Reaching 12,183 feet on Trail Ridge, it is the highest continuous highway in the United States. The maximum grade on Trail Ridge does not exceed 7%, and eight miles of the road are above 11,000 feet in elevation. During the peak of construction, 150 laborers worked on the road. They used tractors, graders, horses, and a gas-powered steam shovel to make the road. They placed extra surface rocks lichen-side up and salvaged tundra sod, carefully replacing it in road shoulders. The workers removed construction debris, and they constructed log and rock dikes to minimize scarring and scattering of rock blasting debris. Planning efforts sought to reduce scarring on the surrounding landscape. The presence of permafrost required that careful attention be paid to construction to avoid permanent quagmires. During road construction, workers had only about 4 months of the year (mid-June to mid-October) to work. Landscape architects carefully designed this two-lane roadway to avoid damage to the fragile alpine scenery it crossed. The new Trail Ridge Road, constructed between 19, climbed nearly a thousand feet higher but crossed the more open terrain of Trail Ridge. Soon after it was completed, the park began planning a replacement. This road proved difficult for early automobiles to traverse and clearing the shaded route of snow each year was a difficult and dangerous undertaking. Our starting point was from Estes Park, the Fall River entrance to ending at the Kawuneeche visitor center in Grand Lake. It takes between 2-4 hours depending on the number of stops you make. Built between 19, this narrow unpaved single-lane road climbed up the deep Fall River Valley to Fall River Pass, then dropped down a series of sharp switchbacks to the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley. Trail Ridge Road runs 48-miles crossing the continental divide at Milner’s Pass at an elevation of 12,183 feet. The first to cross the mountains was Fall River Road, constructed by the State of Colorado and Larimer and Grand counties to encourage tourism. Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.American explorers had considered the Rocky Mountains impenetrable, but native peoples of the Ute and Arapahoe tribes had long passed back and forth over the range the two park roads now crossing the mountains follow their general routes. Do note that Old Fall River Road is one-way only, so plan to drive it east to west, and return via Trail Ridge Road west to east. However, this former route is still open today, offering a scenic drive from Estes Park toward Grand Lake, meeting back up with Trail Ridge Road at the Alpine Visitor Center. When Trail Ridge Road was finished in 1933, it replaced the need for Old Fall River Road, the park’s previous only route across. Toll Memorial Trail features an open tundra with an abundance of beautiful wild flowers.Forest Canyon Overlook is a great observation surface for the Continental Divide peaks.Rainbow Curve offers stunning views of Horseshoe Park, Alluvial Fan and Beaver Ponds.Lava Cliffs overlooks cliffs of lava that were formed millions of years ago.Many Parks Curve offers an amazing view of the Moraine Park.Trail Ridge Road features plenty of interesting spots to stop by and take in the scene: Sightseers will be in paradise here with the stunning overlooks. Biking, camping and sky gazing (night time) are the most popular activities to do in the byway. Although the entire Trail Ridge is not accessible during winter months due to the dangers of heavy snowfall, you can still access portions of it closest to the entrance at Grand Lake and Estes Park. There is a lot to do through the whole route. Activities on Trail Ridge Road Two miles high on Trail Ridge Road through RMNP. Though its highest mountain pass is Iceberg Pass, summiting at 11,827 ft. The highest point on Trail Ridge Road is 12,183 ft. It crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass at 10,759 feet. The journey begins either from Estes Park (east) or Grand Lake (west), and will run through US-34 climbing up and over several passes: Iceberg, Fall River, and Milner (listed east to west), until it reaches the other end. It has become one of the most popular byways since its opening in 1938 due to its high elevations, hairpin turns, and magnificent sceneries. It has a total distance of 48 paved miles and would require at least 2 hours of driving to complete. It’s located within the Rocky Mountain National Park and connects Estes Park and Grand Lake. Deriving its name from its historic relevance, this scenic byway sits very close to the trails Native Americans used to take to get across the Rocky Mountains. With elevations reaching up to 12,000 feet, the Trail Ridge Road is known to be the highest continuously paved road in the United States.
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