 RMNP UPDATE - April 18, 2023 Construction began in early November for a new and improved entrance station at the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Fall River Entrance is one of two major entrance stations on the east side of the park and is located on U.S. Highway 34, just inside the park boundary. Initially, it was anticipated that the project would be completed by late June. However, due to unforeseen site conditions and utility coordination challenges the revised schedule is for completion in late fall.
The Fall River Visitor Center and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store are open during this construction project. The Gateway Gift Shop and Trailhead Restaurant, located next to the visitor center, are also open and welcoming visitors. During this major construction project, only one lane at Fall River Entrance is operational to enter the park and one lane to exit. Park visitors are encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance. During this major project, park visitors should expect extended wait times at both major east side entrance stations. Originally designed for summer operations nearly 60 years ago, the facilities at the Fall River Entrance Station no longer meet the safety or operational needs of the park. When the entrance station was designed, the park had approximately one and a half million annual visitors. By 2019, annual visitation had almost tripled, to over four and a half million annual visitors. Improvements are needed to improve visitor access and convenience, reduce traffic congestion, and provide a safe and efficient space for park employees.
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 Cover of prospectus package for a horseback riding concessioinaire in RMNP/NPS.gov RMNP Update: March 22, 2023 Rocky Mountain National Park staff has announced the Prospectus Release for a business opportunity to provide seasonal guided horseback rides within the park. The released prospectus outlines this business opportunity for exterior liveries, describes the 14 contracts, and provides details on how to submit a responsive proposal.
Services under the new contracts will continue current horseback ride operations. Each contract has an assigned allocation of trails and limits on the number of horses. Services under the new contracts are expected to begin January 1, 2024, and each new contract will be for a term of 10 years. Concessions contracts are developed and issued under the authority of the Concessions Management Improvement Act of 1998, P.L. 105-391, and its attending regulations in 36 CFR §51. All interested parties are encouraged to apply and submit a responsive proposal. The prospectus for these new opportunities is being advertised at https://sam.gov/ The prospectus can be found online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/prospectuses.htm Anyone who plans to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation, including existing concessioners, must notify Jennifer Parker, Commercial Services Program Lead, via email at jennifer_parker@nps.gov no later than 4 p.m. MST on May 23, 2023, by submitting an Intent of Notice to Propose. The National Park Service will not accept proposals from entities that do not provide notice on or before May 23, 2023. Responsive proposals must be received by June 27, 2023. RMNP UPDATE - Feb. 27, 2023 Rocky Mountain National Park will hold a public comment period for an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposal to construct new employee housing in the park. The housing would replace structures destroyed in the East Troublesome Fire of 2020. Public comments on this EA will be open on the park’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://go.nps.gov/parkplanning/romo/replacementhousing from Feb. 17 through March 5, 2023.
The structures lost in the fire provided housing for 22 seasonal employees. The proposed new housing complex would accommodate the same number of employees. Providing housing is critical for recruiting and retaining seasonal staff to work on the west side of the park. The employees work mid-April through mid-October and provide essential visitor services and carry out critical park operations. The positions include park rangers, park guides, fee and campground staff, trail crew members, buildings and utilities staff and custodians. The proposed housing complex would be located near the existing park housing area on the west side of the park. It would consist of two dormitories, 10 residential units, three recreational vehicle sites, and a residential support facility that would include laundry, showers, and a communal kitchen. The project would include the construction of new utility systems, replacement of a water well and associated infrastructure at the existing park housing area, and removal of destroyed utilities infrastructure. Disaster supplemental funding is expected to pay for the proposed project. On October 21, 2020, the East Troublesome Fire made a run of 18-miles and over 100,000-acres in Grand County, Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park lost numerous structures, including 18 historic buildings at the former Green Mountain-Onahu seasonal housing area, 3 RV sites and all associated utilities. The East Troublesome Fire was the largest fire in Rocky Mountain National Park’s 108-year history. It burned over 21,000 acres within the park. The park held a virtual public meeting in July of 2022. To learn more about this proposed project, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/proposal-to-construct-new-housing-destroyed-by-the-east-troublesome-fire.htm Public comments on this proposed project can be submitted at the following web address: https://go.nps.gov/parkplanning/romo/replacementhousing. Comments may also be submitted via mail to: Rocky Mountain National Park Office of the Superintendent 1000 US Hwy 36 Estes Park, CO 80517 Please be advised, before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. 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.  