Sound of Fall River

09/08/2024

06/01/2024

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season!

Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures, visitors should be prepared for icy conditions.

Weather conditions may change rapidly at higher elevations. Park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly at any time and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded status phone line at (970) 586-1222. Park staff will update the recorded line when/if the road status changes.

Alpine Visitor Center, Trail Ridge Store and the large adjacent parking area are closed to all uses. Visitors must adhere to the barricades. Visitors entering the closure area will be cited.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

Rocky Mountain National Park has a timed entry permit reservation system in place during certain times of day. To learn more, visit http://go.nps.gov/romo/timedentry.

Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 26. The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest on June 26, 1943. 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. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 18.

Image Credit: NPS Photo - Trail Ridge Road, taken near Rock Cut

05/23/2024

05/22/2024

Thinking about coming to Rocky this Memorial Day weekend? CDOT's Bustang to Estes service is back!

Bustang offers service to RMNP's Bear Lake Road Corridor beginning this Saturday, May 25. For route schedules and to reserve your Bustang tickets, visit https://ridebustang.com/Estes-Park/.

Bustang buses will drop passengers off at RMNP's Park & Ride Transit Hub, where riders can then transfer to the park's Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttles to access popular destinations like Moraine Park, Sprague Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake.

All Bustang Riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park are required to have a Bustang ticket (your timed entry permit is included) and a park entrance pass.
Park entrance passes can be purchased online at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74291.

🎫 One Bustang rider should select the 1-Day Individual Pass for $15.

🎫 If there are 2 or more Bustang riders in your group, choose the 1-Day Vehicle Pass for $30. This will cover all members of your party. Be prepared to show your park pass to a park ranger upon arrival.

🎫 Passengers who already have an annual or lifetime park entrance pass should bring their annual or lifetime (Annual/Senior/Access/Military/4th Grade) park pass and their photo ID with them.

All Bustang riders coming to Rocky Mountain National Park should be prepared to spend their day outside. Please know:

◼️ There are no stores or food services available at Rocky Mountain National Park's Park & Ride.
◼️ Bustang riders are advised to bring full water bottles, food for the day, footwear and comfortable clothing for hiking (including a jacket and rain gear, sun protection/sunscreen and a hat). Take time to be prepared for the forecast weather conditions.

04/30/2024

Spring is here, which in the Rockies means be prepared for snow on trails at higher elevations and wet, muddy, or slushy trails at lower elevations. It is currently snowing at higher elevations today.

Wear clothing to keep you warm including waterproof boots and bring traction devices for the bottom of your boots. Hiking poles are helpful too! If planning to hike to higher elevation areas, snowshoes are still advised.

Also, be careful around alpine lakes, rivers and streams. The arrival of springtime temperatures means that ice is melting. Use caution when walking on and around all snow-covered bodies of water. The ice underneath may be very thin. It is strongly advised to avoid walking on the surface of frozen lakes.

For the latest Trail Conditions Report, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_conditions.htm

Image Credit: NPS Photo

11/11/2023

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will implement a pilot reservation system using timed entry in 2024, beginning May 24.

The pilot is similar to that used in 2023 with two types of reservations available. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 recreation.gov processing fee.

The Bear Lake Road Corridor timed entry reservation system will continue through Sunday, Oct. 20. However, the rest of the park reservation system will end on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov following the below schedule.

-Beginning at 8 a.m. MT on Monday, May 1. This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 24 through June 30.
- The next release will occur on June 1, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On Aug. 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On Sept. 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.

Modifications from the 2023 pilot system to the 2024 pilot system include making the night before reservations available at 7 p.m. MT through recreation.gov, rather than 5 p.m. These are expected to run out quickly and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead when possible.

RMNP is currently accepting public feedback on its Environmental Assessment for the park’s long-range day use visitor access plan. More details are available on the park website (https://go.nps.gov/romo/duvas) and comments can be submitted through Dec. 14, 2023. This plan is needed to provide day use visitor access in a way that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences in the long term.

Image Credit: NPS Photo

02/22/2023

Love Estes 🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌❤️

01/30/2023

Temperatures in Rocky Mountain National Park are forecast to be very cold this weekend and into next week. Before heading outside, make sure you are prepared for extreme cold conditions.

