Courtesy / National Park Service
Late snowfall continues to delay openings at Rocky Mountain National Park, with the most recent announcement being that Old Fall River Road won’t be open until mid-July.
Old Fall River Road typically opens for the Fourth of July weekend, but isn’t anticipated to open until July 13 this year, if conditions allow, since park crews are still working to clear snow, according to Kyle Patterson, public affairs officer for the park.
Currently, the road is closed to all forms of traffic, including pedestrians and bikes, from Tuesdays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Old Fall River Road is open to pedestrians and bicyclists on Saturdays through Mondays, but remains closed to traffic.
Rocky Mountain National Park experienced winter conditions, including ice and snow, as recently as June 23, which has led to several delays in opening parts of the park, including Trail Ridge Road.
While this year is unusual in the history of Old Fall River Road, it’s not the latest the path has ever opened. In 2011, it didn’t open until July 30, which was the latest it had opened in 26 years. The road was also closed for a period of time after being severely damaged in the 2013 floods.
The road was originally built between 1913 and 1920 and remains unpaved. The 9.4 mile path winds one direction from Endovalley Picnic Area to above treeline at Fall River Pass, following the slope of Mount Chapin’s south face to Trail Ridge Road. Vehicles over 25 feet and those pulling trailers are prohibited because of the winding, narrow nature of the road.
This year, Old Fall River Road is scheduled to close October 7.