Watch Before Driving the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park!

Connecting Estes Park, CO and Grand Lake, CO is the incredibly scenic Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. This road is 48 miles long and is considered to be one of the best scenic roads in the national park system & country. It is full of scenic views, short walks, and hikes, yet can be daunting for some drivers. Watch to learn more.
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0:00 Introduction
1:05 Distances
1:45 Elevation
3:12 Safety
4:25 What to Expect
6:01 Shuttles & Reservations
6:54 Tundra
7:39 Thunderstorms
8:39 Time
9:40 All American Road
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[@robertbenson9797]

Great episode with fantastic scenery. Remember to be careful of lightning during the afternoon thunderstorms. This is more dangerous than the road!

[@billscott6602]

Lived in Estes from '84 to '13..Helped manage Outdoor World,a great little family owned hiking shop!! Such an amazing place to live,work and play. Trail Ridge is spectacular.Really miss the snow!!

[@joemanpjg]

I drove TRR about 15 years ago, on our way to Moab. After watching this video, I doubt I would do it again. I have fear of heights but not knowing at the time TRR had very little guard rails and a lot of exposure to drop offs. Fortunately we had the inside lane.Drove Beartooth Pass( mainly Guard rails) and Road To The Sun but this one ,TRR was a White Knuckle drive compared to them two. Great video and detail ....So glad we did this gorgeous drive ...back in Sep 2007..

[@johnhammer8916]

You did a terrific job with this video! We are heading there in 4 weeks, and truly appreciate all of the information and beautiful clips of your journey!

[@kimharris2494]

Followed your guide . Loved this road and was grateful for your help. On to Yellowstone and Grand Teton and following your videos.

[@WereintheRockies]

Have such a good time!

[@user-qc7hr4my7r]

Drove that road a couple years ago, amazing road and views. First time I seen 8ft tall snow sticks on a road, lol.

[@markcotter4213]

I've driven this road a few times, and loved it!

[@markblack5566]

Very nice video. Thanks for sharing. I drove the Trail Ridge Road back in 1989 when I was just a year out of college. Hope to do it again someday.

[@WereintheRockies]

Very cool!

[@peiyuhuang4015]

We were not able to drive up there last June due to the snow. How beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@WereintheRockies]

Yep, snow can be tricky... never know how early it will come or how long it will stay.

[@Cenlalowell]

Snow in June I'll be there June 3-10 2024 and I had no idea snow could still be a issue

[@dennispluto3806]

I spent a week in rmnp and didn’t get enough,planning on going back, I was going to explore someplace different but I don’t know how it could get any better than this place

[@shannoninalaska]

Alaska isn't too bad.

[@shannoninalaska]

I almost moved to Colorado. I decided to move to Alaska but still love CO and MT.

[@fsusarge]

The Stanley beckons me, Cheryl. Can't wait for that drive...to say nothing of The Whisky Bar!

[@JuilSuk]

I will try this route from Texas to Idaho!

[@WereintheRockies]

Have fun!

[@Anthony-bs2tn]

Nothing safe about this road, drive it on your own risk, If your afraid of heights, don't do it

[@buddyself1482]

We're retiring the 1st of the year and planing on a 6 week scenic road trip to Colorado and Utah, Would you please share what dash cam you use? also the brand of sim card and sim card size? you guy's have very great and informative and detail information, thank you for sharing you're experiences.

[@WereintheRockies]

We use our iPhone 14 Pro Max. Thanks for watching.

[@jaruga32]

Thank you!!!!!

[@anelbehric9615]

This is awesome. Thank you as i am planning a trip for this year. What month was this?

[@WereintheRockies]

First few days of July

[@DyanK614]

Looks awesome! Having doubts that my fear of heights may ruin the experience. But I really want to see those views. What to do, what to do???

[@WereintheRockies]

Do it!! 😃

[@joemanpjg]

Drive SLOWLY...do it

[@Enerodrive]

Do we need to use low gear going down? I wonder if the road going down is really steep like at pikes peak.

