Trail Ridge Road: Exploring America's Highest Scenic Highway in Rocky Mountain National Park

Contents

Trail Ridge Road | Introduction

Trail Ridge Road is the most famous scenic drive in Rocky Mountain National Park. This 48-mile-long road connects the eastern and western sides of the park, from Estes Park to Grand Lake. For visitors with limited time or those who prefer to explore Rocky Mountain National Park by car, driving along Trail Ridge Road allows you to experience a wide range of landscapes, including forests and alpine tundra, making it a highly efficient and rewarding option.

North of Trail Ridge Road, there is another parallel road, Old Fall River Road, which can be combined with Trail Ridge Road to make a loop. Anyone who has been here before knows that the most convenient place to find a hotel in the vicinity of Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park. If you stay in Estes Park, when the weather is suitable, many people will choose to drive from Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitor Center and then turn around and go west to east on Trail Ridge Road to make a loop. The weather is favorable.

Find a stay in Estes Park

To drive this route, you can enter the park through the Fall River Visitor Center. However, as this is the highest paved road in the United States, its opening schedule is highly dependent on weather conditions. Any snowfall can lead to partial closures, so during winter or cooler months in spring and fall, the road may be closed. If you're planning to visit, make sure to check the National Park Service website for real-time road conditions. On weekends and holidays, the road can be quite busy, and some of the smaller scenic stops may have limited parking, so visiting on weekdays is often more relaxing.

Now, let's take a tour from east to west to see the beautiful sights along this iconic road.

Attractions | Beavor Pond

After entering Trail Ridge Road from the Deer Mountain fork, Beaver Pond is the first scenic overlook you'll encounter when driving from east to west. This spot features a very short 0.2-mile trail, perfect for observing the wetland ecosystem.

Attractions | Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley offers a spacious picnic area and a small visitor center where you can rest. There is also a gentle, slightly longer trail called the Hidden Valley Interpretive Trail, which passes through an ancient forest. In spring, the trail is lined with beautiful wildflowers, and in winter, you can even enjoy sledding here. If you're visiting in winter, be sure to bring your own gear for sledding fun. Hidden Valley used to have a ski lodge, but it has since been removed to restore the area to its more natural, pristine state.

Viewpoints | Many Parks Curve Overlook

At this point, the elevation begins to rise, and the main scenic highlights start. Many Parks Curve is a must-stop viewpoint, where you can see several "Parks" below. In Rocky Mountain National Park, the term "Park" refers to large open meadow areas nestled between mountains, not a traditional "park" as we might think. The term comes from the French word "parques," meaning an enclosed area. This spot is called Many Parks because you can see multiple meadow areas from here. A short cliffside trail offers stunning views, especially in the fall when the colorful foliage contrasts with the grasslands below.

Viewpoints | Rainbow Curve Overlook

Continuing upward, by the time you reach Rainbow Curve Overlook, you're at an elevation of 10,000 feet. The forest landscape begins to change here, with the trees becoming sparser. On days with bad weather, this is usually the point where park officials will close the road. As we passed this area, we were concerned that the weather might suddenly shift, as the road had been closed due to weather for several days prior. Fortunately, the skies were clear during our visit.

Trails | Ute Trail

The Ute Trail is a 4-mile trail that extends all the way to Milner Pass to the west. It’s recommended to walk a short section of this trail to experience the alpine tundra landscape that begins to appear from this point onward. Though the trail is rated easy by the park, the high elevation of 12,000 feet makes even a short walk feel more challenging due to the thinner air. We still encountered patches of snow left from previous days as we hiked.

Viewpoints | Forest Canyon Overlook

This is another must-stop viewpoint offering incredible views of the surrounding mountain scenery. Millions of years ago, this area was covered by glaciers, and you can still see the U-shaped valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Below, you'll find Big Thompson River winding through the canyon. The combination of sweeping canyon views and the tundra landscape at the mountain tops makes this overlook particularly spectacular.

Trails | Tundra Communities Trail

The Tundra Communities Trail is a must-hike trail along Trail Ridge Road. After passing through Rock Cut, you'll find a parking area next to the trailhead. This easy, 0.6-mile trail takes you through the alpine tundra.

Along the trail, you'll pass the Mushroom Rocks formation, whose shapes indeed resemble mushrooms and are quite unique.

As you continue along the trail, after about 0.5 miles, you'll walk between two large rocks, almost like a window opening up to the vast tundra landscape in front of you. The view here is breathtaking.

On our way back, the weather took a sudden turn for the worse, offering a real-life demonstration of how quickly mountain conditions can change. One moment the skies were clear, and the next, we were caught in a snow and hailstorm.

Viewpoints | Gore Range Overlook

Here, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Gore Range in front of you, another impressive stop along the route.

Visitor Center | Alpine Visitor Center

The Alpine Visitor Center is the highest point along Trail Ridge Road, and reaching this spot marks the completion of the road’s most important highlights. If you don’t plan on exiting the park to the west, this is a good turnaround point. Beyond here lies the Kawuneeche area. The visitor center is worth checking out, as it offers great views of Alpine Ridge from its rear viewing platform.

If you're a fan of souvenirs, the gift shop here is one of the largest in the park and offers many interesting items—better than some of the other shops lower down in the park.

Trails | Alpine Ridge Trail

Next to the visitor center is a 0.5-mile trail called the Alpine Ridge Trail, which takes you up to a vantage point overlooking the tundra at 12,000 feet elevation. The high-altitude climb can be tiring, but the vast, sweeping views from the top are well worth the effort. Be mindful of the weather, as sudden storms can occur at any time in these high mountains.