12,183′ Trail Ridge Road, CO, Closed Again Due to Winter Weather Advisory and Up to 10″ Snow

Trail Ridge Road in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park closed again yesterday due to the forecast for 4-10″ of snow and freezing temperatures overnight, park officials said.

“Trail Ridge Road Will Be Temporarily Closed Overnight

Due to the forecast for snow and freezing temperatures overnight, Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will be temporarily closing at 6 p.m. tonight, Monday, September 22. The closure points will be at Rainbow Curve on the east side and Milner Pass on the west side. Old Fall River Road will be closing at 5 p. m. Rangers will assess road conditions in the morning. For updates, call the recorded status line for Trail Ridge Road at 970-586-1222.”

– NPS

The 48-mile highway, which climbs to 12,183 feet at its highest point, closed at 6 p.m. on September 22 between Rainbow Curve on the east side and Milner Pass on the west side. It will remain closed until conditions improve.

The NWS has issued a winter weather advisory that’s in effect through 6 p.m. tonight:

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations 4 to 10 inches
  on high mountain passes, with locally a foot or more on highest
  peaks along the Front Range, and little or no snow accumulation in
  mountain valleys including the towns of Silverthorne and Winter
  Park.

* WHERE...Rocky Mountain National Park and the Medicine Bow Range,
  and The Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the
  Indian Peaks.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM MDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery and slushy road conditions over the
  high mountain passes. The hazardous conditions will impact the
  Tuesday morning and evening commutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Roads will be slick resulting in slow and hazardous travel over the
high mountain passes. Allow extra time to reach your destination
safely. First storms of the season can be the most hazardous.

For the latest travel conditions from the Colorado Department of
Transportation, including road conditions, road closures, and
traction laws in effect, go to cotrip.org.

The NWS predicts accumulating snow for higher mountain elevations from late Monday through early Wednesday. The bulk of the accumulations will likely remain confined to elevations above 10,500 ft and across the northern mountains; however, minor accumulations will be possible down to 9,000 ft on Monday night.

This is the third weather-related closure of Trail Ridge Road since it reopened for the season on May 30. The road was also temporarily closed for six hours on Sunday, September 14, and then again overnight on September 16. The high-elevation route often experiences sudden snow and ice during the fall months, leading to temporary shutdowns before its full seasonal closure, which typically begins in mid-to-late October.

The Park Service stated that it has not yet established a date for when the road will close for the season this year.

Trail Ridge Road is not designed as an all-season road, with 11 miles above 11,500 feet, few guard rails, and no shoulders. Winter conditions include drifting snow, high winds, and temperatures below freezing at elevations above 10,000 feet.

Last year, the road closed for the winter on October 25, and in 2023, on October 18.

The Colorado Vehicle Traction Law may also become active at any time. When vehicle traction law is in effect, all vehicles (including 4-wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, and 2-wheel Drive) must have properly rated tires (Mud and Snow, Mountain and Snow, or All-Weather Tires) with a minimum of 3/16” tread. If your vehicle has poorly rated tires, you must use an approved traction control device. These may include snow chains, cables, tire/snow socks, or studded tires.

Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend. The earliest the road opened was May 7, 2002; the latest was June 26, 1943. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbing to 12,183 feet, and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake.

Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in North America, links Estes Park on the east with Grand Lake on the west and serves as a centerpiece for millions of annual park visitors. In 2024, Rocky Mountain National Park ranked fifth in visitation among U.S. national parks, attracting over 4.1 million visitors.

Visitors are advised to call the road status line at 970-586-1222 for current conditions before planning a trip.