Beginning on Monday, September 1, annual meadow closures will go into effect in Rocky Mountain National Park to prevent the disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating season. Meadow closures are also in place for safety and enjoyment of park visitors who are enjoying wildlife viewing during the elk rut season.
 
    Meadow closures will be in place between the hours of 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Areas that are closed include meadow areas in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow. During the specified hours, these meadow areas will be closed to all travel on foot or via horseback off established roads and trails. Meadow closures will remain in effect through October 31, 2025.
 
    Fishing locations along the Fall River, Thompson River, and Colorado River that are accessed by walking through closed meadow areas are closed to fishing between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
 
    Wildlife viewing is one of the most popular activities that visitors enjoy each fall. Keep your distance and view wildlife with respect. When viewing elk keep back at least 75 feet (23 m). This is the length of two school buses. It is our responsibility to keep our distance. Don’t keep approaching wildlife until they react to you. As always, elk calling and the use of spotlights or vehicle headlights for spotting wildlife is prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park.

​     Rocky Mountain National Park will be releasing additional campsite reservations at Moraine Park Campground beginning on Thursday, August 28 at 8 a.m. Mountain Time, for reservations for September 10 through September 27. Reservations will be available through www.recreation.gov. 
 
     The campground will close on September 28 to complete a few remaining construction items and is planned to reopen for winter camping opportunities on a first come, first serve basis on October 20.
 
     The Moraine Park Campground and Utility Rehabilitation Project is a critical infrastructure project that is improving water, wastewater and electrical distribution systems that serve not only Moraine Park Campground, but also Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Rocky Mountain National Park’s headquarters area and many other critical park facilities.        
 
     For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  

​Rocky Mountain National Park fire crews responded this morning to visitor reports of smoke in an area above Mills and Jewel Lakes close to treeline.  Crews hiked to the area below the smoke and confirmed the location of the small fire.   

Due to steep and technical terrain where the fire was located, air resources were requested.  The Mills Lake trail was temporarily closed while Northern Colorado Helitack dropped buckets of water, dipped from Jewel Lake, on the small fire.  The trail has reopened.   

It is currently raining on the fire and is forecast in the area today and tonight. Fire crews will continue to take appropriate suppression efforts. The cause is currently undetermined. 

8/18-10:17am
Rocky Mountain National Park fire crews are continuing mop up operations today on the Twin Owls .30 acre (3/10 acre) fire in the Lumpy Ridge area.  Fire managers are working with a Douglas County Type 2 helicopter to transport water bags for park fire crews to extinguish the remainder of any duff.  The area of this small fire is surrounded by rock.  Helicopter operations will continue to be visible this morning in this area.
8/17-4:09 pm
​Fire crews have a containment line around the approximate .30 acre (3/10 of an acre) fire and are conducting mop up operations which includes extinguishing any remaining heat or burning material near the fire perimeter.  The cause of the fire is lightning. 
8/17-1:33pm
Rocky Mountain National Park fire crews are on scene in the Lumpy Ridge area of the park for a small fire.  The fire is approximately 1/10 acre in size. The Estes Valley Fire Protection District is also providing resources.  Smoke may be visible from Estes Park.

​     This morning, park rangers were notified that a 26-year-old male climber had taken a roped fall on the South Face of Petit Grepon in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), resulting in lower leg injuries.  With the help of his partner, the climber was able to rappel to the base of the route where a hasty team of park rangers provided medical care.
 
     Meanwhile, a RMNP Search and Rescue litter team carried equipment to the base of Timberline Falls for a possible guiding line operation.  At 3 p.m. park rangers were assisted by a Colorado Army National Guard helicopter from Buckley Space Force Base to extricate the man via a hoist operation.  Colorado Hoist Rescue Team assisted with helicopter hoist operations.   
 
     The man was taken to further medical care from Upper Beaver Meadows.
   
     No further information is available at this time.

​     On Wednesday, August 13, a body believed to be that of Blake Kieckhafer, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was recovered above Emerald Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park rangers completed an on-scene investigation and recovery operations took place by helicopter. His body was flown to a landing zone in Rocky Mountain National Park and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.
 
     Kieckhafer was reported missing to park rangers by family on Monday, August 11.  He was last seen in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, August 7 around 5:20 p.m. when he was dropped off by a ride share service. 
 
