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RMNP Press Release
All of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed. It is unknown when the park will reopen. Once it does reopen, only some areas of the park will be accessible based upon safety and fire behavior. Park managers continue to assess where there is current as well as predicted fire activity and additional safety hazards such as falling trees and downed power lines. Park staff are plowing roads and parking lots and assessing infrastructure in outlying areas. We ask for patience as we put visitor and staff safety first. Almost 29,000 acres have burned inside Rocky Mountain National Park on the East Troublesome Fire and the Cameron Peak Fire. This is the most acres burned within the park since its establishment 105 years ago. Map of burned areas within the park can be found at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/COARF/2020-10-14-2152-East-Troublesome-Fire/picts/2020_10_27-10.27.01.231-CDT.pdf For the most up-to-date information on the East Troublesome Fire visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/ For the most up-to-date information on the Cameron Peak Fire visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/
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 Planning efforts on Upper Beaver Road, October 24, 2020 RMNP Press Release; photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain National Park Yesterday, due to extreme winds, the East Troublesome Fire (Thompson Zone) intensified and continued to make a significant run to the east from the Continental Divide toward Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park causing additional mandatory evacuations of the Estes Valley. The fire split into two fingers with one moving northeast along the Big Thompson River to Moraine Park and one east along Mill Creek into Hollowell Park. Structural engines from Colorado and beyond stood ready to defend structures within Rocky Mountain National Park and the Estes Park community. Firefighters developed and deployed offensive and defensive tactics when and where they safely could. Firefighters were in a defensive mode focusing on structure preparation and strengthening the indirect lines near the border of Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. Crews took advantage of previous fuel treatments conducted by park staff and were able to aggressively execute direct attack on the front of the fire. In the Upper Beaver Meadows area and west of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, crews took numerous aggressive actions including conducting firing operations off of existing roads, using fuel type changes such as wetlands, and other features to piece together three miles of fireline to deflect the fire from progressing further east. Due to these efforts and changing weather, the fire is continuing to hold west of Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road, within the park. Swing shift and night operations continued to patrol and implement structure protection as needed. With winds lessening and snow and moisture that fell across the fire last night, no active spread is anticipated today. Day and night operations will continue to monitor the fire’s edge, conduct structure assessments and protect values at risk. The Grand Zone of the East Troublesome Fire, on the west side of the park, saw minimal growth yesterday despite the red flag warning and high winds. Firefighters had a productive day and made good progress on the containment effort. The team assigned resources to the Holzwarth Historic Site area of the Kawuneechee Valley to begin prep work in the event the fire crosses the access road approximately 1 mile to the south.
The East Troublesome Fire, which started on October 14, has grown to over 190,000 acres. The fire was initially burning outside of Rocky Mountain National Park’s boundary. However, on October 21, the fire grew over 100,000 acres and expanded onto the western side of the park then spotted over the Continental Divide to the east side of the park. All of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed. For the most up-to-date information on the East Troublesome Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/ For the most up-to-date information on the Cameron Peak Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/ Varying evacuation orders are in place for both the East Troublesome Fire as well as the Cameron Peak Fire. Updates are provided by Grand County Emergency Management at gcemergency.com. Sign up for the Grand County CodeRed system, which will notify your mobile device of changing evacuation conditions. Updates are provided by Larimer County Emergency Management at www.nocoalert.org Sign up for the Larimer County LETA system, which will notify your mobile device of changing evacuation conditions. East Troublesome Fire Moves Into Rocky Mountain National Park Both Sides Of Continental Divide10/23/2020  Confluence Spruce and Forest Canyon, photo courtesy of RMNP RMNP Press Release On Wednesday, October 21, the East Troublesome Fire ran approximately 18 miles before it moved into the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, where rapid evacuations began for the Grand Lake community and park staff. There appears to be some structure loss on the west side of the park, but initial assessment indicates that it is minimal. At this time, we are unable to fully assess those impacts. On the morning of Thursday, October 22, a heat signature from the National Weather Service was picked up in the Spruce Creek drainage, on the east side of the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park. The East Troublesome Fire had spotted approximately 1.5 miles from the head of Tonahutu Creek to the head of Spruce Creek. Low clouds contributed to the challenge of assessing where smoke was coming from. Park fire lookouts from near the Ute Trail along Trail Ridge Road were able to confirm a smoke column out of Spruce Creek. Due to the location of the fire in the lower Spruce Creek drainage and confluence of Forest Canyon, evacuations began for areas of Estes Park. Humidity levels yesterday greatly assisted in stopping the fire growth and it appears it has remained in that general location. It is in the same general area as the Fern Lake Fire of 2012.
