Trail Ridge Road

U.S. Highway 34
Trail Ridge Road
Route information
Maintained by CDOT
Length	48 mi (77 km)
Existed	1932–present
Major junctions
West end	Grand Lake
East end	Estes Park
Location
Country	United States
State	Colorado
Counties	Grand County, Larimer County
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Colorado State Highway System Interstate US State Scenic

Trail Ridge Road is the name for the stretch of U.S. Highway 34 and is the highest continuous highway in the United States. Also known as Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway. It traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. It crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (elev. 10,758 ft/3,279 m) and reaches a maximum elevation of 12,183 ft (3,713 m), near Fall River Pass (elev. 11,796 ft/3,595 m). Near the highest point on the road is another pass, Iceberg Pass (elev. 11,827 ft/3,604 m).

Trail Ridge Road is closed during the winter, and often remains closed until late spring or early summer depending on the snowpack.

Route description

Late-summer tundra well above the treeline along Trail Ridge Road

View of Trail Ridge Road from a hill above the Ute Trail, nineteen miles from the eastern end of the highway

From Kawuneeche Visitor Center at the park's Grand Lake Entrance, Trail Ridge Road follows the North Fork of the Colorado River north through the Kawuneeche Valley. There are several trailheads along this section of the road, notably the Colorado River Trailhead, which is the western terminus of the road segment closed during the winter.

After the Colorado River Trailhead, the road goes through a series of switchbacks as it gains in elevation and turns to the east. The Farview Curve overlook provides an excellent view of the Kawuneeche Valley and the Never Summer Mountains. Milner Pass carries the road over the Continental Divide and the route rounds Medicine Bow Curve before coming to a junction with Fall River Road at Fall River Pass near the popular Alpine Visitor Center.

Toll booths at the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, an eastern entrance to Trail Ridge Road.

From the visitor center, Trail Ridge Road continues to the east and reaches its highest elevation of 12,183 feet (3,713 m) between the Gore Range and Lava Cliffs overlooks. Iceberg Pass, marked by pullouts on both sides of the road, is crossed between Lava Cliffs and the Rock Cut overlook.

Trail Ridge Road descends toward the east as it passes the Rock Cut overlook and the popular overlooks of Forest Canyon and Rainbow Curve. Many Parks Curve marks the eastern terminus of the road segment closed during the winter. Continuing toward the park's eastern boundary, Hidden Valley is a popular winter recreation area with a warming shelter and heated rest rooms.

The road's eastern end is at Deer Ridge Junction where US 36 and US 34 meet in Estes Park. West of the junction, US 36 provides access to Horseshoe Park and the old Fall River Road.

History

Fall River Road was the first road into the park's high country. It opened in 1921 and quickly proved inadequate for motor travel as a single-track road with steep grades (up to 16%), tight curves and a short annual season due to snowpack. Construction began in 1926 as a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the Bureau of Public Roads (now the Federal Highway Administration).

Hidden Valley (or Ski Estes Park) was a local ski area attraction off of Trail Ridge Road, now in defunct status.

Recreation

The 54 miles of winding road through Rocky Mountain National Park make Trail Ridge Road a popular ride for motorcyclists.

External links

• Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road Overview on the National Scenic Byways website
• Trail Ridge Road on the Colorado Scenic Byways website
• Video from Top of Trail Ridge Road taken September, 2007. Shows how scary the road can be.
• Rocky Mountain National Park Official Site