Rocky Mountain: Trail Ridge Road Closed at Rainbow Curve and Milner Pass
Snow and ice have shut down Trail Ridge Road at two points in Rocky Mountain. Here's what it means for your visit.
By Jocelyn Pion,
If you're planning a crossing of Rocky Mountain, here's something that could reshape your whole day. The famous Trail Ridge Road, the scenic route that links the east and west sides of the park up through the high country, isn't fully drivable right now.
The reason is snow and ice, which move in fast at these elevations. The road is currently closed at Rainbow Curve, on the east side of the park, and at Milner Pass, on the west side. You can still drive the first stretches from either entrance, but you won't be able to cross the summit section or reach the other side by this road. So an east-to-west crossing on Trail Ridge Road isn't possible as long as these closures hold.
This kind of closure is just part of the deal at Rocky Mountain. Trail Ridge Road climbs above 11,800 feet, and the weather alone sets the schedule up there. A closure can last a few hours or several days, and the state of the pavement changes from one morning to the next.
Our advice comes down to one simple habit. Before you head out, call the dedicated information line at 970-586-1222, the park's recorded message updated with the latest conditions. That way you'll know, the same morning, whether the pass has reopened or is still blocked, and you can adjust your route without any nasty surprise at the foot of the mountain.
Pack warm clothes and sturdy shoes too, even for a short outing. At these heights, the weather can turn in a matter of minutes. To see where this road fits among everything worth doing and to plan the rest of your trip, keep our Rocky Mountain park guide handy, where we lay out the access points and the seasons. And if you're putting together a bigger loop through the Rockies, take a look at our road trip itinerary through this park to line up your stops.