On the west side of the park, resources were focused on continual life and safety priorities and ongoing evacuations from the night before. Numerous trees were down on the west side of Trail Ridge Road, north of the Green Mountain Trailhead, blocking that area as a means to evacuate on Wednesday night, October 21. Weather conditions on the west of the Continental Divide were very different than the east side yesterday, with low humidity and winds continuing to add to the fire growth. As of last night, the East Troublesome Fire had moved north of the Coyote Valley Trailhead. All of Rocky Mountain National Park remains closed. For the most up-to-date information on the East Troublesome Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/ For the most up-to-date information on the Cameron Peak Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/ Varying evacuation orders are in place for both the East Troublesome Fire as well as the Cameron Peak Fire. Updates are provided by Grand County Emergency Management at gcemergency.com. Sign up for the Grand County CodeRed system, which will notify your mobile device of changing evacuation conditions. Updates are provided by Larimer County Emergency Management at www.nocoalert.org Sign up for the Larimer County LETA system, which will notify your mobile device of changing evacuation conditions. RMNP Press Release
All of Rocky Mountain National Park is closing to park visitors due to fire activity on the west side of the Continental Divide. If conditions allow, an Infrared flight is planned to gauge where there is current fire activity. This is a rapidly evolving situation. Currently, air quality is hazardous within Rocky Mountain National Park. Trail Ridge Road is not passable on the west side due to downed trees on the road. RMNP Press Release
The west side of Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to park visitors due to significant fire activity on the East Troublesome Creek Fire outside of the park. Grand Lake area residents are following evacuation orders to evacuate south on US 34 toward Granby. Trail Ridge Road is currently open for evacuation east bound if needed. There is low visibility reported due to smoke on Trail Ridge Road. Trail Ridge Road is closed west bound at Rainbow Curve. Travelers should be aware of smoke, wind, weather and fire conditions as fire activity is rapidly changing and road closures may be put in place quickly. Information is currently being updated on the park’s website and social media. For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or contact the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206. The park's recorded Fire Information Line is (970) 586-1381.  Photo taken by RMNP staff on Oct. 17 near Gore Range Overlook on Trail Ridge Road. Park rangers and snowplow operators have reopened Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Icy conditions exist. The road closed yesterday around noon due to significant ice build up, strong winds, blowing snow and some downed trees over sections of the road. RMNP Press Release The upper portion of Bear Lake Road, past the Glacier Gorge parking area, will be closed the week of October 19 for road work. This work is being done to mitigate the effects of a weeping spring that has caused damage to this section of road. This closure will begin late Sunday night, October 18, and last through Friday, October 23.
Due to this road work, the Bear Lake parking area will be closed. The Glacier Gorge Trailhead parking area will be open and has limited parking that fills early in the day. Park visitors are encouraged to park at the Park & Ride lot to board a shuttle bus. The shuttle bus schedule has been extended for this project and will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, shuttles will be limited to 20 percent of the bus capacity or about 20 riders per shuttle. Visitors seeking to hike around Bear Lake and surrounding trails to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lake or Flattop Mountain, will need to hike the approximate 3/4 mile trail from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead to Bear Lake. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. RMNP Press Release  Due to recent fire activity and weather forecasts on the Cameron Peak Fire, closure areas in Rocky Mountain National Park have expanded in the northern section of the park.
Additional closures implemented today include the Lawn Lake Trail and surrounding area. The Cow Creek Trail, the Black Canyon Trail, the Gem Lake Trail and the Lumpy Ridge area were closed on Sunday, October 11, as well as associated cross country zones. Area closures began on August 18 in the northwest section of the park and continued in the northeast area of the park on September 7. Currently the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to all recreational access. Old Fall River Road remains closed. Trail Ridge Road and other areas of the park remain open. Closures in Rocky Mountain National Park, including a map, can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm A complete fire ban has been in effect in Rocky Mountain National Park since Friday, August 14. Campfires, including charcoal briquette fires, are not permitted anywhere within the park. However, petroleum fueled stoves and grills will still be permitted in developed campgrounds, picnic areas and in designated backcountry campsites. Stoves must be able to be turned on and off. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, or stopped within a developed paved area devoid of vegetation for at least three feet. Visitors are reminded to properly extinguish all lighted smoking materials and dispose of properly. Fireworks are always prohibited within the park. Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place, where campfires are prohibited in the park, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and front-country campgrounds. For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or contact the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206. The park's recorded Fire Information Line is (970) 586-1381. RMNP Press Release
Trail Ridge Road has reopened in Rocky Mountain National Park. Because weather conditions may change rapidly this time of year, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at (970) 586-1222. Old Fall River Road remains closed at this time. RMNP Press Release
Rocky Mountain National Park snowplow operators are encountering icy and windy conditions on Trail Ridge Road today along with significant drifting snow. Windy conditions are expected throughout today. Trail Ridge Road will remain closed today, Monday, October 12. |
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