Intro
When Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park are closed to motor vehicles but are not in winter trail status, cyclists are permitted to ride the roads. This period offers a unique opportunity for cyclists to enjoy the road without vehicular traffic. Trail Ridge Road typically opens to vehicle traffic in late May, around Memorial Day weekend. Old Fall River Road typically opens to vehicles in early July, though the exact date varies each year depending on snowpack and spring maintenance conditions.
Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States, cresting at an elevation of 12,183 feet above sea level, about 4700 feet above Estes Park. The road begins in montane forests of aspen and ponderosa pine, enters thick subalpine forests of fir and spruce, and eventually yields to alpine tundra. Up on that windswept alpine world, conditions resemble those found in the Canadian or Alaskan Arctic. It's normally windy and 20 to 30 degrees colder than Estes Park or Grand Lake. The sun beats down with high-ultraviolet intensity. The vistas, best enjoyed from one of several marked road pullovers, are extravagant, sweeping north to Wyoming, east across the Front Range cities and Great Plains, south and west into the heart of the Rockies. But for all its harshness, the Trail Ridge tundra is a place of vibrant life and vivid colors. Pikas, marmots, ptarmigans and bighorn sheep are commonly seen. About 200 species of tiny alpine plants hug the ground. Trail Ridge road passes by the Alpine Visitor Center at Fall River Pass before it starts to head downhill to the west towards Grand Lake.
While Trail Ridge Road is a paved two-way road running east-west through the entire park, Old Fall River Road is a narrow, and unpaved one-way dirt road on the west side of RMNP that climbs 11 miles uphill from Endovalley to the Alpine Visitor Center at Fall River Pass, which is at an elevation of 11,796 feet. Old Fall River Road is known for its steep grades, sharp switchbacks, and stunning views, offering a unique experience compared to the newer and more continuous Trail Ridge Road. The road was constructed between 1913 and 1920, making it the first auto route in the park. It's also a route that was previously used by Native American hunters.
I am used to experiencing my backyard RMNP via some rock face or hiking some trail, so biking is a unique way for me to enjoy the area. I have biked Old Fall River and Trail Ridge roads only a few times. It is fun and unique to bike them before they are opened to vehicle traffic. In June 2025, I did my most comprehensive bike ride, a 35-mile loop (with 5000+ ft gain/loss) going up Old Fall River Road and down Trail Ridge Road, starting and ending at the Fall River entrance to RMNP. The following page gives photos from my solo biking adventures. And yes mom and dad, I wore a helmet. At least when vehicles or downhill was involved.
