Rocky Mountain National Park Alerts and Current Conditions

Cover of Brian Russ's guide to Rocky Mountain National Park

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page tracks what's closed, what's changed, and what's coming up at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, from the park's alerts, hours, and visitor center listings. I check it daily and rewrite it when the park posts something new, so bookmark it rather than an old news story. Snow at the high elevations can close Trail Ridge Road on short notice this time of year, so check the park's own alerts the morning you go.

Current alerts

  • Trail Ridge Road is closed across the high country. The park closed it at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 23, ahead of forecast snow, low visibility, and freezing temperatures. The gates are at Many Parks Curve on the east side and the Colorado River Trailhead on the west side. For the latest status, call 970-586-1222. (NPS)

Open and closed right now

  • The park is open 24 hours a day, every day, though some roads and facilities close for winter. A pass is required to enter any area of the park at any hour. A private vehicle costs $30 for one day or $35 for seven days. Non-U.S. residents 16 and older also pay a $100 nonresident fee unless they enter with an annual or America the Beautiful pass. (NPS)
  • Timed entry: the park's hours page ties timed entry reservations to its summer and early-fall season, with the listed window ending October 19.
  • Beaver Meadows Visitor Center: open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (winter hours).
  • Fall River Visitor Center (on U.S. 34 near the Fall River Entrance): open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Kawuneeche Visitor Center (west side, north of Grand Lake): open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Wilderness Office: open daily, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for permits on both sides of the park. On the west side, it's inside the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. (NPS)
  • Closed for the season: Alpine Visitor Center (until summer 2027), the Sheep Lakes Information Station, the Junior Ranger Headquarters at Hidden Valley, and the historic buildings at Holzwarth Historic Site. The Holzwarth grounds are open year-round, and the Sheep Lakes parking area and viewpoint are open around the clock.
  • Camping: Moraine Park Campground is on its winter camping season through May 25, 2027. Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Timber Creek, and Longs Peak campgrounds are closed. (NPS)

Coming up in the next few weeks

  • Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day): the Wilderness Office is closed. Call ahead to arrange a permit pickup.
  • Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving): Beaver Meadows, Fall River, and Kawuneeche visitor centers and the Wilderness Office are closed.
  • Trail Ridge Road: the park says it's normally closed to through travel from mid-October to late May. Whether it reopens again this fall depends on the weather; watch the road status page.
  • Later reopenings: the visitor centers' winter hours run through May 23, 2027. Aspenglen, Timber Creek, and Moraine Park's summer season are listed from May 25, 2027, and Alpine Visitor Center reopens in summer 2027.

What this means for your trip

Trail Ridge Road is the closure that changes everything. With it shut between Many Parks Curve and the Colorado River Trailhead, you can't drive between Estes Park and Grand Lake inside the park. The alpine tundra stops and Alpine Visitor Center are out of reach by car. Treat the east and west sides as two separate parks. If you're staying in Estes Park, the Beaver Meadows and Fall River areas, Moraine Park, and Bear Lake Road aren't on the closure list. If you're on the Grand Lake side, the Kawuneeche Valley is your park for this trip, and Kawuneeche Visitor Center is open daily.

Driving from one side to the other now means going around the park outside its boundaries, which takes hours. Pick a side and stay there. Campers have one choice inside the park, Moraine Park, so check its listing for winter details before you go. International visitors should budget for the $100 nonresident fee per person unless they're carrying an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

The park's own advice for a winter trip is to come prepared for varying conditions, check the weather, and be ready for winter driving and recreation. With snow arriving up high and short days, plan lower-elevation walks and wildlife watching, and start early.

Before you go

  • Check the park's current conditions and road status the morning of your visit.
  • Trail Ridge Road status line: 970-586-1222.
  • General questions: the Information Office at 970-586-1206 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to noon weekends) or romo_information@nps.gov.

If a closure knocks out part of your plan, my guide to Rocky Mountain National Park has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for weather or closures. You can also check alerts and conditions for every national park.

This page is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always check the park's current alerts before you go.