Thursday, July 1, 2021

Rocky Mountain National Park Visitors: Beware of Area and Trail Closures This Year

With hiking season already in full gear, now is a good time to remind visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park that there are several trail and area closures that you should be aware of as a result of last years' wildfires. Approximately 30,000 acres or 10 percent of the park was impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires of 2020. As of right now, these are the current closures posted on the park website:

West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

Park visitors should not stop or park along the roadside from the Grand Lake Entrance to the Onahu Trail, due to hazard trees along the road from the East Troublesome Fire. There is no access to trails, picnic areas or parking areas along this section of the road including the Harbison Picnic Area and the Green Mountain Trail.

* The Onahu Trail and the Continental Divide Connector Trail to the inholder road has reopened.
* The Green Mountain Trail remains closed.
* The North Inlet/Tonahutu Trail remains closed.
* The Sun Valley Trail remains closed.

East Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

In the Bear Lake area:

* The trail from Lake Helene to Odessa Lake has reopened and remains closed from Odessa Lake to the Pool.
* The Flattop Trail is open to the summit of Flattop Mountain but is closed past this point to the west of the Continental Divide.

Along the Bear Lake Road corridor:

* The Fern Lake Trail (past the Pool) remains closed.
* The Cub Lake Loop Trail between the Cub Lake Trailhead and the Fern Lake Trailhead is open.
* The Trail junction above Cub Lake to Mount Wuh and Steep Mountain remains closed.
* The Mill Creek Basin remains closed.
* Hollowell Park remains closed.

Beaver Mountain area and trails remains closed. The Northwest Area of Rocky Mountain National Park and all trails remains closed.

Park staff will continue to assess closed areas on both sides of the park for fire impacts, safety and downed trees, erosion and rock fall. It is unknown when all park trails impacted by the fires of 2020 will reopen. Many will reopen this summer, a few will likely remain closed. For the latest information on fire related closures, please visit this park page, or view the area closure map.

If you're planning to visit Rocky Mountain this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your trip planning.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com

Ramble On: A History of Hiking
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

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