Tips for Dressing for the Cold:
- Wear insulating and wicking layers to help keep you warm and to draw moisture away from your body.
- Protect your hands, feet, ears, and face from cold exposure. Wear warm wool socks, gloves, a hat, and waterproof boots.
- When done recreating, head inside and change into warm and dry clothes.

When recreating in extreme cold conditions, it is important to protect yourself from hypothermia and frostbite. To learn more, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/hypothermia.htm.

Image Credit: National Weather Service graphic on "Extreme Cold."

01/07/2023

Good route-finding skills are essential on all winter adventures in the mountains.

Trails in Rocky Mountain National Park are not marked in winter. Know where you want to go and use a map and compass to help you get to the desired destination. Don't just follow the snowshoe or ski tracks of others, as they may lead you off course and in a direction you did not wish to travel.

In the wintertime, it is best to carry a paper map and know how to read it. Planning to solely rely on a phone or other electronic device for navigation is not ideal, for phone batteries can drain quickly in cold temperatures.

Additional Winter Hiking Safety Tips:
⛰️ Visit https://avalanche.state.co.us/ and check the current Avalanche Conditions before heading out on any backcountry trip.
🌨️ Take time to check the weather before setting out. Be prepared to turn back if you are not prepared for the conditions; weather can change rapidly.
☎️ Before beginning your trip, tell someone not traveling with you what your planned route is and when you expect to be back. Remember to let that person know when you are back from your trip.
🎿 Pack wisely for your winter adventure, including warm layers of clothing, hat, waterproof/wind-proof jacket, and snowshoes or traction devices.
🔦 Pack a headlight or flashlight; the sun sets early when hiking in the mountains. Don't rely on cell phone flashlights alone.
🚰 It is easy to become dehydrated when hiking. Bring plenty of water.

What are trails in the park like? Check out RMNP's current Trail Conditions Report at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/trail_conditions.htm.

01/07/2023

Enjoy the winter in RMNP- snowshoeing!

Snowshoeing is a cheap, fun and challenging way to explore Rocky Mountain National Park in all it's winter glory, while avoiding the crowds!

12/21/2022

Timed Entry Permit Reservations are not currently required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park will implement another pilot temporary timed entry permit reservation system from May 26 through October 22, 2023. What Will the 2023 System Look Like? The reservation permit system will be similar to that used in 2022, with two types of reservations available:

⛰️ One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.

⛰️ The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability, with no set time for departure.

The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park.

Timed Entry Permit Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1.

- This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 26 through June 30.
- The next release will occur on June 1, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June.
- On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July.
- On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked.
- On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked.

For more details, please visit the park's webpage at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm.

11/16/2022

All trails in Rocky Mountain National Park are snow covered and icy. When coming to the park, be prepared for winter conditions.

Traction devices for the bottom of your boots and hiking poles are strongly recommended. At higher elevations, the snow may be deep enough that snowshoes are advised.

Want to learn more about planning for a winter trip to Rocky? Visit https://go.nps.gov/romo/wintervisit.

Image Credit: NPS Photo/D.Bialeschki - Park visitors are winter hiking in RMNP on November 13, 2022.

10/12/2022

Beginning today, October 11, Timed Entry Permits are no longer required to enter Rocky Mountain National Park. A pilot Timed Entry Permit Reservation System has been in place during the busiest hours of the day and during the park's peak summer season to help reduce negative resource impacts, traffic congestion, and visitor crowding.

Visitors planning to come to Rocky Mountain National Park, especially on weekends, should be prepared for long lines and traffic congestion throughout the park. A valid park entrance pass is required to enter RMNP 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

- Tips for Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park:

🌳 Pack Your Patience - Expect crowds in parking areas and on trails
⛰️ Be Prepared when You Arrive - If you already have a park pass, have your park pass and photo ID out and ready to show the park ranger at the entrance gate
🍂 Have a Plan - Take time to decide before you arrive what you would like to see and do. Visit www.nps.gov/romo to see park maps and more.
🥾 Know Your Limits - When recreating in the park, know the limits of everyone in your group. Watch the weather and be prepared to turn back if people are tired or if the weather changes unexpectedly.

10/03/2022

Fall foliage in Bear Lake Road 10/02/2022

10/01/2022

Check it out what happened when a musician and his wife rented our condo in Estes park righ by Fall River!

Peak View Retreats at Estes Park

09/19/2022

Sunrise hike to Dream Lake today. Amazing to watched the colors changed in 10 minutes!