Heavy Snows Delay Trail Ridge Road Opening for Memorial Day Weekend

Date: May 24, 2011
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will not open for the Memorial Day Weekend. The amount of winter snowpack that faced park snowplow operators when plowing began, combined with recent storms, have hampered park snowplowing efforts. Last week's snowstorm produced 17 foot drifts above Rainbow Curve on the east side of the park. There is more snow along that section of road now than there was on May 5. Park plow operators on the west side of the park are dealing with significant snow accumulation, drifting and rockslides.  Longtime park snowplow operators indicate this is the most snow they have encountered, this late in the season, in almost 30 years. According to Vaughn Baker, Park Superintendent, "With twice the normal snowpack, we are facing one of the most challenging years for opening Trail Ridge Road in recent memory. If we can get the weather to cooperate, we hope to have Trail Ridge Road open by early June."

For photos and a video link, click here.

Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 28. The latest the road has opened in the past twenty years was June 4, 1994; the latest the road has ever opened was June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 29; however, it never reopened after October 22.

Park staff expect a busy Memorial Day Weekend. The three reservation campgrounds in the park are full on Saturday and Sunday. From lower elevations the mountain peaks look majestic with blankets of snow similar to those seen in the middle of winter. The park's backcountry still looks and feels like winter above 9,000 feet. There is currently 67 inches of snow at Bear Lake (29 inches of snow water equivalent) on the east side, 114 inches of snow at Lake Irene near Milner Pass (44 inches of snow water equivalent) and 55 inches of snow at Wild Basin near Ouzel Falls (24 inches of snow water equivalent).  Visitors planning to recreate in the park's backcountry should be prepared for heavy/wet snow, slush and ice.  Avalanche danger remains a concern and backcountry users should expect to encounter conditions that present additional hazards and risks than what is typically encountered this time of year such as steep snow slopes, thin ice over water, snow cornices, snow bridges over moving water, and fast moving streams.

For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park please contact the park information office at 970-586-1206 or call the park's Trail Ridge Road 24-hour recorded phone line at 970-586-1222.