Trail Ridge Road Switchback
Estes Park, Colorado
| GPS: |
40°26'16.0"N 105°46'0.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | Colorado |
Cross Country Ski
Trail Ridge Road is the stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that runs right through Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting the Estes Park entrance on the east side with the Grand Lake entrance on the west. It’s more than just a connecting highway, however — it’s a spectacle in its own right. Known as Rocky Mountain National Park’s “Highway to the Sky,” Trail Ridge Road runs 48 miles across the park, and traverses through many of the park’s natural habitats to elevations as high as 12,183 feet! The road meanders through the lush meadows and green forests of the park’s lower elevations, eventually climbing above treeline and across 11 miles of the park’s high-elevation tundra.
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Estes Park, Colorado
- Head south on Park Ln toward Virginia Dr (207 ft)
- Turn right onto E Elkhorn Ave (0.1 mi)
- Turn left onto US-36 W/Moraine AveContinue to follow US-36 W(6.7 mi)
- Continue onto US-34 WMay be closed at certain times or days(18.4 mi)
From Grand Lake, Trail Ridge Road travels north from the Kawuneeche Valley Visitor’s Center and along the headwaters of the Colorado River.
