Find out What's New in Rocky Mountain National Park (Nps press releases)

Each year to protect nesting raptors, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in areas of the park. To ensure that these birds of prey can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife managers...

Spring snowplowing operations and road maintenance is now underway on Old Fall River Road, located on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The road is closed to all uses (including pedestrians, people walking dogs on leash, and cyclists) Tuesdays through Fridays between the hours of 6 a...

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. At this time, nightly closures will not be implemented...

Trail Ridge Road is not anticipated to open over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. Over the last week, RMNP snowplow operators have faced setbacks from previous progress. Wind has been the main challenge since last week, causing low visibility, snow drifting back over cleared areas, and a thick ice layer beneath drifted snow...

On May 21, 2025, National Park Service staff were joined by elected officials, congressional staff, project contractors, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, and other special guests to celebrate the completion of the Fall River Entrance Station construction project...

Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy are pleased to announce that the 2025 Artists-in-Residence have been selected. Seven artists have been selected to serve in a two-week residency at Rocky Mountain National Park that will take place this summer, between late May to early October...

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 60 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit...

Celebrate National Park Week, National Volunteer Week, Earth Day, and National Junior Ranger Day at Rocky Mountain National Park. What is National Park Week? This is a week-long celebration of our national parks that takes place annually in the month of April...

Laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have confirmed that the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been positively detected in bats found in the Holzwarth Historic Site area located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park...

During activities within Rocky Mountain National Park on February 17 and March 1, park rangers received reports of a vehicle driving recklessly with disregard for the safety of others.

Rangers are investigating these reports and are seeking information from the public, including any photographs or video material...

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn beginning on Monday, March 10, 2025. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 50 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit...

Rocky Mountain National Park and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy are accepting applications for the 2025 Bailey Research Fellowship. This program provides opportunities and support for qualified graduate students to conduct research inside the park and share their work with the public...

Fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park plan to take advantage of favorable winter weather and conditions to conduct pile burning operations in a variety of locations including Deer Mountain, near Lily Lake, off Highway 7 in the Wild Basin area, near Allenspark and on the west side of the park along US Highway 34...

For many, winter is their favorite time of year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Often, the park is less crowded. For those who are prepared, winter is an enchanting time to experience the beauty of the southern Rockies...

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions early next week, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to burn either a 60-acre section of the Headquarters Prescribed Fire Unit or conduct a pile burning operation near Wild Basin which will be visible from Highway 7 beginning on Monday, December 9, 2024...

Rocky Mountain National Park and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy are pleased to announce that the park’s Artist-In-Residence program will begin accepting applications for the summer 2025 season on Sunday, December 1, 2024...

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will implement its 2025 timed-entry reservation system, beginning May 23, 2025. This reservation system provides day use visitor access in a way that protects resources while creating opportunities for high-quality visitor experiences...

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and fuels conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn beginning on Friday, November 1, 2024. Firefighters plan to burn approximately 100 acres of the 334-acre Headquarters Unit on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2...

Today, Friday, October 25, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) inside Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) officially closed for the season to through travel.

With 11 miles of road located at elevations above 11,500 feet, few guard rails, and no shoulders, Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road...

Based upon the arrival of cool weather and the amount of precipitation in the extended weather forecast, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn if favorable weather and fuel conditions allow...

Old Fall River Road will be closing for the season to vehicles beginning Tuesday, October 8. The road will be closed to all uses through Thursday, October 10, for park staff to conduct road maintenance...

September 8, 2024

Late this afternoon a 23 year-old-male sped through the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Park Law Enforcement Rangers were notified and attempted to pull the man over...

The complete fire ban that was put in place in Rocky Mountain National Park on August 1, 2024, has been lifted due to current conditions. Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place where campfires are prohibited throughout RMNP, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and frontcountry campgrounds...

Beginning on Sunday, September 1, annual meadow closures will go into effect in Rocky Mountain National Park to prevent the disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating season. Meadow closures are also in place for safety and enjoyment of park visitors who are enjoying wildlife viewing during the elk rut season...

Shortly before noon on Friday, August 16, park rangers were notified by a park visitor that a 70-year-old male had taken a 15 to 20-foot fall near Estes Cone.

Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members provided care on scene and prepared the patient to be transported off Estes Cone via a hoist...

Beginning on Monday, August 12, a section along the south shore of Bear Lake Loop Trail will be closed between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for park forestry crews to conduct hazardous tree work. Several standing dead trees will be removed for public safety along this section of the trail...

Due to extreme fire danger, the extended weather forecast, and current fire activity in the State of Colorado, a ban is now in effect on all fires within Rocky Mountain National Park. This ban is effective beginning today, Thursday, August 1, and will remain in effect until further notice...

Rocky Mountain National Park’s 2024 Astronomy Festival is happening on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3, 2024. Participants will enjoy interactive daytime activities, evening presentations, and night sky telescope viewing opportunities...

Staff from Rocky Mountain National Park and the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests have responded to two small fires in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park. One 0.25 acre fire is near the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead and a second 0...

Each year to protect nesting raptors, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in areas of the park. To ensure that these birds of prey can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife managers...

Monday, July 15, park rangers were notified via a satellite communication device that an 80-year-old female hiker was found unresponsive on the Lawn Lake Trail by other hikers, roughly 5 miles from the trailhead...

Beginning Tuesday, July 23, through Friday, July 26, the Wild Basin Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will be closed to all uses, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians for road maintenance...

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy, with the longstanding and generous support of donors, has completed construction of a new workforce housing complex in Estes Park and recently welcomed the first residents...

Spring opening operations for Old Fall River Road continue and beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, the road will be closed to all uses, including bicycles and pedestrians, for dust abatement through Saturday, June 29...

The National Park Service has released updates on many of the construction projects taking places in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Moraine Park Campground and Headquarters East Utility Rehabilitation Project
The Moraine Park Campground is expected to remain closed this summer/fall season due to construction delays...

June 16, 2024

Rocky Mountain National Park and Rocky Mountain Conservancy are pleased to announce that the 2024 Artists-in-Residence have been selected. Six artists were selected to serve in a two-week residency that will take place between June and September...