Closures in Rocky Mountain National Park Due To Weather And Fire Activity Outside The Park10/11/2020 RMNP Press Release
Road closures due to weather Due to winter like conditions at higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road closed today. Trail Ridge Road is currently closed at Rainbow Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. It is unknown when Trail Ridge Road will reopen. Additional trail closures due to fire behavior outside RMNP Out of an abundance of caution and coordinating with our neighboring agency, the Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest's closures, park staff have implemented additional area closures in the northern section of the park due to fire behavior outside of the park. The Lumpy Ridge Area and trail system including the Gem Lake Trail, and Black Canyon Trail, as well as additional trails in the McGraw Ranch area including the Cow Creek Trail are closed until further notice. The North Boundary Trail accessed from McGraw Ranch and the North Fork Trail accessed from the Glen Haven area remain closed. Park staff are currently updating the information and map on the park's website: https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm
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RMNP Press Release
Rocky Mountain National Park is announcing modifications to operations to implement the latest guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and local and state public health authorities, as the park continues to increase public access and services. The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Rocky Mountain National Park will be modifying park operations beginning on October 13, 2020, ending the timed entry permit reservation system that has been in place since June 4. Timed entry permit reservations will be in place through October 12. To secure a timed entry permit reservation, please visit www.recreation.gov. Entrance passes are still required in all areas of the park, including but not exclusive to Lumpy Ridge, Lily Lake, Longs Peak, Wild Basin, East Inlet and North Inlet. “We would like to extend our appreciation to all park visitors, our local communities and our partners for their support of our modified operations this summer,” said Superintendent Darla Sidles. “With the health and safety of park visitors, employees and surrounding community residents guiding our decisions, the timed entry permit system enabled us to more safely manage the pace and flow of visitor use throughout the day, reduce crowding, and provide an improved visitor experience in alignment with the park’s safe operational capacity during these extraordinary times.” Rocky Mountain National Park continues to urge visitors to do their part. Please do not visit if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19. When recreating, park visitors should follow local area health orders, maintain social distance, wear a cloth face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained and avoid high-risk outdoor activities 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. RMNP Press Release
Due to access for fire personnel, Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park will remain open to vehicles until further notice. The road reopened on September 30, after being closed to vehicles since September 5, due to the Cameron Peak Fire. Beginning in 2016, Old Fall River Road has been closed the first Monday in October for the season to vehicles. After winterization road maintenance occurs, the road reopens to bicyclists and pedestrians until December 1, when it reverts to winter trail status. Fire vehicles will continue to use Old Fall River Road. For safety reasons, park managers will delay the exclusive use by cyclists and pedestrians and will keep the road open to vehicles until further notice. In an abundance of caution, the trailhead at Chapin Pass has closed again due to forecast weather conditions on the Cameron Peak Fire. Old Fall River Road was built between 1913 and 1920. It is an unpaved road which travels from Endovalley Picnic Area to above treeline at Fall River Pass, following the steep slope of Mount Chapin’s south face. Due to the winding, narrow nature of the road, the scenic 9.4-mile route leading to Trail Ridge Road is one-way only. Vehicles over 25 feet and vehicles pulling trailers are prohibited on the road. 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. RMNP Press Release
Old Fall River Road has reopened in Rocky Mountain National Park. The road has been closed since September 5, due to the Cameron Peak Fire. The trailhead at Chapin Pass has reopened for day use only. Some areas and trails accessed from the Chapin Pass Trailhead are still closed. Visitors are strongly encouraged to check current weather and fire conditions before going into the backcountry. Conditions can change rapidly. Expect smoke in the area. Closures still exist in the following locations: Mummy Pass Trail, Commanche Peak Trail, Mirror Lake Trail, Poudre River Trail, Crater Trail, Colorado River Trail, Red Mountain Trail, Grand Ditch Access, Skeleton Gulch Trail, Thunder Pass Trail, Little Yellowstone Trail and Holzwarth Historic Site access beyond the historic site. Closed cross country travel zones include Cascade Creek, Cache La Poudre, South Cache La Poudre, Hague Creek and Mosquito Creek. Numerous wilderness campsites are also included in this closure area. Old Fall River Road will close to vehicles for the season on Monday, October 5. 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.  RMNP Press Release, 9/23/2020
As temperatures begin to drop at night, road construction operations on a 3-mile section of US 36, just west of Bear Lake Road junction to east of Deer Ridge Junction, will expand into the day. This section of road will remain closed nightly from 9 pm to 7 am, Sunday nights through Friday mornings. The contractor has begun paving operations. There will be a partial road closure during the paving work. When the road reopens each morning at 7 am, two-way traffic will be allowed until noon through this section. Beginning at noon, Mondays through Thursdays, only one lane of west bound traffic will be open. Eastbound traffic will not be allowed through this section of construction from noon to 9 pm. On Fridays, this closure will be in place from noon to 5 pm. During these time periods, visitors coming east on Trail Ridge Road from Hidden Valley will be diverted through the Fall River Entrance. Visitors travelling from the Fall River Entrance will be unable to travel through this section to exit through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Visitors entering at the Beaver Meadows Entrance will be permitted to travel westbound through the construction zone during the day with up to 15 minutes delays. No detours or delays will take place on this section of road from Fridays at noon through Sundays at 9 pm. This road construction project has encompassed removing an entire depth of asphalt and installing a new surface. Many curves have been reconstructed to bring them into compliance with federal highway standards. Visitor pull offs are being formalized and curbing will be added where necessary to protect vegetation. Upper Beaver Meadows Road will also be inaccessible during nightly closures. 