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Free Traveling Guides » States » Colorado » National Parks Trail Ridge Road
The Trail Ridge Road offers breathtaking views of the splendid scenery of the Rocky Mountain National Park. It has derived its name from its close proximity to the historic pathways that were used by the native people to cross the Rocky Mountains. With a maximum elevation of nearly 12,183 ft (3713 m) and over 8 miles (13 km) above 11,000 ft (3350 m), this road is higher than any mountain in the Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks. In fact, it is the highest motorway in the United States with a maximum grade of about 7 %. The minimum radius is nearly 200 ft (60 m) on the blind curves and 100 ft (30 m) for open curves. Besides, the Road is a two-lane with a 22 ft (7 m) road bed and 3 ft (1 m) ditches in the cut sections.
The construction of the Trail Ridge Road began in 1929 and it was completed in July, 1932. This Road was designed mainly to overcome the deficiencies of the Fall River Road and to provide broader curves, gentle grades, and a better variety of scenic experiences. The first section of the Road, Deer Ridge to Fall River Pass, stretches for nearly 17.2 miles (27.6 km). It was in the year 1938 that the road was finally extended up to the Grand Lake.
The lower part of the Trail Ridge Road is open to the public throughout the year while the central portion is open only from late May through mid-October. However, the road may close periodically owing to the unfavorable weather conditions. The central part of the Road cuts through open alpine tundra and provides some of the best vistas of the panoramic mountains in the Nation. The spacious stone-wall turnouts on major curves offer ample space for visitors to take in the views. The best time to visit the Trail Ridge Road is at night when one can clearly see the Milky Way, one of nature’s greatest light shows. You can gaze at billion and billions of stars including the Sirius, Virgo, Orion, North Star, and the Big Dipper.
- Telephone: (970) 586-1206
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