Rocky Mountain: Glacier Gorge Parking and Trailhead Closed in Late September
Glacier Gorge has two closure windows, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 and again Oct. 5 to 8, so plan your parking ahead of time.
By Jocelyn Pion,
If you're planning a Rocky Mountain visit for late September or the very start of October, make a note of this before you lock in your day. The Glacier Gorge parking area and the trailhead that goes with it are closing, and not just to cars.
The closure actually covers two separate stretches. The first runs from Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, Oct. 1. The second picks back up from Monday, Oct. 5 through Thursday, Oct. 8. That leaves the weekend in between outside these announced windows.
What you really need to grasp is how far this reaches. The area is closed to all uses. That covers personal vehicle access, but also the shuttle (the shuttle bus that usually serves this trailhead). In other words, you won't be able to park here or count on the bus to drop you off during those days.
Glacier Gorge is one of the park's most popular trailheads, the one that opens onto several heavily photographed alpine lakes. Losing both the parking and the shuttle on these dates really does change the logistics of a hike in this corner of the park. Our take is simple. If your route ran through here, line up a plan B for parking, or shift this part of the outing outside the two windows involved.
The good news is that these closures are targeted and temporary. They don't affect access to the rest of the park, which keeps its other trailheads and points of interest. It's really just about adjusting your plans for a few specific days.
To fit all of this into a coherent visit and scout out alternative hikes, lean on the Rocky Mountain park guide, which breaks down the sectors and access points. And if you're putting together a bigger trip in the area, our road trip itinerary that runs through this park will help you space out your stops around these date constraints.