While the National Park Service continues to assess East Troublesome Fire damage, more of the park is now accessible, as of December 22.
The National Park Service announced via press release that on the east side of the park (near Estes Park), the popular Bierstadt Trail system has reopened, with the exception of the Mill Creek Basin area. Bierstadt Trail is accessible from the trailhead, via Bear Lake or the Park & Ride. Additionally, the Upper Beaver Meadows Trail and Moraine Park Road have reopened.
On the west side, the Lower Tonahutu Trail from Kawuneeche Visitor Center to the North Inlet Trail has reopened. You can see a full map of re-openings (and what remains closed) here.
More areas of Rocky Mountain National Park reopen after massive wildfires
Liz Gelardi/Denver7
The town of Estes Park was being evacuated under an orange haze caused by the East Troublesome Fire on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 222, 2020.
By: Stephanie Butzer
and last updated 2020-12-22 17:00:37-05
More areas of Rocky Mountain National Park reopened Tuesday as park staff continue to assess how the East Troublesome Fire impacted the park.
On the west side of the park, the North Inlet Trail reopened to Cascade Falls. The trail remains closed beyond the falls. A short section of trail from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center to the North Inlet Trail called the Lower Tonahutu Trail also reopened Tuesday.
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What was left of the Grand Lake entrance station office to Rocky Mountain National Park in the aftermath of the East Troublesome fire. (Provided by Rocky Mountain National Park)
The Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and about 10 miles of U.S. 34 from the gate north to the Colorado River trailhead have reopened, ending a closure caused by the East Troublesome Fire in October. The current closure at the Colorado River trailhead is the normal west-side closure for Trail Ridge Road in the winter.
Trail Ridge Road was closed for the season on the east side of the park at Many Parks Curve on Nov. 17. Trail Ridge tops out at 12,183 feet and becomes impassable in the winter due to heavy snowfall. It normally reopens around Memorial Day.