Trail Ridge Road Opens for Summer on May 24, 2013

ESTES PARK, Colo. - May 24, 2013 - PRLog -- Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park opened on Friday May 24, 2013 for the summer season.  Last year the road opened early on May 14, but it historically opens for Memorial Day Weekend.   The earliest the road opened was May 7, 2002 and the latest on June 26, 1943.  It officially closed for the season last year on Oct. 17, 2012.

National Park Service plow operators normally begin clearing the snow the middle of April.  Crews from the west side of the Park and crews from the east side of the Park move along the road and eventually meet at the Alpine Visitor Center.  This year plow operators encountered average snow drifts from 18 to 22 feet.  Much of the snow came in the early spring. The Park's backcountry still looks and feels like winter above 9,000 ft.

Due to heavy melting on the road during the day and freezing temperatures at night, visitors should plan for likely night closures in their travel plans.  Because weather conditions can change rapidly, Park visitors are encouraged to call the Trail Ridge Road recorded phone line at 970-586-1222 for up to date road status changes.