Due to Bear Lake Road Reconstruction, the park's three shuttle routes will be modified summer 2012.

This year the shuttle begins operations on Saturday, May 26, of Memorial Day weekend. However, beginning Tuesday May 29, through October 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bear Lake Road, from approximately one mile southwest of Moraine Park Visitor Center to Bear Lake, isaccessible by free shuttle bus only, seven days a week. Private vehicles are allowed both directions prior to 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Visitors in private vehicles who make the 9 a. m. cutoff time will be allowed to travel eastbound throughout the day. All visitors, in private vehicles or shuttle buses, should expect at least two 20-minute delays both directions through the construction area. There will be no construction delays between Park & Ride and Bear Lake. There may be night closures during the construction; night closures will be announced at least two weeks prior to occurring.

Buses on the Bear Lake Route will run between Moraine Park Visitor Center and Bear Lake with stops at Hollowell Park, Park & Ride, Bierstadt bus stop, Glacier Gorge Trailhead and Bear Lake. Bear Lake Route buses will run every 15 minutes but may be delayed during periods of road construction.

The first bus on the Bear Lake route will depart from the Moraine Park Visitor Center at 7 a.m. and the last bus will leave at 7 p.m. The last bus of the day on the Bear Lake route will leave Bear Lake at 7:30 p.m.

Trail Ridge Road will open on Monday May 14, 2012 weather permitting. A light snow pack coupled with no significant snow late in the snow year will permit Trail Ridge Road to open early this year. Enjoy!

• All closures go in to effect on March 1 and will continue through July 31.
• Closures include Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Alligator Rock, Sheep Mountain, and Twin Owls, Rock One. These closures include the named formations as well as areas extending 100 yards surrounding the base of the formation.
• The perimeter around Alligator Rock extends for 200 yards in all directions.
• Closures include all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber access trails to the named rock formations.
• These closures may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on nesting activity.
  
  For updated information about Trail Ridge Road... call the Trail Ridge Road Hot line at 970-586-1222.

Free Shuttle Buses is closed for 2012 season.See info above about Bear Lake Road.

Zoomable Rocky Map:
Zoom in/out on the Park Map for a very detailed view.

Opening Day on Fall River Road (June 30, 2012) — Images

Trip Report and Images From late June, 2009 —
Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road

Trip Report and Images From early June, 2009 — Sheep and Elk

Trail Ridge Road to Open on Friday - May 22, 2009
(Click here for a Preview)

Sheep Lakes at Sunrise & Sheep
May 15-17, 2009

View Spring 2009 Photos ( April 19, 2009 )

View Spring 2009 Photos ( March 27, 2009 and April 4, 2009 )

Dial (970) 586-1222 for a recorded message on the status of Trail Ridge Road. You may not know that our mountain make their own weather, so it is not uncommon to have snow in July or August at the top of Trail Ridge Road. It can be slippery and add a 20 mph wind, and you can have a white out. Such weather will only last for a few hours to a day, but if you are planning to cross over Trail Ridge Road, weather may hamper your travel. You also may find the road closed due to weather in early June and September/October.

Mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, is native to the forests of western North America. Periodic outbreaks of the insect, previously called the Black Hills beetle or Rocky Mountain pine beetle, can result in losses of millions of trees. Outbreaks develop irrespective of property lines, being equally evident in wilderness areas, mountain subdivisions and back yards. Even windbreak or landscape pines many miles from the mountains can succumb to beetles imported in infested firewood. More Info...

Featured Animal: Bobcat

The bobcat is one of the 5 predators in Rocky Mountain National Park. About 1.5 to 2 times the size of a large house cat, it is a constant hunter. It has little fear of humans and can be found throughout Rocky and the town of Estes Park. Note the large tufted ears.

The other predators are bear, coyote, mountain lion (puma) and fox.

Fall River Band