     Investigations lead to search efforts being focused in the Emerald Lake area on Wednesday. Over 80 people were involved in yesterday’s search efforts. Several agencies and organizations assisted Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members with efforts including Larimer County Search and Rescue Dog Teams, Arapaho Rescue Patrol and a contracted helicopter with Trans Aero.  
 
       The Larimer County Coroner’s office will confirm positive identification of the individual and release additional information.

​     Rocky Mountain National Park rangers began search efforts for Blake Kieckhafer, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska. Kieckhafer was reported missing to park rangers by family on Monday, August 11.  He was last seen in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, August 7 around 5:20 p.m. when he was dropped off by a ride share service.  Upper Beaver Meadows Road is located approximately 1-mile west of Beaver Meadows Entrance along U.S. Highway 36 on the east side of the park.
 
     Kieckhafer was last seen wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, dark-colored pants, and a dark-colored baseball cap with no logo. He was carrying a small, maroon daypack. Kieckhafer is described as 5’11,” 180 pounds, with buzzed/short blonde hair and a mustache, and blue/green eyes.
 
     If you have information that could help investigators or if you have seen Blake Kieckhafer, please contact us. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. CALL or TEXT the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line 888-653-0009, ONLINE at https://go.nps.gov/SubmitATip, or EMAIL [email protected]  

Rocky Mountain National Park will be implementing the Poudre Headwaters Project during the week of August 25-31, 2025. This project involves the removal of all non-native fish from the Grand Ditch and upstream and downstream tributaries inside RMNP. Once removed, native Greenback cutthroat trout will be reintroduced into its native range in the headwaters of the Cache la Poudre River.
 
To implement this project, some areas on the west side of RMNP will be closed to all uses, including hiking and fishing access.
 
To remove non-native fish, aquatic biologists will apply a piscicide called rotenone to the 14.3-mile Grand Ditch system and its upstream and downstream tributaries. Rotenone is commonly used by state and federal land management agencies. This project will be led by biologists with the U.S. Forest Service. Other partners include Colorado Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional funding support is provided by Trout Unlimited and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
 
Trout that are not native to RMNP, including brook trout, currently occupy these waters.  They pose threats to native greenback cutthroat trout if not removed as they could move into the greenback recovery area.
 
Because of the level of activity associated with the implementation of this project, all areas and trails within the project zone will be closed to all uses beginning on Monday, August 25 through Sunday, August 31. The Colorado River Trail and the Grand Ditch will be closed.
 
While this project is underway, the following trails will remain open in the Kawuneeche Valley: East Inlet Trail, North Inlet/Tonohutu Trail, Green Mountain Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Onahu Trail, and Timber Lake Trail. The Holzwarth Historic Site and Harbison Meadows Picnic Area will also remain open.
 
Fishing access will remain open in all areas along the Colorado River located south of the Colorado River Trailhead, including near the Holzwarth Historic Site and Coyote Valley. Water in the Colorado River may appear brown in color due to the treatments upstream. This water is safe for people and fish.
 
Waterways that have been treated with rotenone may appear red in color. For your safety, do not pick up dead fish, consume fish, or drink water that has been treated with rotenone.  These areas will be clearly signed.
 
For additional information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park Information Office at 970-586-1206.

​     At approximately 6 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, park rangers in Rocky Mountain National Park received reports from visitors that smoke was visible from Timber Creek Campground and the Baker Gulch areas of the park. RMNP park staff began to investigate for a potential fire start.
 
    RMNP fire management staff confirmed that the smoke was coming from a lightning strike within the park. NPS and Grand Lake Firefighters were on scene last night. No values are at risk. The Baker Gulch Fire is currently 0.10 acres and is located north and west of the Holzwarth Historic Site along the east side of the Grand Ditch.  It is contained and controlled.
 
    Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, which means that campfires are prohibited except within designated campfire rings inside picnic areas and drive-in campgrounds. The use of portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves, and propane/butane-fueled gas stoves is allowed.
 
    Fireworks are always prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park.
 
    Use caution and vigilance when having a fire. Never leave a campfire unattended. When done with a fire, use the drown and stir method to put it out. Pour water on the fire, use a shovel or stick to stir the coals, add more water and repeat until the coals are cool to touch.