Red tailed Hawk; NPS photo by Schonlau RMNP Update - February 13, 2023 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 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. RMNP Update, 2/3/2023  NPS Photo: Ranger-led Snowshoe Walk; photo by Schonlau For many, winter is their favorite time of year to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. The park is less crowded, yet alive with the beauty of the season. Weekends are busier than weekdays. For those who are prepared, winter is an enchanting time to explore RMNP. Snowshoeing is a fun, easy-to-learn activity and offers a new way to see nature in winter. RMNP offers ranger-led snowshoe walks on both the east side (Estes Park) and west side (Grand Lake) of the park. Snowshoe walks are offered through mid-March, depending on snow conditions. Participants must provide their own snowshoes. Don’t own your own gear? Rental opportunities are available in nearby communities outside of the park. Join a Ranger-led Snowshoe Walk The ranger-led Beginner Snowshoe Walk is a two-hour exploration of the subalpine forest. No previous snowshoe experience is required, but the walk is considered moderately strenuous. Participants should have a baseline fitness level that allows them to snowshoe approximately one mile over hilly terrain at high elevations. Participants must be 8 years or older and MUST wear waterproof boots. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ranger-led-snowshoe-walks.htm. Reservations are required for all ranger-led snowshoe programs. There is no additional fee beyond the regular park entrance fee to participate. On the east side of RMNP (near Estes Park), snowshoe walks are offered every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. and reservations can be scheduled up to seven days in advance by calling 970-586-1223. On the west side of RMNP (near Grand Lake), snowshoe walks are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.; reservations can be scheduled up to four days in advance by calling 970-627-3471. Are you a teacher interested in bringing your class to Rocky this winter? Ranger-led educational snowshoe programs are offered to organized school groups. To learn more and to schedule a field trip on either the east or west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/romo/learn/education/rangerguided.htm.  NPS Photo: elk track in snow Become a Track Scene Investigator! Have you ever been out hiking and wondered what animal made a track in the snow? If so, join our new east side (Estes Park) ranger-led program titled “Track Scene Investigator.” This program will be offered on the following Sundays at 1:00 pm (February 5, February 19, March 5, and March 19). Participants will meet your park ranger guide at the West Alluvial Fan Parking Lot. This program is free and designed for visitors of all ages. No reservations are required. This program will be taking place outside, so be prepared for weather and winter conditions; snowshoes are recommended but not provided. To learn more, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ranger_led_activities.htm. A variety of winter and springtime programs are also offered through the park’s non-profit partner, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC). Some of these programs are free and some charge a fee to participate. To see their program schedule and to learn more, please visit the RMC website at https://rmconservancy.org/upcoming-events/. Go Sledding! Sledding is another wintertime activity fun for all ages. The only place in RMNP where sledding is allowed is at the Hidden Valley Snowplay Area, located on the east side of the park approximately 7 miles from the Beaver Meadows and Fall River entrances. Facilities at Hidden Valley include a warming hut (open on weekends), and flush restrooms. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/plan-your-winter-springtime-visit-to-rocky.htm.  NPS Photo: Visitors Sledding at Hidden Valley; photo by Schonlau Take a Winter Camping Trip If prepared, winter camping can be a fun getaway. Approximately 70 campsites are available in Moraine Park Campground. Winter campsites are first come, first served and the fee is $30 per site, per night. For more details, visit https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/camping.htm. If interested in winter wilderness backpacking camping trips, contact the park’s Wilderness Office at 970-586-1242. Permits are required for all overnight camping in the park.  NPS Photo: winter camping at MPCG; photo by Grossman 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. Trip planning in winter is critical! Parking lots at popular destinations like Bear Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Hidden Valley often fill on weekends. Trail navigation in winter can present difficult challenges. Trails in the park are not marked for winter use, so route-finding skills are necessary. Signs and trails can be buried beneath snow and difficult to follow. Never follow other people’s tracks, 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. Pack a paper topographical map and know how to read it. Before heading out on your winter trip, always tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you will return. And remember, roads can be icy and snow packed. Make sure your vehicle is ready for winter driving in the mountains. 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 Photo: Park Rangers Skiing in RMNP  Northern Colorado public land agencies share tips for a fun and safe winter
