Trail Conditions

 

Trail to Lake Helene  May 13, 2024

NPS Photo

 

Hiking in Rocky!

Read this important safety message

Submit your own trip report

 

Longs Peak: View the Longs Peak Conditions Report

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures: View Fire Information Area Closures

 

Trail Closures

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures

• Some park trails and areas remain closed due to fire impacts. Park staff will continue to assess these areas for safety and downed trees, being mindful of high winds that occur this time of year causing more trees to fall. Learn more here.

 

RMNP Trail Conditions Report as of May 17, 2024

 

It continues to snow throughout RMNP. There is still a lot of snow in the backcountry (see SNOTEL chart below). Be Prepared!

Be prepared with gear and skills to travel safely in spring conditions, with continuing avalanche and weak lake ice risks. In general, for both east side and west side trails, spring conditions are icy in the mornings and mushy, soft, and slushy in the afternoons. Traction devices are advised for lower, more compacted trails. You may posthole in deeper snow. If you start to posthole, either put on snowshoes or turn around. Postholing can make a trail difficult for hikers who come after you.

Snow instability and avalanche risks persist. Stay aware and make good decisions – we are not yet out of avalanche season. Currently above treeline the avalanche danger is MODERATE.

The traverse from Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha, the traverse between the Loch/Mills Junction and Lake Haiyaha, and the route from above The Loch past Timberline Falls are not advised for the general visitor at this time because of steep and potentially avalanche-prone snow and icy conditions. Hiking these trails is not advised for the next few weeks (late May at least) due to avalanche danger and exposure.

RMNP plow crews are plowing the east and west sides of Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road are open to bicycles and walking leashed dogs beyond the winter gates except during road maintenance operations and emergency closures as posted. Signs will be posted with information about how far visitors can go.

Destination	Date	Description of Conditions Found	Hiked By
Emerald Lake	May 16, 2024	All lakes (Bear, Nymph, Dream and Emerald lakes) showed melting and slush. Hiker used traction devices and poles and had no significant problems, but the hike took more effort than a summer hike to Emerald.	Volunteer
Glacier Gorge to Black Lake via winter trail	May 13, 2024	Mills and Jewel lakes starting to melt out quite significantly around the edges. Black Lake still snow/ice covered. Flotation (snowshoes) desirable beyond east end of Mills Lake. Spikes helpful from trailhead to Mills. Wet, loose snowslides observed on many slopes and all aspects.	Volunteer
Storm Pass up Boulder Brook and above to treeline	May 13, 2024	Snow-free to major Boulder Brook / Sprague intersection, then back and forth snow drifts for several hundred yards, then deep soft snow from there on. Above the North Longs Peak trail, upthe drainage just to the west, quite soft snow all the way to treelineand above. Flotation (snowshoes) recommended the whole way.	Volunteer
Lake Helene	May 13, 2024	Trails fully covered and traction devices helpful with snow except for a few small spots just above the Bierstadt/Flattop-HeleneIntersection. Flotation helpful beyond the "banana bowl". Two RiversLake and Lake Helene still fully covered with snow/ice. Highlydiscourage continuing past Helene toward Odessa/Fern because of steep, unstable snow, especially in the first several hundred yards beyond Lake Helene. Numerous wet loose snowslides observed on all aspects above treeline in the Lake Helene area.	Volunteer
Lawn Lake	May 13, 2024	Lawn Lake - Ypsilon Junction were snow free, slightly wet in areas of melting snow. Good dry trail mostly overall.	Ranger
Cub Lake	May 12, 2024	The trail from the Cub Lake Trailhead to Cub Lake is clear. To loop down to The Pool, there is snow on the trail with slipping and postholing, so traction devices are needed. From The Pool to the trailhead is dry.	Volunteer
The Pool	May 12, 2024	The trail is dry to The Pool. Past that it is very snowy and you either use traction devices or use snowshoes.	Volunteer
Holzwarth Historic Site and Coyote Valley Trail	May 10, 2024	Holzwarth Historic Site road did not need traction devices but there was still packed snow. The Coyote Valley Trail is still very snowy.	Visitor
East Inlet, North Inlet, East Shore	May 10, 2024	East Inlet, North Inlet and East Shore trails have patchy snow for the first mile or two. As you go up in elevation you encounter more snow. Traction devices advised.	Ranger
Ouzel Falls	May 5, 2024	Clear and melted to the big bridge below Calypso Cascades. Patches of snow before Calypso Cascades. Trail totally snow-covered past Calypso and traction devices needed. 5 ft drifts around Ouzel Falls. Copeland Falls melted and flowing, Calypso Cascades mostly frozen, Ouzel Falls all frozen	Ranger
Lumpy Ridge Loop	May 5, 2024	No snow to Gem Lake. Snow was mostly on trail between Cow Creek to Black Canyon. Traction devices not used, they stepped in others’ postholes.	Volunteer
Chasm Falls	May 5, 2024	Trail is dry to Chasm Falls. Unknown where the snow starts above there on Old Fall River Road.	Volunteer
Alluvial Fan	May 5, 2024	Trail is dry and clear	Volunteer
Sprague Lake	May 5, 2024	The trail is clear except for about 50 yards of snow. There are also some wet areas and puddles. (Do not walk around the snow and puddles; walk through them to not cause erosion and trail damage)	Volunteer

