Snow on Trail Ridge Road as of October 16, 2023, Rocky Mountain National Park / NPS photo
Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) officially closed for the 2023 season to through travel on Wednesday, October 18. Still open are such popular driving destinations as Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park, and Horseshoe Park on the east side of the park, in addition to the section of Trail Ridge Road along the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of the park.
Trail Ridge Road is not designed to be an all-season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet (3,505 meters), few guard rails and no shoulders. Winter conditions of drifting snow, high winds and below-freezing temperatures occur above 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). Trail Ridge Road is currently closed at Many Parks Curve on the east side of RMNP and at the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side of the park. Closure points on the road may fluctuate this fall, however the road is closed to through travel for the season.
Trail Ridge Road normally opens the last week in May, weather permitting. This year Trail Ridge Road opened on Friday, May 26.
Old Fall River Road closed for the season to vehicles on October 3. Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road will remain open to bicycles, hikers, and people walking leashed pets through November 30. Leashed pets and bicycles are only allowed on the road, not on side trails. On December 1, both roads will revert to "winter trail status" in which bicycles and leashed pets will no longer be permitted beyond the closed gates, but pedestrians, snowshoers and skiers are.
