Trail Ridge Road

Route Description for Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road is a must do when visiting RMNP. While many people just drive the road, we think it’s best experienced by stopping at the numerous stops along Trail Ridge Road and enjoying the short hikes available. We like making the following stops at Beaver Ponds, Hidden Valley, Forest Canyon Overlook, Mushroom Rocks, Lava Cliffs Overlook and Alpine Ridge Trail.

Beaver Ponds

One of the first points of interest along Trail Ridge Road is Beaver Ponds, this is a very short and wheelchair accessible trail to Hidden Valley Creek and a great location for wildlife viewing.

Hidden Valley

Beyond Beaver Ponds is the parking area for Hidden Valley, which is a retired ski resort within the national park and now serves as a great day use area. There is good parking here and it’s a nice place to stop for a break.

The road circles back over Hidden Valley and passes Rainbow Curve Overlook, with pretty views here.

The road quickly climbs above tree line and intersects Ute Trail which traverses Tombstone Ridge via Timberline Pass and provides access to backcountry camping at Ute Meadow.

Continue along Trail Ridge Road, keeping an eye open for Forest Canyon Overlook, a stunning viewpoint on your left. There is a short walk to the viewpoint.

Further along Trail Ridge Road you drive through Rock Cut, an obvious cut through a rocky outcropping to allow passage for the road. This is a stunning part of the drive on Trail Ridge Road. Farther along you’ll come to the Tundra Communities Trailhead, where you should park. The route map listed on this hike is for this short but impressive hike to the Mushroom Rocks formations scattered across the alpine tundra. This short out and back trail offers amazing views of the entire park!

Hop back in the car and continue over Iceberg Pass and onto Lava Cliffs Overlook and the Trail Ridge Road Summit (3,713 m).

Continue past one more overlook of the Gore Range and arrive at the Alpine Visitor Center. This often-crowded parking lot is where a lot of visitors from Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road converge into a single Visitor Center and Gift Shop. Stopping at the Alpine Visitor Center is worth it because it is also the trailhead parking for another short but impressive out and back Alpine Ridge Trail. From the top of the Alpine Ridge Trail, you will be able to see well beyond the Continental Divide to the Never Summer Range in western Colorado.

Trail Ridge Road starts its descent down towards Grand Lake. To head back, turn around and drive out the way you came.

Want to find more amazing hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park? Check out Chasm Lake hike, Lake Haiyaha hike or the Sky Pond and Lake of Glass hike.

Insider Hints for Trail Ridge Road

• To avoid the crowds, plan to visit Trail Ridge Road during a weekday. It’s best to start early.
• Sections of Trail Ridge Road can be hiked when the road is closed in the off-season, or there is a narrow window when it is ideal to ride your bike up when the road is mostly clear, but still closed for vehicle traffic!