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Rocky Mountain National Park
Road/Trail Conditions & Closures
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Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any National Park in the United States. Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,183 feet. Due to the high elevations and exposure park roads are subject to strong winds and rapid weather changes.
Road conditions in and around the park can change quickly, particularly in the spring and fall. For recorded information on the status of Trail Ridge Road call 970-586-1222. For information about Rocky Mountain National Park call 970-586-1206 daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).
Colorado Division of Transportation (CDOT) - Traveler Information
For information about roads outside the park call 303-639-1111 from Denver or out-of-state. For inquiries from within Colorado but outside the Denver area, please call 877-315-7623. Or check the CDOT website at
Road Status
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Trail Ridge Road: Closed for the season
Closures are at Many Parks Curve on the east side, which is about eight miles from the east entrances, and at the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side, which is about 10 miles from the Grand Lake Entrance.
Trail Ridge Road will reopen on May 28, 2010, weather permitting.
For up-to-date conditions on Trail Ridge Road, 24 hours a day, please call 970-586-1222 for recorded information. You can also click on the Colorado Department of Transportation link above.
Old Fall River Road: Closed for the season
Old Fall River Road is a steep, one-way unpaved road. It is not suitable for RVs or low-clearance vehicles, but provides spectacular views for suitable passenger cars, trucks, or SUVs.
Vehicles with trailers or vehicles exceeding 25 feet in length are not permitted on Old Fall River Road.
Other Roads Closed for the Season
Fern Lake Road beyond the winter parking winter trail status; closed to pets and bicycles
Twin Sisters Trailhead Access Road winter trail status; closed to pets and bicycles
Upper Beaver Meadows Road winter road status; open to pets and bicycles
Wild Basin Road beyond the winter parking winter trail status; closed to pets and bicycles
For information about other area closures in the park, click .
Updated: Thursday, October 29 at 11 a.m.
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Longs Peak Conditions
September 27, 2009
Conditions on Longs Peak can change at any time. Snow and freezing temperatures occur regularly during this time of year. Snow and ice can quickly cover any of the routes described below on any given day. Please be observant and watch for changing weather and conditions and adjust plans accordingly. Please take appropriate gear to endure these changing conditions.
For a current Longs Peak weather forecast from the National Weather Service please click here.
For more information about climbing Longs Peak, go to http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/longspeak.htm.
Longs Peak Trails - Most of the recent snow has melted off the trails below 11,000. Above 11,000 patches of snow still exist. Expect these patches of snow to linger and grow as more stormy weather arrives later this week.
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| NPS Photo |
| View from the boulderfield on September 27. |
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NPS Photo Assessing conditions at the Keyhole.
Keyhole Route - The route is technical and in winter conditions. Recent storms have covered the route with snow and ice. Climbing parties have reported drifts up to three feet deep in the Trough. Sunny weather and warmer temperatures will melt some of this snow during the day; however, this water will refreeze each night leaving a mix of snow and ice on the route. Conditions on this route change daily, if not hourly. Expect to climb through a little bit of everything. Remember, fall weather in the valleys means wintery conditions on Longs Peak, so be prepared for cold, windy, snowy weather while on the upper mountain.
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| NPS Photo |
| What to expect when storms begin to clear. |
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NPS Photo The Diamond, September 27.
The North Face/ Cables Route - The combination of snow, sun, and freezing overnight temperatures will form ice in the crux dihedral. All of the eye bolts remain visable. Patches of snow exist beyond the eyebolts. As with other routes, conditions are cycling rapidly from snow to ice to water and back to ice. Be prepared for anything.
Kiener’s/Notch Couloir – Fall storms are transitioning this route into winter shape. Occasional snow storms will leave the route blanketed with snow. Sunny days may then melt much of the snow, but expect snow and ice to exist on the route for the rest of the season. Lamb’s Slide is slowly transitioning from firm alpine ice to winter snow.
The Diamond – Most of the ledges on the Diamond now have snow on them. Any where that was wet has frozen. Expect cold, shady conditions on any Diamond climbs, unless you can finish your intended route during the 2-3 hours of sunlight that the Diamond receives each morning. Most of this snow will probably not melt off the face until next spring. Glacial snow exists up to the base of the North Chimney, with patches of snow and ice in the chimney proper.
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| NPS Photo |
| The Loft, September 27. |
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The Loft/Clark’s Arrow - A thin layer of snow has covered most of the Loft Gully below the waterfall. This snow hides many of the gaps in between the rocks until climbers manage to find them with their feet. The Traverse also has snow cover and has become quite slippery. The Loft Waterfall has a thin layer of ice over the top of it, but running water still exists behind this frozen curtain.
