News Release

Bear Lake Parking Lot Closed 6pm June 17 through 7am June 21 Pavement Preservation Project In Numerous Locations Throughout The Summer In Rocky Mountain National Park

Date: June 7, 2019
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, [phone]
Contact: Park Information, [phone]

Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday June 17, through 7 a.m. Friday, June 21, the Bear Lake Parking Area in Rocky Mountain National Park will be closed to all uses for a pavement preservation project. On Monday, June 17, shuttle buses will continue to operate from the Bear Lake Parking Area until 7:30 p.m.

Beginning on Tuesday, June 18 through Thursday, June 20, park shuttle buses will not be dropping off or picking up visitors at the Bear Lake shuttle stop. All other bus stops in the Bear Lake corridor, including the Glacier Gorge Trailhead bus stop, will be operational.

Beginning Monday, June 10, staging for the pavement preservation project will take place in the Park & Ride lot along the Bear Lake Road corridor. The staging area will fill approximately 100 parking spaces, making these unavailable to the public, until the fall.

Since 2016, park staff have restricted vehicle access in the Bear Lake Road corridor when parking areas filled and heavy congestion warranted. Due to less parking availability, particularly from June 18 through June 20, park visitors who plan to hike in the Bear Lake Road corridor during these three days should plan for vehicle restrictions to occur earlier in the morning.

Due to limited parking, park visitors are encouraged to board the Hiker Shuttle. This shuttle runs every 30 minutes from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride on Bear Lake Road. Expect wait times to board the shuttles.

This important project is critical for the long term protection of park roads and parking areas.  Due to the elevation of Rocky Mountain National Park and temperatures, resurfacing pavement projects can only take place in the summer. Work will not take place during the weekends or holidays.

From Monday, June 10, through Thursday, June 13, work will take place in the Moraine Park Campground.  From Monday, June 24 through Thursday, June 27, work will occur in the Longs Peak Campground. These campgrounds will be closed during these periods.  
    
Other areas of the park that will be impacted throughout the summer by this ongoing pavement preservation project include the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Parking Lot, Bierstadt Lake Parking Lot, Alluvial Fan Parking Lot, Lawn Lake Parking Lot, Sheep Lakes Parking Lot, Horseshoe Park Overlook, Many Parks Curve Parking Areas, Rainbow Curve Parking Area, Forest Canyon Overlook Parking Area, Rock Cut Parking Area, Lava Cliffs Parking Area, Lumpy Ridge Access Road and numerous smaller parking areas and overlooks.  Work will also take place on Bear Lake Road and sections of Trail Ridge Road. Park visitors should expect rolling delays of up to 20 minutes during road work. When specific work dates are scheduled for other areas, this information will be disseminated.        
        
For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at [phone].