Rocky Mountain delays Trail Ridge Road opening

Rocky Mountain National Park has delayed the seasonal opening of Trail Ridge Road after a spring storm dropped heavy snow on high elevations and left the road closed to through traffic, according to the National Park Service. The delay came as the park prepared to begin its 2026 timed-entry reservation system on Friday, May 22. Park officials said visitors should expect changing road conditions, snow and ice patches, and possible additional snowfall in the coming days. The road remains closed on the east side at Many Parks Curve and on the west side at Colorado River Trailhead, the park said. ### How much snow changed the road-opening plan? Tuesday, May 19, brought more than a foot of new snow to Rainbow Curve, according to Rocky Mountain National Park’s road status update. The park said snow was still falling that morning and that more snow was in the extended forecast for the next several days. Officials said the combination of current conditions, incoming weather and wind at higher elevations made it unclear when Trail Ridge Road could open to vehicles for through travel. (nps.gov) Trail Ridge Road is the seasonal route that crosses the park between its east and west sides. The National Park Service said the road is normally closed to through traffic in winter and that travelers moving between the two sides of the park should use alternate routes around the park while the closure remains in place. For status updates, the park said visitors can check its website, social media accounts, or the recorded road-status line at 970-586-1222. (nps.gov) ### If Trail Ridge Road is still closed, what can visitors still do? Friday, May 22, marks the start of Rocky Mountain National Park’s timed-entry reservation season for all areas of the park during certain hours of the day. The park said one reservation option covers most of the park outside the Bear Lake Road Corridor and is aimed at visitors planning scenic drives over Trail Ridge Road, trips to the Alpine Visitor Center, west-side destinations, Wild Basin and other outlying areas. (nps.gov) That option requires a reservation for entry between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily through Oct. 12. The National Park Service said a second option, Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road, covers the Bear Lake Road Corridor and the rest of the park. That permit is required for entry into the Bear Lake Road Corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 18. Visitors without a reservation can still enter the park before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. if they are not heading into Bear Lake Road during its reservation hours, the park said. (nps.gov) ### What does the reservation system cost, and how does it work? The National Park Service said the only fee tied to a timed-entry reservation is a $2 Recreation.gov processing charge. The permit allows entry within a two-hour window, with no set departure time, according to the park’s February announcement. The system was established under the park’s Day Use Visitor Access Plan finalized in May 2024, the agency said. (nps.gov) February 18 was the date Rocky Mountain National Park announced the 2026 system and its release schedule. The park said reservations for visits from May 22 through June 30 became available at 8 a.m. Mountain Time on May 1, with additional monthly releases set for June 1, July 1, Aug. 1 and Sept. 1 for later summer and fall dates. ### Where should visitors check before they leave? (nps.gov) Rocky Mountain National Park said weather and conditions can change quickly in the Rockies and urged visitors to plan ahead before starting a trip. The park’s road-status page said drivers should be prepared for sun, strong winds, blowing snow and icy roads during spring conditions, even on days that begin clear. May 22 is the next key date for visitors: timed-entry reservations will be required during certain daytime hours, and Trail Ridge Road’s reopening date remains undetermined pending weather and road-clearing progress, according to the National Park Service. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)