[@KatLady69]

Yes.

[@WereintheRockies]

Using a lower gear when traveling downhill is always a good idea.

[@corey1845]

Do you think the TRR will be open on October 20th-21st ? I want to stay at Grand Lake and would need to use that road to get to the Bear Lake etc. ?

[@WereintheRockies]

There is a good chance it is closed by those dates. It closed on Oct 18 in 2023. It all depends on the snowfall. If it's closed, the only way to the Bear Lake Corridor is to go south to 1-70, head east to Idaho Springs, then back north. It would take 3.5 - 4 hours.

[@corey1845]

@@WereintheRockies Jokes on me, since my comment, i already booked a hotel at Estes park so that shouldnt be a problem anymore :D But thank you for the reply though, it was exactly what i was afraid. :) cheers

[@jeffreyjohnson8200]

Not one mention of the Continental Divide ???? Wow. Great video though.

[@WereintheRockies]

Good point!

[@Lfarhat]

If we are visitors and we have no car is there any other way to drive that rail or any services

[@WereintheRockies]

There are tours that run out of Estes Park and Grand Lake. A google search should help you find them. Good luck and have fun!

[@MinutesWithMates]

That’s awesome guys. We’ve just been thinking about what to do between Cheyenne and Colorado Springs other than Denver. This looks perfect. Two questions: 1. Google Maps says there are tolls on this road. Is that the reservation system that you were talking about? And 2. Is there a connection between Grand Lake and some other place that takes you south like on the way to Colorado Springs, or do you have to turn around and head back to Estes Park? Edit: Third question: I guess June is unpredictable like one of your viewers has said? We could try but might still miss out because of snow. We are planning trying Pikes Peak as well, and I guess that’s subject to the same weather possibilities.

[@WereintheRockies]

1. The Trail Ridge Road is inside Rocky Mountain National Park, so you will need to pay the entrance fee in order to drive the road. It's possible you will need a vehicle reservation as well, depending on the time of year and time of day. See www.nps.gov/romo/learn/news/trail-ridge-road-opens-for-the-season-timed-entry-permit-reservations-required-for-trail-ridge-road-9-am-to-3-pm.htm for more information. 2. I'm not sure of a great connection. You shouldn't have to go back to Estes Park but I'm not sure which route you'd want to take. 3. June is very unpredictable. There's no telling how early it will snow in the fall, nor no telling how long it'll take to melt in the spring/early summer, especially with the high elevation. You'd probably run into the same weather problems with Pikes Peak.

[@MinutesWithMates]

@@WereintheRockies thank you. You guys are so awesomely helpful

[@Ryplixity]

I know this is late incase you have already completed the trip but the tolls could be for e470 a beltway around denver near the airport being the fastest way to Cheyenne

[@bostonphotographer20]

We got to go this June, 15 plus foot banks lining it. What month did you shoot this?

[@WereintheRockies]

Wow! We were there the first couple days of July.

[@kimjohnson8471]

Hey, I'll be there October 13-17. Wanting to know are there any bus tours to TRR? I'll be traveling by myself

[@WereintheRockies]

That's a good question. We do not know the answer to that.

[@skylermummert24]

I know there is a van and I think keep tours so yes we did the van tour and the guy driving was awesome even got to see a moose

[@KatLady69]

Trail Ridge Road usually closes the holiday weekend (former Columbus Day) of October. Park website usually will say.

[@09rusa]

we have to pay to drive the road ?

[@WereintheRockies]

Because the road is inside Rocky Mountain National Park, you have to pay an entry fee into the park to drive the road ($15-$35). You also may need a timed entry permit, depending on the time of year and time of day you want to drive it: www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/timed-entry-permit-system.htm

[@Bigfoot-px9gj]

It's about time NPS started limiting people in National Parks. They've talked about it for decades but until recently, no action to spare parks from being trampled to death...

[@WereintheRockies]

Thanks for watching.

[@fmargaret2825]

I hate this road.

[@urofseron]

You're insane. This is my favorite road ever.