Revel in Winter's Diversity on Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road

Enjoying a Rocky Mountain View (CO) [1]

The mighty Rocky Mountains attract some of winter’s biggest snowstorms, leaving behind blankets of powder that attract winter’s biggest recreation enthusiasts. Experience winter in Rocky Mountain National Park as you recreate on or near Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road in Colorado. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, hiking, or backcountry camping—whatever your interests and skill levels may be, you’ll find plenty of adventures along Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road!

Snowy Slopes of the Rocky Mountains (CO) [2]

Before you embark on your journey, be aware that due to extreme weather conditions at high altitudes, the middle portion of Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road is closed to motor vehicles in the winter. (Visit Rocky Mountain National Park road conditions report for more details.) You’ll also want to stop by a visitor center or call 970-586-1206 for current trail, road, snow, and avalanche conditions. Despite these closures, you can still take the byway to an abundance of thrilling winter recreation in the park.

With the partial byway closure, you’ll have to choose which side of the park you want to visit first - east or west. If you decide to visit both sides of the park, you’ll notice a difference in weather and snowfall. The Continental Divide causes some rather interesting effects on the conditions of the park. The west side of the park accumulates bounteous snow, while the east side tends to be drier with chilly winter winds that create snowdrifts.

Wildlife in a Rocky Mountain Winter (CO) [3]

Wonderful Winter Camping

Planning to backpack into the frosty wilderness to camp in the snow? Some of the park’s campgrounds, such as Longs Peak Campground or Moraine Park Campground, which are near Estes Park on the east side, are open year-round. Be sure to read the park’s brochure on backcountry camping and check weather and park conditions at a visitor center first. Keep your eyes open for majestic wildlife, such as elk, moose, bighorn sheep, coyotes, snowshoe hares, or mule deer—many species move into the lower elevations of the park for winter. And remember -- winter weather can be unpredictable in the higher elevations. Don't camp alone and always let someone know where you are going!

The West Side

Ranger-led Snowshoe Tour in Rocky Mountain National Park (CO) [4]

Visit the west side of the byway and participate in an exciting ranger-led program as you take a tour of Kawuneeche Valley. Register for one of their free winter recreation programs, and learn about the park while strapped into a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes. Join a ranger at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center, just north of Grand Lake on the byway, and take a guided tour of the wintry wilderness on cross-country skis. If you aren’t much of a cross-country skier, a beginning snowshoeing program is just right for you. For a more challenging course, take an intermediate snowshoeing tour, which includes altitude gains of over 500 feet. Or, share the experience with your kids by accompanying them on a ranger-led kids' snowshoe tour. Each of these programs requires that you provide your own gear and make reservations seven days or less prior to the tour. For more information, visit "Winter Programs in the Kawuneeche Valley" on the Rocky Mountain National Park’s website.

Cross-Country Fun in Rocky Mountain National Park (CO) [5]

The East Side

For more snow-filled fun, visit the east side of the byway, which also offers ranger-led snowshoeing programs that will take you through the sub-alpine forest. For a change of pace, take the kids sledding in Hidden Valley. Once a ski resort, the area is well-known for its sledding, tubing, and skiing opportunities. Lifts are no longer available, so if you choose to explore the area on skis, consider using backcountry skis to help you ascend the steep runs. You can also explore the Hidden Valley and surrounding areas by snowboard or snowshoe. Because the east side of the park generally receives less snow than the west side, it is better suited for winter hiking. Come hike to vistas revealing incredible views of the calm, quiet snow as it envelops landscapes and highlights tree branches. Look to the skies, and perhaps you’ll see some unusually shaped “flying saucer” clouds, which are common on the east side of the park, especially in winter. For a list of ideal winter hikes, visit the Rocky Mountain National Park’s brochures webpage and select “Backcountry Camping Guide.”

The extraordinary experiences you will have as you visit Rocky Mountain National Park will keep you on your toes as you anticipate what winter adventure will come next. Feel like you are in two different worlds of winter wonder as you travel through the captivating climates in the Rocky Mountains along different segments of the exciting and diverse Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road.