News Release

Decision Reached on Fall River Entrance Improvements In Rocky Mountain National Park

Date: September 12, 2018
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, (970) 58601363
Contact: Park Information, [phone]

The Director of the Intermountain Region, National Park Service, has signed a decision document that will enable Rocky Mountain National Park to implement improvements to the Fall River Entrance Station, including the addition of a fast-pass lane for use by pass-holding visitors as well as employees and emergency vehicles. The Fall River Entrance is one of two major entrance stations on the east side of the park and is located on U.S. Highway 34, just inside the park boundary.

In addition to the new fast-pass lane, the selected alternative reconfigures the existing entrance and exit lanes, replaces all existing buildings with newly constructed ones having updated equipment and systems for ventilation and technology, improves the accessibility of all entrance facilities, and adds new parking spaces and pedestrian paths. The park will also develop an interpretive wayside exhibit at Sheep Lakes Overlook to depict the developmental history of the Fall River Entrance Station Area. Keeping the current configuration of existing buildings will minimize impacts on the Fall River Entrance Historic District.

An Environmental Assessment for the Fall River Entrance Improvements was prepared in June 2018, to examine alternative actions and environmental impacts associated with improving the entrance station area. Initial public scoping for the project occurred in the summer of 2017, including a public meeting held in August. It will be several years until the construction begins.

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at [phone].