Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park's iconic alpine highway, open for season
In the latest sign of summer, Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road is open for the season, the park announced Friday afternoon.
The road — the highest continuous paved highway in the United States — climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. It typically opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes in October.
The park's Alpine Visitor Center is tentatively set to open Saturday, and the Trail Ridge Store will likely be open next week, according to a park news release.
Visitors should be prepared for icy conditions on the road as snow melts, and the potential for freezing temperatures looms in the area. They're also encouraged to call the park's Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line (970-568-1222) before traveling the road.
Trail Ridge Road's opening day also marked the beginning of Rocky Mountain National Park's seasonal timed-entry permit reservation system, which requires visitors to reserve permits for the Bear Lake Road Corridor from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and another permit for the rest of the park — including Trail Ridge Road — from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More from RMNP: Daily entrance fee increase will go up with start of this year's timed-entry permits
Erin Udell reports on news, culture, history and more for the Coloradoan. Contact her at ErinUdell@coloradoan.com. The only way she can keep doing what she does is with your support. If you subscribe, thank you. If not, sign up for a digital subscription to the Coloradoan today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road open for the season
