2019 Road Resurfacing

For their long term protection, many park roads and parking areas will be resurfaced this summer. Since Rocky Mountain National Park is high in elevation with a low average temperature, this work must take place during summer. Work will not take place during weekends or holidays.

General Impacts

  • Since 2016, park staff have restricted vehicle access in the Bear Lake Road corridor when parking areas filled and heavy congestion warranted. Due to less parking availability, particularly beginning Monday, July 22, visitors planning to hike in the Bear Lake corridor should plan for vehicle restrictions to occur earlier in the morning.
  • Due to limited parking, park visitors are encouraged to board the Hiker Shuttle. This shuttle runs every 30 minutes from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride on Bear Lake Road. Expect wait times to board the shuttles.

Bear Lake Road

  • Crack sealing and micro sealing will take place through August 15.
  • Traffic will be reduced to one lane; up to 20 minute rolling delays should be expected. Adjacent parking lots will be closed for the day prior to work passing that area, to allow parking lots and pullouts to be resurfaced and to avoid vehicles being trapped behind fresh micro seal.
  • Major delays and backups will occur on August 13, when the first two miles of Bear Lake Road are micro sealed. Visitors are strongly encouraged to visit the Bear Lake Road area prior to 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Due to the volume of vehicles, location of work, and potential queueing distance, it is likely visitors will not be able to access the Bear Lake Road from Trail Ridge Road in their vehicles from 9 am to 6 p.m. on those two days. Visitors who are coming from the east side are encouraged to access Rocky Mountain National Park via the Fall River Entrance on August 13.
  • Night work will occur on Thursday night, September 5 from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. The contractor will be striping the road. Bear Lake Road will be open however, traffic will not be allowed to pass the construction operation. Expect major delays during this time period.
  • Fog sealing will take place September 9 through September 27, where micro sealing has taken place. Exact dates for specific locations are being determined. Delays could extend beyond 20 minutes depending on the volume of vehicles.

Park & Ride

  • Beginning Monday, July 22, staging for the resurfacing project will take place in Park & Ride. The staging area will fill approximately 100 parking spaces, making these unavailable to the public until mid-August.

Trail Ridge Road

  • On August 15,16, 19, 20, and 21 weather permitting, micro resurfacing will occur on Trail Ridge Road from Rock Cut to west of Lava Cliffs overlook, expect delays.
  • Forest Canyon Overlook, Rock Cut Parking Area and Lava Cliffs Parking area will be closed to all uses on August 15, 16, 19 and 21. The Ute Trail pull off area will be closed on August 21.
  • Beginning August 22 through August 28, weather and conditions permitting, micro resurfacing will begin from the Colorado River Trailhead to the Grand Lake Entrance. Single lane closures of 2 miles will exist with pilot car operations and wait times of more than 20 minutes. Delays could extend beyond 20 minutes depending on the volume of vehicles. Adjacent parking lots will be closed for the day prior to work passing that area, to allow parking lots and pullouts to be resurfaced and to avoid vehicles being trapped behind fresh micro seal.
  • Night work will occur on Wednesday night, September 4, from 8:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. from Forest Canyon to Lava Cliffs. The contractor will be striping the road. Trail Ridge Road will be open however, traffic will not be allowed to pass the construction operation. Expect major delays during this time period.
  • Fog sealing will take place September 9 through September 27, where micro sealing has taken place. Exact dates for specific locations are being determined. Delays could extend beyond 20 minutes depending on the volume of vehicles.

Hidden Valley

  • The Hidden Valley parking area will be closed for paving to all uses, including vehicles, on August 21.

Last updated: September 4, 2019

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1000 US Hwy 36
Estes Park, CO 80517

Phone:

970 586-1206
The Information Office is open year-round: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily in summer; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturdays - Sundays in winter. Recorded Trail Ridge Road status: (970) 586-1222.

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