![]() ![]() The visitor center is the highest in the National Park Service, sitting at 11,796 feet above sea level. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center. National Park Service plow operators normally begin clearing the snow in the middle of April. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 31. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. The earliest the road has opened was on the latest June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend last year the road opened on May 24, in 2017 it opened on May 31 due to a late May snowstorm. Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store are anticipated to open by this weekend. Park staff will update the recorded line during and after regular office hours, when the road status changes. Park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at (970) 586-1222. However, because weather conditions may change rapidly, night closures are possible. At this time, night time closures will not be implemented. Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season. In 2011, the road opened on June 6.Rocky Mountain National Park News Release The earliest the road has opened was on the latest June 26, 1943. Park plow operators normally encounter drifts from 18 to 22 feet and are accustomed to plowing the same section of road over and over. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States – reaching 12,183 feet in elevation.Ĭrews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet near the Alpine Visitor Center. The drifting snow is depicted with the photos of Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store.Įvery year, Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators begin plowing Trail Ridge Road in mid-April. Snowplow operators experienced a lot of drifting snow on the east side, which indicates there was a lot of high winds over the course of the winter. When plow operators began plowing in mid-April they reported that the snowpack conditions were average to below average. The extended forecast for higher elevations is improving next week. ![]() It is too soon to predict when Trail Ridge Road will open for the season. Photographs are of conditions on May 28 through May 30 along the road as well as the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store complex. ![]() They initially reached the Alpine Visitor Center complex on May 15 – soon afterwards multiple spring snow storms pushed plow efforts back to lower elevations on Trail Ridge Road. East side plow operators were again able to reach the Alpine Visitor Center and Trail Ridge Store area. ![]() Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators from the east side and west sides of the park met on Trail Ridge Road May 29, for the first time this year. ![]()
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