Trail Conditions

 

Spring Winds and Blowing Snow in Rocky Mountain National Park

NPS Photo by J. Marino

 

Hiking in Rocky!

Read this important safety message

Submit your own trip report

 

Longs Peak: View the Longs Peak Conditions Report

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures: View Fire Information Area Closures

 

Trail Closures

East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fire Closures

• Some park trails and areas remain closed due to fire impacts. Park staff will continue to assess these areas for safety and downed trees, being mindful of high winds that occur this time of year causing more trees to fall. Learn more here.

 

RMNP Trail Conditions Report as of April 5, 2024

 

Some trails may start out dry with no snow, but all trails are snowy in RMNP at some point. In general, mornings will be cold and icy. As the day warms up, snow will get soft and slippery. All trails require traction devices until you get to more remote areas, where snowshoes will be needed.With some warmer spring days, Rocky's alpine lakes may be covered in snow and might look like they are fully frozen, but ice is beginning to melt and thin underneath. It is strongly advised to avoid walking on the surface of frozen lakes. For your safety, do not assume that the ice is frozen solid. Use extra caution near any inlets and outlets where water is flowing beneath the ice, as ice on the surface of the water is thinner at these locations.If you start to posthole, either put on snowshoes or turn around. Postholing can make a trail difficult for hikers who come after you. March and April are historically the snowiest months of the year in Rocky Mountain National Park. There is still a lot of snow in the backcountry (see chart below). Be Prepared!

4/4/2024	Emerald Lake	Every inch of trail from Bear Lake to Emerald Lake and beyond is covered in deep packed snow. Traction devices are recommended as long as you stay on the tracked trail. All of the lakes were mostly snow- and ice-covered, so you can’t see what is going on with the ice. There is some thawing happening on Dream Lake.	Volunteer
4/4/2024	Longs Peak Area	Backpacker reported very deep snow requiring the use of snowshoes above treeline.	Visitor
4/2/2024	Trail Ridge Road	Great conditions for cross-country skiing, with lots of snow. Probably gets soft in the afternoon.	Volunteer
3/20/2024	The Loch	The trail to The Loch was tracked all the way, but soon after Alberta Falls the trail does not follow the summer trail and is quite challenging with steep sections and lots of postholes. They snowshoed up the Winter Trail and climbed the Icy Brook Drainage to The Loch. They returned past Alberta Falls, which is completely covered in ice and snow. It is possible to do this trail with traction devices, but beyond The Loch snowshoes were required.	Volunteer
3/20/24	Alberta Falls	Took the connector trail from Bear Lake to Glacier Gorge and then up the summer trail to Alberta Falls. Traction devices desirable the whole route. Alberta Falls is completely iced and snowed over – there are not sounds of rushing water and no visible signs of a waterfall or open water there.	Volunteer
3/19/20	Deer Mountain	Absolutely need traction devices, especially after the first mile (the first mile is muddy). Then the trail is icy through the switchbacks. Trail is snowy on top.	Visitor
3/18/24	Lumpy Ridge	Toward Gem Lake the trail was at first quite muddy and then icy and snowpacked. Toward the Black Canyon trail, the trail was very snowpacked and icy. Traction devices needed for all trails.	Volunteer

Timber Lake Trail Be advised a landslide occurred summer 2014 two miles beyond the Timber Lake trailhead and goes all the way to the top of Jackstraw Mountain. That landslide is still there, is active and unstable, and continues to worsen each year.

Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Any time of year, and affected by season, elevation, slope, and exposure, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) can have extreme weather. In RMNP, all four seasons can happen in one day! Plan ahead and be prepared for weather to change rapidly.

Any Time of Year: Choose Your Destination Wisely. Always tell someone where you are going, where you will be parked, what your intended route is, when you plan to be back home, and then let them know when you return.

Lakes Always proceed with caution around icy lakes, especially around inlets, outlets, and rocks, where the ice can be thin.

Route-finding is important. RMNP trails are not marked in winter and following other tracks is not advised, as you don’t know where they lead, and wind and new snow obliterate tracks. When trails are covered in snow, signs may not be visible. Carry a map and compass or GPS and know how to use them.

Be Prepared for Conditions with Essentials. It is important to bring and use the right gear, especially suitable gear for the season.Plan that trails can be snowy much of the year. Depending on conditions and elevation, some trails can be icy and snowy September through midsummer. Do you have the right gear and equipment, and know how to use it?

• Traction devices for the bottom of your boots and hiking poles are strongly recommended, as trails may be icy. Or depending on conditions after snowstorms or at higher elevations, the snow may be deep enough that snowshoes are advised. Hiking poles are helpful for stability.
• Food and water are essential no matter how long your hike.
• Layers of wicking clothing and extra socks.
• Waterproof outer layers and extra layers for warmth; in summer, raingear.
• A hat and gloves, sunglasses or goggles, and sunscreen any time of year. Sunlight can damage your eyes and skin, even on cloudy days. Protect your eyes from the sun and blowing snow
• Wear closed-toed footwear with a treaded sole for hiking. Slick-soled shoes without good traction (ex. sneakers), sandals, flip flops, plastic clogs) can lead to cold toes, wet feet, slips, trips and falls.

Roads can be icy and snowy, especially in shady areas. Be prepared and know how to drive in wintery conditions. If the Colorado Vehicle Traction Law is in place in RMNP, for your safety and the safety of other motorists, all vehicles must have properly rated tires with a minimum of 3/16” tread or an approved traction control device.

Fire Impacts Approximately 30,000 acres or 10 percent of RMNP has been impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires. Some park trails remain temporarily closed due to the level of fire impacts and ongoing safety assessments. This website is updated as trails reopen. Please see the link above.

REMEMBER, PETS ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL RMNP TRAILS, TUNDRA AND MEADOW AREAS

 

SNOTEL SITES AS OF April 5, 2024

There are several SNOTEL sites in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a website where monitoring results are available.

SNOTEL Website: https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum= and every SNOTEL site has a unique Site Number. For example, Bear Lake is https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=322

Bear Lake (Site #322) elevation 9500’ 55” snow	Long Draw Reservoir (Site #1123) elevation 9980’ 44” snow	Stillwater Creek (Site #793) elevation 8720’ 12" snow
Copeland Lake (Site #412) elevation 8600’ no snow	Never Summer (Site #1031) elevation 10,280’ 54" snow	Wild Basin (Site #1042) elevation 9560’ 48" snow
Lake Irene (Site #565) elevation 10,700’ 69” snow	Phantom Valley (Site #688) elevation 9030’ 27” snow	Willow Park (Site #870) elevation 10,700’ 53” snow

 

Submit Your Own Trip Report

Send us an email, call [phone], or stop by a park visitor center.

 

For Your Safety

These Trail Conditions reports are the viewpoints of the submitters, whether park staff, volunteers, or visitors. Conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. Use these reports only as guidelines. Be prepared for varying weather and trail conditions.

Falling trees are ever-present hazards when traveling in the forest. Be aware of your surroundings. Dead trees can fall without warning!

Due to the September 2013 Flood, missing foot bridges, uneven trail surfaces, unstable slopes, falling trees due to soil moisture, rutted trails, damaged water bars and steps, standing water, difficult water crossings, and missing directional signs could be encountered. Most of Rocky Mountain National Park is designated wilderness, where self-reliance and adventure are expected. Hikers should be prepared to take responsibility for their own actions; search and rescue may be delayed. Be prepared to stay overnight even if you are a day hiker. Hiking poles may be helpful on uneven trails. Route finding skills may be required. Carry a map and compass and other backcountry travel essentials. Hike at your own risk.