Stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west
Accepts America The Beautiful Pass
From Estes Park (4 mi): Take US-36 W to the Beaver Meadows entrance, then follow US-34 W (Trail Ridge Road) over the Continental Divide toward Grand Lake; the road is generally open from Memorial Day to mid-October.
Overview
Trail Ridge Road (US 34) is a 48-mile road across Rocky Mountain National Park between Estes Park and Grand Lake, an All-American Road and the highest continuous paved road in the U.S. It climbs about 4,000 feet, with 11 miles above treeline, and reaches 12,183 feet near Fall River Pass, crossing the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (10,758 feet). Conditions on the tundra resemble the Arctic: windy, and 20 to 30 degrees colder than Estes Park. The road closes in winter (usually mid-October to Memorial Day) and can close in summer for snow.
Highlights
- Wildlife: elk, bighorn sheep, marmots, and pikas on the tundra, and moose in Kawuneeche Valley
- Stops: Forest Canyon Overlook, Rock Cut with a tundra trail, and the Alpine Visitor Center
- Tips: allow at least half a day, go early for the parking, and bring layers
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article and official pages for Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