Denver, Colo. – Winter in Northern Colorado ushers in different types of recreation that residents and visitors alike wait all year to enjoy. Whether skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, or biking, people take full advantage of the opportunities that freshly fallen snow provides. Just as recreation is different in the winter, so is wildlife behavior and the types of encounters people may experience. According to the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, there are approximately 3,000 search and rescue incidents in Colorado per year. Around 400,000 volunteer hours are put in annually for training, missions, and other activities. Often, rescues occur on public lands during the winter when visitors are unprepared for changing weather conditions or unexpected trail conditions, have navigation issues, or encounter wildlife. Northern Colorado public land managers collaborated to release a video series highlighting avalanche awareness, ice safety, winter gear necessities for the pack and vehicle, and tips for safely interacting with wildlife. These videos will be found in the coming months on the participating agencies’ social media accounts. View the winter recreation video series for helpful tips in English and Spanish. See a list of winter recreation tips from Northern Colorado land management agencies. These messages are part of a broader effort by eight agencies collaborating on ways to address the challenges of high visitation and a growing population in northern Colorado’s foothills and mountains. Called NoCo PLACES 2050, this collaboration is committed to sustainable solutions, equitable actions, and beneficial land management practices for the long-term conservation of public lands in Colorado and the quality of the visitor experience. Learn about NoCo PLACES 2050. Media Contacts:
RMNP Update - January 30, 2023 As we approach the February 1 deadline to submit official comments for the pre-NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) phase of long-range visitor use management in RMNP, we would appreciate your involvement and continued help in spreading the word.
From the following link (which is on the park's home page): Day Use Visitor Access Strategy - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) You'll find:
 ROMO/NPS photo Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) will implement another pilot temporary timed entry permit reservation system beginning on May 26, 2023. Previous use of the reservation system has eased congestion impacts and improved the visitor experience in the park.
The reservation permit system is similar to that used in 2022, with two types of reservations available. One permit will be for the Bear Lake Road Corridor, which includes the entire corridor, as well as access to the rest of the park. This reservation period will be from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The second permit will be for the “rest of the park,” excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor. This “rest of park” reservation period will be 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, with no set time for departure. The reservation system will apply to all areas of the park. The only cost associated with booking a reservation is a $2 recreation.gov processing fee. Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1. This round of reservations will be available to enter the park from May 26 through June 30. The next release will occur on June 1, for the month of July and any remaining days that have not been booked for June. On July 1, reservations will be available for the month of August and any remaining days that have not been booked for July. On August 1, reservations will be available for the month of September and any remaining days in August that have not been booked. On September 1, reservations will be available for October and any remaining days in September that have not been booked. Modifications from the 2022 pilot system to the 2023 pilot system include making 40 percent of all reservations available the day prior at 5 p.m. through recreation.gov. These are expected to run out quickly and visitors are encouraged to plan ahead when possible. Other modifications will include extending the pilot permit system through October 22 and reducing the time period and number of hours daily that a reservation is required for “rest of park.” This reduced reservation period will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This system spreads use throughout the park and throughout the day to better use all parking/trailhead areas. The park is continuing to work on its long-range visitor use management plan including public meetings in December and a public engagement comment period from December 12 through February 1. To learn more go to Day Use Visitor Access Strategy - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) RMNP is one of the busiest national parks with over 4.6 million visitors in 2019, representing a 44 percent increase in visitation in seven years. In 2021, under a pilot timed entry system, RMNP’s visitation was 4.4 million. Visitor crowding and congestion at the park have led to increased negative impacts to visitor and staff safety, resource protection, visitor experience and operational capacity. The park has experimented and piloted various visitor use management strategies over the last six years, including managing vehicle access to first-come, first serve (2016-2019) in highly congested areas. These first-come, first-serve restrictions had some limited success initially, but over time began to lose effectiveness; the length of time they were necessary kept expanding and impacts were pushed elsewhere. The park piloted park wide timed entry permit reservation systems (2020-2022) and will be piloting a similar system again in 2023 while the park works to complete its long-range visitor use management plan. During all the pilots the park has collected extensive traffic, trail, and visitor movement data, and collected baseline data on social trails, bare ground areas, and human waste along highly visited trail corridors. Additionally, timed entry pilot related research was conducted on parking lot turnover rates at key trailheads. The park is learning from these various strategies since 2016, to help inform long-range day use visitor access strategies. For further information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo, follow the park on social media @RockyNPS or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. Public meeting on RMNP's day use visitor access strategy is on Thursday - register to participate!12/13/2022 Just a reminder regarding the park's upcoming virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 15, at 6 pm mountain time. Information on how to register is listed below. We posted further information on the park's website including a story map that provides more information on the long-range planning efforts.
