Driving Tours

Along Trail Ridge Road are numbered signs, from 1 to 12, starting on the east side of the park and heading west. These stops are described below, and the route is also discussed in a brochure available at park visitor centers (25¢). Motorists starting from the west side of the park will begin at number 12 and count down.

Stop No. 1: Deer Ridge Junction. This spot offers views of the Mummy Mountain Range to the north, and it is the official beginning of Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States, reaching an elevation of 12,187 feet. Here you're at a mere 8,944 feet.

Stop No. 2: Hidden Valley. Formerly the site of a downhill ski area, this scenic subalpine valley boasts forests of Engelmann spruce and fir. The elevation is 9,244 feet.

Stop No. 3: Many Parks Curve. This delightfully scenic stop, with one of the best roadside views in the park, is also a good location for bird-watchers, who are likely to spot the noisy Steller's jay and Clark's nutcracker. The term "park" is used for its definition as a level valley between mountain ranges, often an open grassy area, which in this case was carved by glaciers some 10,000 years ago. The elevation is 9,624 feet.

Stop No. 4: Rainbow Curve. Just past a sign announcing your position 2 miles above sea level is Rainbow Curve, an area known for colorful rainbows that are often seen after thunderstorms. It's also famous for ferocious winds and brutal winters. Take a look at the trees that have branches only on their downwind side, where they are protected from the elements by their trunks. The excellent view from the overlook here extends past Longs Peak and into Hidden Valley and Horseshoe Park, where you can see rock, gravel, and other rubble left by a flood that struck in 1982 after a dam broke. The elevation is 10,833 feet.

Stop No. 5: Forest Canyon Overlook. From this stop's parking area, a short, paved walkway leads to an observation platform offering a beautiful but dizzying view into vast Forest Canyon, where the erosion work of glaciers is clearly evident, and a look at the peaks of the Continental Divide beyond. Near the overlook, watch for pikas (relatives of rabbits), marmots, and other small mammals. The elevation is 11,720 feet.

Stop No. 6: Rock Cut. Practically the highest point along Trail Ridge Road, this is the alpine tundra at its harshest, where winds can reach 150 mph, winter blizzards are frequent, and temperatures in midsummer frequently drop below freezing. You'll have splendid views of the glacially carved peaks along the Continental Divide, and on the .5-mile Tundra World Nature Trail, you'll find signs identifying and discussing the hardy plants and animals that inhabit this cold and barren region. The elevation is 12,114 feet.

Stop No. 7: Lava Cliffs. Here you'll see a dark cliff, created by the carving action of glacial ice through a thick layer of tuff (volcanic ash and debris) that was deposited here about 28 million years ago during volcanic eruptions in the Never Summer Range, located about 8 miles west. If you look just below the cliff, you'll see a pretty meadow that is a popular grazing spot for elk. The elevation is 12,084 feet.

Stop No. 8: Fall River Pass. At this spot you'll get a good view of a huge amphitheater, and you can take a break at the Alpine Visitor Center. A viewing platform at the rear of the visitor center offers views of a wide glacially carved valley of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and small trees where you're practically guaranteed to see elk grazing. This is also the junction of Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. The elevation is 11,800 feet.

Stop No. 9: Medicine Bow Curve. Views of a vast subalpine forest of spruce and fir and the distant Cache la Poudre River give way to the Medicine Bow Mountains, which extend into Wyoming. The elevation is 11,644 feet.

Stop No. 10: Milner Pass. This is the Continental Divide, the backbone of North America. From this point, water flows west to the Pacific or east toward the Atlantic. The divide also affects the park's weather -- the west side is usually colder, is less windy, and receives much more precipitation than the east side. The elevation is 10,762 feet.

Stop No. 11: Farview Curve. This aptly named overlook provides a look at the beginnings of the Colorado River as it carves its way through the Kawuneeche Valley 1,000 feet below the overlook, before flowing some 1,400 miles to the Gulf of California. There are also panoramic views of the Never Summer Mountains, and looking west from this point you can see the Grand Ditch, which carries water across the Continental Divide to Colorado's thirsty eastern plains. Engelmann spruce and lodgepole pine grow here, and you'll see ground squirrels and chipmunks scurrying among the rocks. The elevation is 10,124 feet.

Stop No. 12: Holzwarth Trout Lodge Historic Site. Just past the Timber Creek Campground, this stop provides access to a short trail to an early-20th-century homestead that started out as a working cattle ranch, but soon evolved into a dude ranch. Rangers give talks and guided walks here during the summer. The elevation is 8,888 feet.

Trail Ridge Road Construction

The higher portions of Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 36 between Estes Park and Grand Lake), are expected to undergo repairs throughout the summer and fall seasons of 2006 and 2007. This will cause delays on weekdays plus night closures, most probably Sunday through Thursday nights. It is anticipated that there will be no delays on weekends or federal holidays. Because Trail Ridge Road crests at 12,187 feet, the road repair season is very short and coincides with the same months (late May into Oct) that the road is free of snow but full of visitor vehicles. Upon arrival, check the park newspaper and ask at a visitor center for specifics during your visit. Before arrival you can check the park website.