Timber Lake Trail Be advised a landslide occurred summer 2014 two miles beyond the Timber Lake trailhead and goes all the way to the top of Jackstraw Mountain. That landslide is still there, is active and unstable, and continues to worsen each year.

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Any time of year, and affected by season, elevation, slope, and exposure, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) can have extreme weather. In RMNP, all four seasons can happen in one day! Plan ahead and be prepared for weather to change rapidly.

Any Time of Year: Choose Your Destination Wisely. Always tell someone where you are going, where you will be parked, what your intended route is, when you plan to be back home, and then let them know when you return.

Route-finding is important. RMNP trails are not marked in winter and following other tracks is not advised, as you don’t know where they lead, and wind and new snow obliterate tracks. When trails are covered in snow, signs may not be visible. Carry a map and compass or GPS and know how to use them.

Be Prepared for Conditions with Essentials. It is important to bring and use the right gear, especially suitable gear for the season.

Plan that trails can be snowy much of the year. Depending on conditions and elevation, some trails can be icy and snowy September through midsummer. Do you have the right gear and equipment, and know how to use it?

• Traction devices for the bottom of your boots and hiking poles are strongly recommended, as trails may be icy. Or depending on conditions after snowstorms or at higher elevations, the snow may be deep enough that snowshoes are advised. Hiking poles are helpful for stability.
• Food and water are essential no matter how long your hike.
• Layers of wicking clothing and extra socks.
• Waterproof outer layers and extra layers for warmth; in summer, raingear.
• A hat and gloves, sunglasses or goggles, and sunscreen any time of year. Sunlight can damage your eyes and skin, even on cloudy days. Protect your eyes from the sun and blowing snow
• Wear closed-toed footwear with a treaded sole for hiking. Slick-soled shoes without good traction (ex. sneakers), sandals, flip flops, plastic clogs) can lead to cold toes, wet feet, slips, trips and falls.

Roads can be icy and snowy, especially in shady areas. Be prepared and know how to drive in wintery conditions. If the Colorado Vehicle Traction Law is in place in RMNP, for your safety and the safety of other motorists, all vehicles must have properly rated tires with a minimum of 3/16” tread or an approved traction control device.

Fire Impacts Approximately 30,000 acres or 10 percent of RMNP has been impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires. Some park trails remain temporarily closed due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing safety assessments. This website is updated as trails reopen. Please see the link above.

REMEMBER, PETS ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL RMNP TRAILS, TUNDRA AND MEADOW AREAS

 

SNOTEL SITES AS OF May 17, 2024

There are several SNOTEL sites in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a website where monitoring results are available.

SNOTEL Website: https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum= and every SNOTEL site has a unique Site Number. For example, Bear Lake is https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=322

Bear Lake (Site #322) elevation 9500’ 40” snow	Long Draw Reservoir (Site #1123) elevation 9980’ 30” snow	Stillwater Creek (Site #793) elevation 8720’ no snow
Copeland Lake (Site #412) elevation 8600’ no snow	Never Summer (Site #1031) elevation 10,280’ 57" snow	Wild Basin (Site #1042) elevation 9560’ 37" snow
Lake Irene (Site #565) elevation 10,700’ 60” snow	Phantom Valley (Site #688) elevation 9030’ 8” snow	Willow Park (Site #870) elevation 10,700’ 51” snow

 

Submit Your Own Trip Report

Send us an email, call [phone], or stop by a park visitor center.

 

For Your Safety

These Trail Conditions reports are the viewpoints of the submitters, whether park staff, volunteers, or visitors. Conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. Use these reports only as guidelines. Be prepared for varying weather and trail conditions.

Falling trees are ever-present hazards when traveling in the forest. Be aware of your surroundings. Dead trees can fall without warning!

Due to the September 2013 Flood, missing foot bridges, uneven trail surfaces, unstable slopes, falling trees due to soil moisture, rutted trails, damaged water bars and steps, standing water, difficult water crossings, and missing directional signs could be encountered. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is designated wilderness, where self-reliance and adventure are expected. Hikers should be prepared to take responsibility for their own actions; search and rescue may be delayed. Be prepared to stay overnight even if you are a day hiker. Hiking poles may be helpful on uneven trails. Route finding skills may be required. Carry a map and compass and other backcountry travel essentials. Hike at your own risk.