Sept 9,2024
​Update: The subject is in custody.  He has been identified as Wayde Thyfault from Hudson, Colorado.  He was apprehended in the High Drive area outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.

​Sept 8, 2024
Late this afternoon a 23 year-old-male sped through the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.  Park Law Enforcement Rangers were notified and attempted to pull the man over.  He failed to yield and continued to drive recklessly on US Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road) passing vehicles at high rates of speeds over the 48 mile stretch of this mountain highway through the park.  Because of the suspect's high rates of speed and recklessness, law enforcement rangers backed off on the pursuit.  
 
Rocky Mountain National Park Law Enforcement Rangers were assisted by Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff's Office.  Law enforcement personnel attempted to slow the vehicle at Deer Ridge Junction and placed strip sticks near Beaver Meadows Entrance.  The suspect continued to travel at a high rate of speed south past the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and hit another vehicle with three individuals inside.  All three individuals were transported by ambulance to Estes Park Health, one with critical injuries.    
 
After the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and ran on foot northeast toward homes along High Drive in the town of Estes Park.  Law enforcement agencies including Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff's Office provided instructions to area residents, to shelter in place. 
 
The suspect is identified as a white male, 5 foot 9 inches, 165 pounds, bald, reported to be wearing blue jeans and no shirt or shoes. He appeared to have a head injury from the motor vehicle crash.  He was last seen fleeing from his vehicle in Rocky Mountain National Park south of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on US Highway 36 toward High Drive.  This evening, it was determined that this individual is believed to be a suspect in a felony burglary case out of Grand County that remains under investigation. The suspect is still at large. If you see this person, do not approach and immediately call 911. 
 
Because this is an active investigation and evolving incident, no further information is available at this time.   

​     The complete fire ban that was put in place in Rocky Mountain National Park on August 1, 2024, has been lifted due to current conditions.  Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place where campfires are prohibited throughout RMNP, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and frontcountry campgrounds. 
 
     The use of portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves and propane/butane-fueled gas stoves is allowed. Fireworks are always prohibited within the park.  Park visitors are urged to use caution and vigilance regarding the use of fire in authorized locations. 
 
     For further information Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or contact the park’s Information Office at 970-586-1206.

​    Beginning on Sunday, 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, 2024.
 
    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.

​       Shortly before noon on Friday, August 16, park rangers were notified by a park visitor that a 70-year-old male had taken a 15 to 20-foot fall near Estes Cone.
 
    Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members provided care on scene and prepared the patient to be transported off Estes Cone via a hoist. Park rangers were assisted by a Colorado Army National Guard helicopter from Buckley Space Force Base to extricate the man. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group assisted with helicopter hoist operations.
 
    The man was transferred to a Med Evac air ambulance at Upper Beaver Meadows and flown to further emergency care. No further information is available.
 
    Regardless of fitness levels, park visitors are reminded to be prepared when setting out on any park adventure and activity. In addition to carrying the ten essentials and packing extra food and water, know your own limits and take time to adequately rest and consume water and salty snacks when recreating in the mountains.
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    For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

     Beginning on Monday, August 12, a section along the south shore of Bear Lake Loop Trail will be closed between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for park forestry crews to conduct hazardous tree work. Several standing dead trees will be removed for public safety along this section of the trail. The trail will be temporarily closed through Thursday, August 15. The trail will re-open for the weekend and close again on Monday, August 19 through Thursday, August 22.
 
     These temporary closures will not impact the main Bear Lake viewing locations or trail access to Flattop Mountain, Bierstadt Lake, Alberta Falls or Nymph Lake, Dream Lake or Emerald Lake.
 
     Visitors must observe and adhere to this posted closure.  Trail guards will also be near the closure area directing visitors.
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    For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

​    Due to extreme fire danger, the extended weather forecast, and current fire activity in the State of Colorado, a ban is now in effect on all fires within Rocky Mountain National Park. This ban is effective beginning today, Thursday, August 1, and will remain in effect until further notice.
 
    When fires bans are in effect, this means that all campfires, including charcoal briquette fires, are not permitted anywhere within Rocky Mountain National Park. However, petroleum-fueled stoves and grills may still be used in developed campgrounds, picnic areas and in designated backcountry campsites. Stoves must be able to be turned on and off.
 
    Smoking is also prohibited inside the park, 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 Rocky Mountain National 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. The last time a total fire ban (Stage 2 fire restrictions) was in place in the park was in August of 2020.
   For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

    Each year to protect nesting raptors, Rocky Mountain National Park officials initiate temporary closures in areas of the park. To ensure that these birds of prey can nest undisturbed, specific areas within the park are closed temporarily to public use during nesting season and monitored by wildlife managers.  
 
    Based on raptor monitoring, the following closures have been lifted in the Lumpy Ridge area: Upper and Lower Twin Owls, Rock One, The Book and access trail, Bookmark, and Left Book. In 2024, raptors closures went into effect on February 15. These closures are actively monitored and may be extended longer or rescinded at an earlier date depending on nesting activity.
 
