RMNP UPDATE, August 31, 2021

Beginning on September 1, park officials will put annual closures in place for travel on foot or horse off established roadways or designated trails from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.  In 2020, the closure time extended from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. due to a significant increase in visitors approaching elk in previous years, when the morning meadow closures lifted. 

These closures last through October 31 and are effective in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow in Rocky Mountain National Park.   

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Fishing in the Fall River, Thompson River or Colorado River within the posted areas remain the same as previous years and are closed from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. 
 
The purpose of the closures is to prevent disturbance and harassment of elk during their fall mating period and to enhance visitor elk viewing opportunities.  As always, elk calling and the use of spotlights or vehicle headlights for spotting wildlife is prohibited in Rocky Mountain National Park.  



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RMNP UPDATE - August 24, 2021

New tactical vehicle to replace aging SAR response vehicle

The Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC) is seeking support to fund a new Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicle for the Rocky Mountain National Park SAR Team. The team currently uses an aging ambulance as its primary vehicle. Built in 1993, the former ambulance has more than 120K miles on it and has become less reliable over its lifespan. This vehicle is        also not fuel efficient, nor does it utilize modern technology. With the high number of SAR incidents   at Rocky, this vehicle is no longer able to reliably respond.


On average, Rocky’s Search and Rescue Team responds to 160-175 incidents each year – the third highest compared to other national parks. These incidents include a full range of rescues, from broken ankles and heat exhaustion to technical rope rescues and swift-water recoveries, and even large-scale multi-day searches. Some rescues also involve helicopter extractions that require a reliable support vehicle to make the rescue possible. 
 
Since RMNP has one of the largest highest SAR incident rates in the national park system, the SAR vehicle has become one of the most critical pieces of SAR equipment. It is a mobile platform that is outfitted with all equipment necessary for various rescues. Today, the Conservancy is seeking support to provide the SAR Team with a new 4x4 ‘mobile command vehicle for critical life-saving emergencies, and for managing complex rescue operations within the park. The Conservancy’s fundraising goal for the project is $75,000 which would cover the cost of the base vehicle, conversion build, outfitting and markings. 
 
Anyone who would like more information on the project is asked to contact the Conservancy’s Philanthropy Director, Michael Allen, at (720) 845-5690. The Conservancy has set up a secure fundraising webpage for this project at:  www.RMConservancy.org. It also recently published a guest article by SAR recipient and now volunteer, Bob Jamieson, at https://rmconservancy.org/a- search-and-rescue-success-story/ to give more context to the need for this support. 

RMNP UPDATE - August 20, 2021

Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park reopened this afternoon at approximately noon followed by Old Fall River Road at 12:30.  

Photographs attached are during plowing of Old Fall River Road as well as from the Alpine Visitor Center parking lot looking toward Gore Range Overlook.
Road conditions included significant ice, gusts of 50 mph as well as white out conditions due to blowing snow above 11,500 feet.    

RMNP UPDATE - August 20, 2021

Trail Ridge Road and OFRR are temporarily closed due to white out conditions and ice buildup.  Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators are currently plowing the road.


Please call the Trail Ridge Road recorded status line at (970) 586-1222 or follow the park's twitter site @RockyNPS for updates.

Date: August 16, 2021


WASHINGTON – Following the latest science and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Park Service (NPS) is immediately requiring visitors, employees and contractors to wear a mask inside all NPS buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission levels.  
“Visitors to national parks are coming from locations across the country, if not across the world. Because of this, and recognizing that the majority of the United States is currently in substantial or high transmission categories, we are implementing a service-wide mask requirement to ensure our staff and visitors’ safety,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge. 
This requirement will be in effect until further notice and applies to all NPS buildings and public transportation systems. It also applies to outdoors spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as narrow or busy trails and overlooks. 
“Being vaccinated is the most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of the coronavirus. Masking in addition to being vaccinated will help prevent the spread of new variants and protect those who are more at risk of severe disease. This simple act of kindness allows us to be safe while we continue to enjoy the benefits of our national parks,” said Capt. Maria Said, MD, an epidemiologist in the NPS Office of Public Health and a member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.  
Individuals looking to get a COVID-19 vaccine can visit vaccines.gov to find a location close to them and make an appointment. Individuals can also text their ZIP code to 438829 and get a text with the closest COVID-19 vaccine location. 


www.nps.gov