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. As temperatures begin to drop at night, road construction operations on a 3-mile section of US 36, just west of Bear Lake Road junction to east of Deer Ridge Junction, will expand into the day. This section of road will remain closed nightly from 9 pm to 7 am, Sunday nights through Friday mornings. The contractor has begun paving operations. There will be a partial road closure during the paving work. When the road reopens each morning at 7 am, two-way traffic will be allowed until noon through this section. Beginning at noon, Mondays through Thursdays, only one lane of west bound traffic will be open. Eastbound traffic will not be allowed through this section of construction from noon to 9 pm. On Fridays, this closure will be in place from noon to 5 pm. During these time periods, visitors coming east on Trail Ridge Road from Hidden Valley will be diverted through the Fall River Entrance. Visitors travelling from the Fall River Entrance will be unable to travel through this section to exit through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Visitors entering at the Beaver Meadows Entrance will be permitted to travel westbound through the construction zone during the day with up to 15 minutes delays. No detours or delays will take place on this section of road from Fridays at 5 pm through Sundays at 9 pm. This road construction project has encompassed removing an entire depth of asphalt and installing a new surface. Many curves have been reconstructed to bring them into compliance with federal highway standards. Visitor pull offs are being formalized and curbing will be added where necessary to protect vegetation. Upper Beaver Meadows Road will also be inaccessible during nightly closures. 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. RMNP press release, 9/15/2020 On Monday, September 14, a body believed to be that of Steven Grunwald, 24, of Greenville, New York, was located by a search team in the Notch below McHenrys and Powell Peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park rangers completed an on-scene investigation and recovery operations took place by helicopter yesterday. His body was flown to a landing zone in the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office. Larimer County Coroner’s office will not release positive identification until completion of an autopsy. Park searchers camped Sunday night near Lake Powell and resumed search efforts at sunrise yesterday. Assisting Rocky Mountain National Park again yesterday was Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak. A team consisting of a park ranger and members of Front Range Rescue Dogs were flown to the Thatchtop area. The dog team aided greatly in finding Grunwald. On September 10, a friend of Grunwald reported him missing. Park rangers found his vehicle parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead on September 10. Search efforts began on September 11. His last contact with family and friends was August 28. His exact route was unknown, but it was believed he may have been attempting the Glacier Gorge Traverse on August 29. Investigative leads were positive from the established tip line and from speaking with Steve’s friends. This continued to assist in defining the search area. The dog team was flown out last night and Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members will be flown out this morning. The cause is under investigation. No further information is available at this time. -NPS-  RMNP Press Release, 9/13/2020  Early Sunday morning, Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team members were shuttled by Northern Colorado Interagency Helitak to the saddle between Taylor and Powell Peaks in the continued search for Steve Grunwald. (Taylor elevation 13,163 feet, Powell elevation 13,208 feet). Searchers covered terrain along the Continental Divide in exposed areas with loose rocks and scree fields, where accessible; including areas of Thatchtop, McHenrys Peak, and Powell Peak. Steep alpine terrain in areas with a north facing aspect were extremely hazardous due to snow and heavy ice build up. This hindered searchers from covering these areas. Weather is forecast to be favorable for access into those areas mid week. Another search team hiked from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead to the South Couloir route up Thatchtop. Aerial search efforts took place again today as well. Searchers are camping tonight in the Lake Powell area to begin search efforts again early tomorrow morning. Please see previous press releases on the search here. RMNP Press Release, 9/12/2020 photos courtesy of Rocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road reopened at 5 pm today. Park snowplow operators cleared drifts of 4 to 5 feet of snow this morning along with significant ice build up on the road, overlooks and parking lots.    Conditions on Trail Ridge Road on Friday, Sept. 11.
RMNP Press Release UPDATE, 9/12/2020
Yesterday's search efforts for Steve Grunwald were hampered by area conditions. Above 10,000 feet experienced winter-like conditions of 8 to 10 inches of drifting snow, 30 degree temperatures, and winds of 50 miles per hour producing windchills of 11 degrees. This made visibility and probability of detection low to non existent. Investigative leads have been positive from the established tip line and has continued to assist in defining the search area. The weather forecast calls for favorable conditions for aerial search operations this afternoon. Additional resources are planned for continuing aerial operations and putting skilled technical staff into the areas as the forecast stays favorable and aircraft are available. Areas of focus will be locations along the Glacier Gorge Traverse and other high probability areas defined by investigative efforts. Update on Cameron Peak Fire Inside Rocky Mountain National Park - Snow and Ice on Trail Ridge Road9/10/2020 RMNP Press Release, 9/10/2020
Trail Ridge Road is currently closed at Rainbow Curve on the east side and Colorado River Trailhead on the west side of the park. The closure was initially put in place on Sunday due to safety concerns tied to the potential of heavy smoke and low visibility on this high elevation road. The closure has remained in place due to five to six foot drifts on the road from the recent winter snowstorm. Park snowplow operators are working to reopen the road. It is unknown at this time when the road will reopen. A map of the current closures in Rocky Mountain National Park related to the Cameron Peak Fire can be found at https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm
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