to learn more about reservations, road status and other important information. 

Related Stories:

Plowing, Maintenance Underway On Old Fall River Road In Rocky Mountain National Park
A History Of Some National Park Roads

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