Home page - www.nps.gov/romo (there's a link from the home page to the long-range planning efforts) Specific page - Day Use Visitor Access Strategy - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) RMNP UPDATE - Nov. 22, 2022 Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) staff are seeking the public’s continued engagement and input on the park’s long-range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy. For 107 years, Rocky Mountain National Park has been a place of inspiration, reflection, wonder, history, and wilderness adventure. Park visitors across the United States and the world continue to come to Rocky Mountain National Park to discover a wide variety of experiences found only in this incredible place.
“In the summer of 2021, we invited you to join us in envisioning the future of Day Use Visitor Access at RMNP. Your feedback was instrumental in helping National Park Service (NPS) staff develop preliminary management strategies. We are now working to outline ideas for management strategies to help the NPS to both protect park resources and values while also providing for high-quality visitor experiences for today's visitors and for future generations,” said Park Superintendent, Darla Sidles. Park staff are eager to continue engaging with stakeholders and connect with park visitors from near and far, to help identify ideas and strategies to assist the park prepare for long-term day use. We hope to hear from members of the public who have recently visited the park, as well as those who have told us they no longer visit Rocky Mountain National Park because of crowding and congestion. Park staff invite members of the public to submit their comments via the park’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_DUVAS beginning December 12, 2022, through February 1, 2023. Rocky Mountain National Park has experienced a 44 percent increase in visitation since 2012. Rapid growth in day use visitation and changing use patterns in the park have degraded natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of the visitor experience, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and created a heavy strain on the park’s facilities and ability to perform daily operations. The purpose of the Rocky Mountain National Park Day Use Visitor Access Strategy is to provide visitor access in a way that enhances the protection of the fundamental resources and values for which the park was created. The goal of the process is to identify strategies that will help protect park resources, offer varied opportunities for high quality visitor experiences, enhance visitor and staff safety, and coincide with the park's operational capacity. The park is hosting a public open house on Tuesday, December 6, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Estes Park Museum in Estes Park, CO. This open house will provide an opportunity to drop in, meet with NPS staff, and learn more about the potential ideas and strategies to address long term day use at RMNP. There will not be any formal presentations scheduled during this time. Please feel free to drop in at any time. The park is also hosting a virtual public meeting on Thursday, December 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The intent of the webinar is to provide opportunities for the public to learn more about the purpose of the project, key ideas, issues of concern, desired conditions for the park’s long-term day use visitor access, potential management strategies, ask questions of NPS staff and get information on how to provide formal written comments through the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. The webinar will open with a presentation, followed by a question and answer session. To participate in the virtual meeting, please register at the following link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Teams Webinar. It is recommended to join the webinar via computer to have full use of the webinar tools that Teams provides. Registration URL https://forms.office.com/g/UiRnA5kZsb Unable to attend the virtual meeting? A recording of the meeting will be posted on the park planning link below. The park will provide live captioning of the meetings. Park staff encourage public participation throughout the planning process. Public comments for this stage are invited beginning December 12, 2022, through February 1, 2023. Comments can be submitted online beginning December 12, by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ROMO_DUVAS click on ‘Open for Comment’ on the left side of page to submit a comment. Comments may also be sent to the following mailing address: Superintendent Rocky Mountain National Park 1000 US Highway 36 Estes Park, CO 80517 Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. Although you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. There will be additional opportunities to comment formally on the project during the future NEPA process in 2023. If you have questions about the project or would like more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. |
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