    Temporary closures have been extended in Lumpy Ridge for Thunder Buttress and access trail, The Parish, as well as Cathedral Wall in the Loch Vale area. Closures above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail have also been extended.   
 
    Nesting birds of prey include Peregrine falcons, Golden eagles, and many species of hawks. Peregrine falcons can dive at speeds of over 200 mph and may cause bodily harm to humans when defending their territory. If disturbance pressure from climbers is sustained near a nesting area, falcons will abandon their nest causing chick mortality. These closures are in place for the safety of both visitors and wildlife.
 
    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 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 more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

​     Beginning Tuesday, July 23, through Friday, July 26, the Wild Basin Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will be closed to all uses, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians for road maintenance. This closure will occur at the Wild Basin Entrance Station and will include the entire two-mile section of the road to the Wild Basin Trailhead. 
 
     The park’s roads crew will be spreading gravel and grading this narrow road to address ruts, potholes and help with drainage.  Due to the road being closed to all uses from July 23 through July 26, visitors should avoid this area of Rocky Mountain National Park during this time.
 
     The trailhead parking area for the Sandbeach Lake Trail will not be impacted by this closure.
             
     For further information about 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 and Rocky Mountain Conservancy are pleased to announce that the 2024 Artists-in-Residence have been selected. Six artists were selected to serve in a two-week residency that will take place between June and September.
 
    Rocky’s first Artist-In-Residence of 2024 is Claudia Borfiga, a visual artist originally from the UK who currently lives in Denver, Colorado. Borfiga works with a variety of visual mediums including paper, textiles and print. During her residency, Borfiga will be focusing on collecting imagery through photographs and drawings that she will later turn into prints.    
 
     During their residency, Rocky’s Artists-In-Residence will host at least two programs open to visitors of all ages. On Thursday, June 13 and Thursday, June 20, Borfiga will be hosting a drop in “Print-a-Card” program at Fall River Visitor Center. Join her anytime between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and learn how to hand pull a screen print. Participants will learn about the art of screen printing and will be able to take a print home with them. All supplies are provided and participants do not need any previous knowledge or skills to attend.  
             
     Following Borfiga, Rocky Mountain National Park’s other 2024 Artists-In-Residence are Susan Mockler, a poet.; Garrison Gerard, a composer of electroacoustic and concert music; Kait Evensen, an artist focusing on embroidery and technical illustration; Joe Norman, a sculptor; and Jeremy Shellhorn, a designer/illustrator.
    
     Since the late 1800s, national parks and art have had a special connection. Artists like George Catlin, Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt and more played a key role in helping to draw attention to the beauty and wonders found in many of our national parks. Recognizing the important role that art has played in the history of our national parks, in 1984, Rocky Mountain National Park was among the first national parks to offer an Artist-In-Residence Program.
 
    This impactful program is generously supported by Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Since 1984, Rocky Mountain National Park has hosted over 200 artists, including authors, painters, poets, composers, sculptors, quilters, photographers, musicians, and more.  
            
     For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or contact the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

​     Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is open for the season.  Due to melting snow on the road and the potential for freezing temperatures visitors should be prepared for icy conditions. At this time, nightly closures will not be implemented.  However, because weather conditions may change rapidly at higher elevations, park visitors should be prepared to adjust travel plans accordingly at any time and are encouraged to call the park’s Trail Ridge Road recorded status phone line at (970) 586-1222.  Park staff will update the recorded line when/if the road status changes.
 
     Alpine Visitor Center, Trail Ridge Store and the large adjacent parking area are closed to all uses. Visitors must adhere to the barricades. Visitors entering the closure area will be cited.   

Timed Entry Permit Reservations In Place
 
     Rocky Mountain National Park has a timed entry permit reservation system in place during certain times of day. 
 
     There are two types of reservations available. One option is for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor and rest of the park. This reservation period is from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Another timed-entry option is for the rest of Rocky Mountain National Park, excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor, and includes Trail Ridge Road. This reservation period is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Permits issued using the reservation system will allow park visitors to enter the park within two-hour windows of availability. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park. To learn more visit
http://go.nps.gov/romo/timedentry
 
     Trail Ridge Road historically opens on Memorial Day weekend; last year the road opened on May 26.  The earliest the road has opened was on May 7, 2002; the latest June 26, 1943.  Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, climbs to 12,183 feet and connects the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. Trail Ridge Road officially closed for the season last year on October 18.  
  
     National Park Service plow operators began clearing the snow in the middle of April. Crews from the west side of the park and crews from the east side of the park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center. The visitor center is the highest in the National Park Service, sitting at 11,796 feet above sea level.  Spring storms often impact plowing activities. This year, May storms with significant winds at higher elevations hampered snow plowing operations.  Plow operators have encountered additional snow accumulation, significant wind resulting in deep snow drifts, freezing cold temperatures and ice.  
 
     For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. For a recorded status line on Trail Ridge Road please call (970) 586-1222.