Roads Close on East Side of RMNP Due to Inclement Weather
See updates at the bottom of this page.
March 13 2024
Due to a forecasted significant winter storm resulting in difficult to nearly impossible travel, park staff will be preemptively closing inbound vehicle access on the park's east side roads.
These closures will begin at approximately 5 p.m. today for inbound traffic on Trail Ridge Road at Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances. Bear Lake Road and Wild Basin Road on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park will also be closing to vehicle access.
The main impacts of this storm are forecast for east of the Continental Divide. Trail Ridge Road on the west of the park remains open to the Colorado River Trailhead.
March 14 2024 Update 1
Due to a significant ongoing winter storm, roads on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park remain closed. These closures include Trail Ridge Road, Bear Lake Road and Wild Basin Road. Trail Ridge Road on the west of the park remains open to the Colorado River Trailhead.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Fall River Visitor Center on the east side of the park will be closed today. Kawuneeche Visitor Center on the west side of the park is scheduled to have a delayed opening at 11 a.m.
Park snowplow operators will work throughout the day as snow continues to accumulate.
March 14 2024 Update 2
Fall River Visitor Center will remain closed tomorrow (March 15 2024).
Heavy snow continues to fall in Rocky Mountain National Park and a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through Friday morning.
Existing snow levels vary from twenty-four to thirty plus inches at varying locations in the park. The potential for an additional foot of snow is forecast through early tomorrow morning.
Today, park crews plowed roads and cleared snow around facilities. On the east side of the park, Trail Ridge Road remains closed at Beaver Meadows and Fall River Entrances. Depending on the amount of additional accumulation, Trail Ridge Road is expected to remain closed tomorrow. Bear Lake and Wild Basin Roads also remain closed.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is scheduled to re-open at noon Friday, March 15. Fall River Visitor Center will remain closed.
On the west side of the park, Trail Ridge Road is open to the Colorado River Trailhead and Kawuneeche Visitor Center will be open as regularly scheduled.
March 15 2024 Update
Rocky Mountain National Park's roads crews have been hard at work clearing snow from roads following the recent storm. Over 30 inches of snow fell in the park over the past two days.
On the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, park roads have re-opened from Beaver Meadows Entrance to Fall River Entrance. Endovalley Road is also open to the winter gate near the West Alluvial Fan Parking Area.
Trail Ridge Road from Deer Ridge Junction to Many Parks Curve remains closed as crews continue to clear snow. Bear Lake Road and Wild Basin Roads also remain closed.
Beaver Meadows Visitor Center is open until 4:30 p.m. today and Fall River Visitor Center is closed.
March 15 2024 Update 2
Trail Ridge Road from Deer Ridge Junction to Many Parks Curve has reopened. Drivers should watch for wet and icy patches on park roads. Be prepared for winter driving conditions.
Bear Lake and Wild Basin Roads remain closed. Snowplow operators continue to work on clearing Bear Lake Road. It is unknown when these roads will reopen.
Beaver Meadows and Fall River Visitor Centers will open tomorrow, Saturday, March 16, as regularly scheduled, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On the west side of the park, Trail Ridge Road is open to the Colorado River Trailhead and Kawuneeche Visitor Center is open as regularly scheduled.
Avalanche danger is considerable. Park visitors are reminded that before heading out on any backcountry snowshoe or ski trip, make sure that everyone in your group is avalanche aware. Travel across and under steep slopes is not advised unless all members of your party have rescue equipment, education and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain. For the latest avalanche forecasts, visit https://avalanche.state.co.us/.
March 16 2024 Update
Rocky Mountain National Park's Roads Crew is continuing to clear snow from Bear Lake Road, Sprague Lake Parking Area, Glacier Gorge, and all other major parking areas along the Bear Lake Road Corridor.
Bear Lake and Wild Basin Roads remain closed. It is unknown when these roads will open.
On the east side of RMNP, Trail Ridge Road is open to Many Parks Curve. Hidden Valley parking area is full. On the west side of the park, Trail Ridge Road is open to Colorado River Trailhead.
Bear Lake parking area received over 36 inches of snow.
See a video of plowing operations along the Bear Lake Road yesterday, March 15.
March 17 2024 Update
Bear Lake Road has reopened to Bear Lake parking area. Sprague Lake parking area has also reopened.
RMNP's Snowplow Operators continue to clear snow from Park & Ride and other areas along the Bear Lake Road Corridor. Park visitors should use caution and watch for snowplow operations along Bear Lake Road.
Park & Ride and Wild Basin Road remain closed.
