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Voluntary automated gate transponders are available for purchase at Rocky Mountain National Park for annual and lifetime passholders, including RMNP, America the Beautiful, Senior, Military, Veterans, Access and Fourth grade passes. There is currently a transponder lane at Beaver Meadows Entrance and a new transponder lane is being constructed at Fall River Entrance. The lane at the Grand Lake Entrance is being reconstructed after it was destroyed in the East Troublesome Fire. The transponder lanes will be closed in 2024 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when the timed entry reservation system is in effect (May 24 to October 15).
A transponder is a small, credit card-sized device that must be attached to a vehicle’s window. The amenity fee for those interested in this voluntary transponder is $15. One transponder may be purchased per valid annual or lifetime pass and the transponder is valid for up to one year. It can be renewed each year for $5 after the initial purchase. Transponders must be attached to a vehicle’s window and are non-removable, non-transferable, and non-refundable. When using a transponder in the park, visitors must have their passes with them as well. The transponders are available for purchase at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Thursdays and Sundays beginning on February 22 through May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Beginning on Sunday May 5, transponders will be available for purchase on Sundays only at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center from 8 a.m. to noon. Transponder lanes assist passholders and park staff by reducing queuing and congestion at entrance stations particularly on busy winter weekends, as well as prior to 9 a.m. and after 2 p.m. during months when timed entry reservation permits are in place. In 2004, Rocky Mountain National Park constructed a fast pass lane at the Beaver Meadows Entrance and in 2011, an additional fast pass lane was installed at the Grand Lake Entrance. Rocky Mountain National Park was one of the only national parks with fast pass lanes for visitors. Visitors who purchased an annual park pass or lifetime pass were able to use their pass to operate the automated gate. However, in 2019, the National Park Service modified the format of annual and lifetime passes. The new national passes are not compatible with the park’s fast pass gate system technology and the fast pass gate has not been operational for the last few years. Based on this change, the park has transitioned to windshield transponders for interested annual and lifetime passholders to access the transponder lane, outside of any pilot timed entry permit reservation system times, which in 2024 is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 24 to October 15. For additional information about Rocky Mountain National Park, visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
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 Each year, to protect breeding and nesting sites of raptors (also known as birds of prey), Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in the park. Raptors that are protected include multiple species of hawks, owls, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons.
To ensure that these birds can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during their breeding and nesting season. These areas are monitored by park wildlife managers. Raptor closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. These closures may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on nesting activity. A closure is in place in the Loch Vale area which includes Cathedral Wall. The areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off trail travel. In the Lumpy Ridge area closures include Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One and the Needle. These closures include the named formations. Closures include all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber access trails to the named rock formations. Check the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/romo/raptor-closures.htm for all details on specific raptor closure areas, including maps. The National Park Service is committed to preserving birds of prey. If nest sites are located or territorial behaviors such as aggressive divebombing/vocalizing or birds fleeing nest sites due to human disturbance are observed, please report the general location to ROMO_Information@nps.gov. The same cliffs that are critical for raptors also appeal to climbers. The cooperation of climbing organizations and individuals continues to be essential to the successful nesting of raptors in the park. For further information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) invites you to explore research, monitoring, and management during the Biennial Research Conference “Challenges and Collaborations for Changing Landscapes” on March 6-7 at the Ridgeline Hotel in Estes Park. Scientific research is an integral part of science-informed decision making and adaptive management at RMNP. The park utilizes a collaborative research process in which park staff and research partners co-produce science to address management questions.
The Biennial Research Conference is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. It is free and open to all who are interested in attending. No pre-registration is required. Conference highlights include 27 oral presentations by research partners and park staff, a poster session highlighting 20 research and public engagement activities in the park, a Visitor Use Management Question and Answer Panel with park staff, and a Conversation Café in which members of the public can engage in structured, small-group discussions about moose and vital wetland ecosystems in the park. Oral presentations are organized into sessions covering related subjects. Sessions will focus on wildfire recovery, cultural resource stewardship, vegetation and forestry science, visitor use management, wildlife challenges, air and water quality monitoring, and wetland ecosystem challenges and stressors. Oral presentations in the wetland ecosystem session will also be available to attend virtually. Conference events begin at 8:00 am each day and conclude at 5:30 pm on March 6 and 5:00 pm on March 7. For a complete schedule of events, to access the wetland ecosystems session virtually, and other accessibility information, visit: go.nps.gov/RMNPConference2024 The conference will take place in the Ballroom of the Ridgeline Hotel, located at 101 S Saint Vrain Avenue, Estes Park, CO. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.  A park visitor is cross-country skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park. Courtesy RMNP For many, winter is their favorite time of year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. The park is less crowded. With a blanket of snow on the ground, visitors can enjoy the natural quiet. Cross-country skiing is a fun and challenging wintertime activity that offers new ways to explore the majestic scenery of Rocky. For those interested in exploring the park with a park ranger, this February RMNP is offering ranger-led ski tours on the west side of the park.
Ranger-led ski tours will be offered on the west side of RMNP (near Grand Lake), on the following Fridays at 1 p.m.: February 9, February 16, and February 23. Participants will enjoy skiing across snow-covered meadows and in mixed conifer forest areas within the Kawuneeche Valley and will learn about this incredible environment. These programs will be 1-2 hours in duration and will take place on non-groomed, off-trail routes. Rocky’s ranger-led ski tours are considered moderately strenuous. Participants should have a baseline fitness level that allows them to ski approximately one mile over hilly terrain at high elevations. These programs take place at 9,000 feet in elevation. This program is not suitable for young children. Participants must be 16 years or older. Some cross-country ski experience is required. This program is not designed to be a ski lesson. All participants will need to bring their own gear to participate, including Nordic skis, poles, boot, appropriate clothing, etc. Equipment can be rented nearby at locations in Grand County. All participants should have some knowledge of Nordic ski techniques and know how to snap into and out of their ski bindings. Reservations are required for all participants and space is limited to a maximum of 12 people per program. To make a reservation, call 970-586-1513. Reservations can be made beginning on the Wednesday before a scheduled program. All reservations are taken in the order they are received. Reservations for ranger-led ski tours are free (a park entrance fee or valid park entrance pass is required to enter RMNP). Winter Safety Tips Your safety is your responsibility; know your limits and make sure that everyone in your group is prepared for the anticipated weather and conditions. Travel across and under steep slopes is not advised unless all members of your party have the education, safety equipment, and experience to make informed decisions about traveling in avalanche terrain. For the latest avalanche conditions, visit http://avalanche.state.co.us. Advanced trip planning in winter is critical. Parking lots at popular destinations like Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Hidden Valley often fill on the weekends. Trail navigation in winter can present difficult challenges. Trails in the park are not marked for winter use. Route-finding skills are necessary. Signs and trails can be buried beneath snow and difficult to follow. Never follow other people’s tracks, as they can easily lead you off-course. Cell phones, GPS devices, and other electronic devices are not reliable in cold conditions, as batteries can freeze. For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo. -NPS- |
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