Camping -Longs Peak Campground is open. The water has been turned off and the rate for these sites is $14 per night.
A backcountry permit is required for all overnight stays in the backcountry.
Permits can be obtained at the Longs Peak Ranger Station (weekends only) or the Backcountry Office, located next to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Please abide by all rules and regulations and take care of the Longs Peak backcountry.
Trail Conditions
Important: 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.
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Trail: Deer Mountain
Date: 11/6/09
By: Volunteer
2/3 of the trail snow-covered or had snow in spots. Snow was not deep but it was icy. Hiking poles recommended. Traction devices not needed. Did not posthole.
Trail: Black Lake
Date: 11/6/09
By: Visitor
Trail was mostly snowpacked and often icy. Traction devices helpful; snowshoes not used. . Snow was 1 - 1 1/2 feet deep.
Trail: Fern Lake
Date: 11/5/09
By: Visitor
Hiked from the Fern Lake Trailhead winter parking to The Pool and Fern Lake. The trail between The Pool and Fern Falls was half snowy and half dry/wet. From Fern Falls to Fern Lake it was snowy all the way, mostly snowpacked, 6" - 12" deep. Trail was icy. Traction devices and poles optional. Used hiking boots. Did not posthole.
Trail: Bierstadt Lake
Date: 11/5/09
By: Visitor
Hiked from Bierstadt Lake Trailhead. Slushy at the trailhead, packed snow, 4" - 6" deep, at the top of the moraine. Trail was 90% dry. Boots and hiking poles used.
Trail: Ypsilon Lake trail
Date: 11/5/09
By: Visitor
Patchy snow up to about 10,000 feet. Above that the drifts were about 1 foot or more deep. Stabilizers used.
Trail: Gem Lake
Date: 11/4/09
By: Volunteer
Trail mostly clear and dry with a few icy patches in the first 1 1/4 miles, then a strech of about 200 yards of very slippery ice going up steps. Traction recommended for this part. Lake is 2/3 frozen.
Trail: Chasm Lake
Date: 11/4/09
By: Ranger
The trail follows the summer is packed with snow from the very begining. Once past the lightning bridge, the packed trail heads cross country directly to Battle Mountain Junction. For the most part, following the trail was reasonable, however there were several deep spots. From Battle Mountain to Chasm Junction a trail of any kind is difficult to find. Hikers will find occasional patches of snow and cross country travel on barren ground. A packed trail exists from Chasm Junction to Chasm Lake and is a little tricky. Much postholing is required. Just before Chasm Meadows, a steep snowfield must be negociated. The snow is hard windslap with a sun crust. Kicking steps was difficult. Needless to say, yak traks and snowshoes recommended.
Trail: Tonahutu Spur to Granite
Date: 11/4/09
By: Visitor
Trail just fine to Big Meadows then from there to Granite Falls 6" to 18" of snow on trail. Above Granite Falls, 12" to 18" of snow. Hiking boots can be worn to Granite Falls but not beyond.
Trail: The Pool
Date: 11/2/09
By: Visitor
Mostly clear but a few snowpacked patches, some slushy areas. Boots O.K.
Trail: Cub Lake
Date: 11/2/09
By: Volunteer
Trail mostly clear and dry for the first 1.8 miles then becomes harpacked snow and ice to the Lake. Some high drifts at the Lake. Traction recommended. Snowshoes not needed.
Trail: Twin Sisters
Date: 11/2/09
By: Visitor
Hardpacked snow below treeline; slippery in a.m., soft in p.m. Above treeline, mostly bare. Snowshoes not required.
Trail: Bear Lake
Date: 11/2/09
By: Volunteer
Trails in area and around Bear Lake are icy or snow covered and slippery. Bear Lake all covered with thin ice.
Trail: GlacierGorge-Lake Helene
Date: 11/2/09
By: Visitor
12" packed snow. Hiked; had traction devices and found them necessary. Postholed only a few times. Snowshoes were't required but would have been helpful. Traction devices a must!
Trail: Deer Mountain
Date: 11/1/09
By: Ranger
Trail snow-covered most of way, icy in places. Boots alone okay; recommend gaiters/traction/poles. Icy-slippery going up, icy-slushy going down.
Trail: Sandbeach lake
Date: 10/31/09
By: Visitor
First 1.4 miles wet and slushy. Used snowshoes from 2 miles on. Snow deepened to 1 foot at Lake. lake partially frozen over.
Be knowledgeable. Before heading out on winter trails, check the current avalanche conditions. For more information, click here.
For information about trail or other area closures in the park, click .
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