A favorite road of both locals and tourists, Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved road in North America. (Remind me to find out what road is higher in South America…) Trail Ridge Road is also known as Highway 34 for you sticklers. Trail Ridge elevation climbs quickly. It summits at 12,183 feet above sea level.
Trail Ridge Road offers extraordinary views of the Colorado mountains and all the way down to Denver. The road is curvy and, in many places, missing a shoulder. If you have never driven in the mountains, it may take some getting used to, but Trail Ridge is not considered a particularly difficult drive.
The most important thing to remember about driving Trail Ridge Road is that 12,000 feet is very different than 5,000+ feet down in Boulder or Denver. It can be hot and sunny in Lions, and windy, snowy, and blizzarding at the top of Trail Ridge Road. It is important to be prepared for any kind of weather, especially if you intend to get out of your car and enjoy the view.
For planning purposes, it is almost always windy at the peak. A jacket or sweatshirt are a necessity even in Summer. In Spring or Fall, you are going to need a coat, like you would wear skiing.
When Does Trail Ridge Road Close This Year?
Every year, the highway department fights valiantly against Mother Nature’s snow and wind. They plow the road and put down sand to improve traction. Eventually, they simply can’t keep up with accumulating snow and worsening conditions, and they are forced to close the road for the season.
Trail Ridge Road usually closes around the middle to end of October. For some Coloradoans, the closing of Trail Ridge Road marks the official start of watching for Winter to arrive. Fortunately, the NPS keeps everyone updated with a Trail Ridge Road status webpage so you know if you can make it to the Trail Ridge Road summit or not.
Likewise, “Is Trail Ridge Road open?” is the question that marks the end of winter.
Colorado Mountain Roads Closed
Several other Colorado mountain roads close for the winter as well, notably Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the road to the summit of Mount Evans. Mount Evans Road is usually closed at summit lakes which is about five miles down from the summit. If you have the gear and the will, the mountain can still be summited on foot and cross off this fourteener at 14,265 feet.
In 2022 Mount Evans Road was closed October 3. Fall River Road also closed on October 3, 2022
The people atop Trail Ridge Road continue to fight to keep her open, despite a partial closure on October 2, to clear some snow.