
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened for the summer season on Friday, May 28, 2022.
There is a short window of time each May when Trail Ridge Road is open to hiking without vehicles.
Starting in mid-April, crews from Rocky Mountain National Park start the daunting annual task of removing snow from the road, pull outs and parking areas along Trail Ridge Road. The snow can be up to 22 feet high in some spots, requiring the crew to chew through the snow with plows, shovels and backhoes in preparation of opening the road by Memorial Day Weekend.
Dawn Wilson Photography
Tall snow drifts stretch along the side of Trail Ridge Road before it opens for the season in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.(Dawn Wilson Photography)
As the crew clears sections of the road, those snow-free segments become a trail. The available road for hiking gets longer as the month of May marches on before the full road is cleared in anticipation of opening on Memorial Day Weekend.
Exploring Trail Ridge Road during this time, which can be done by foot or bike, gives the traveler a unique opportunity to look over the edge into the canyons below along the highest continuously paved road in the U.S.
To enjoy this easy but high-elevation opportunity, start at the parking lot at Rainbow Curve along Trail Ridge Road, which sits at an elevation of 10,830 feet.
Snowbanks in this section of road are exceeding five feet high, and many exploring the road enjoy a photo standing in front of the large drifts rising above their head.
Dawn Wilson Photography
The scrape marks made by the snow plow in the deep bank of snow can be seen along Trail Ridge Road before the road opening in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.(Dawn Wilson Photography)
You will quickly begin to feel the elevation in your lungs. Take it slow and allow your body to adjust to the altitude. Except for the most adventurous skiers and snowshoers, most people probably have not been at this elevation since Trail Ridge Road closed on October 18, 2023.
As you give your lungs time to fill with air, listen to the alpine sounds around you. Pikas will chatter on the distant talus slopes. Melting snow creates a loud gurgle as its liquid form passes below the packed snow on the shoulders of the road. A Clark’s nutcracker will yell out to a friend with its distinct “kraah” call.
The rolling clouds reveal views of snow-covered Mount Chapin, Mount Chiquita and Ypsilon Mountain to the north.
At 0.7 miles, you can look down to the south or the north from 11,050 feet near tree line along the road.
Continue another 0.3 miles to take in the unobstructed view of an unnamed peak to the north with a steep slope on its face. Pause here to listen for cracking ice and packed snow as it slides down the steep slopes. Fall River flows heavily deep in the canyon below. Juncos and mountain chickadees bounce from tree to tree as they look for the scarce food sources at this elevation.
By May 15, 2023, 1.56 miles — and an elevation gain of about 450 feet from Rainbow Curve — were open for hiking. The road is closed beyond the signs to allow the crews to finish their work as quickly and safely as possible. More sections of road will open as crews remove the snow.
Dawn Wilson Photography
Signs indicate where the road is closed on Trail Ridge Road so snowplow crews can safely work on snow removal in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.(Dawn Wilson Photography)
The road crews hope to have the road ready for vehicle traffic by Memorial Day Weekend, barring any setbacks from Mother Nature. Once the road is open to traffic, walking the road is not advised so enjoy this beautiful time of year to explore Trail Ridge Road by foot.
There is a daily entrance fee for Rocky Mountain National Park, or a federal interagency pass may be used. This section of road requires a Park Access timed entry reservation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting May 24, 2024.
For more information about Trail Ridge Road, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_ridge_road.htm. To learn more about current road conditions in Rocky Mountain National Park, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_status.htm.
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