![]() ![]() However, if one is more limited in time, I would recommend turning around at the Farview Curve overlook as the road soon descends to the west side’s Kawuneeche Valley which is not nearly as spectacular as the rest. I enjoyed exploring the entire length, driving all the way to Grand Lake, just outside the west entrance, turning around and returning to Estes Park, stopping at all the overlooks, hiking a few shorter trails and viewing elk near Holzwarth Historic Site and in the valley below the Alpine Visitor Center. ![]() Having the overlooks nearly to myself, the experience was fleeting as the snow was gone in less than two hours and the crowds began to build rapidly.Įven without snow, Trail Ridge Road was still spectacular and arriving early, avoiding the crowds and with the low angle of the sun adding visual warmth, even if the morning is a bit chilly, is worth the early alarm. Finally reaching the tree line and clear skies simultaneously, I was treated to a surrealistic view or soaring mountains covered in a candy coating of snow, tundra displaying autumn colors, and the clouds passing through the tree covered valleys as the rain dissipated below. Hustling to eat my breakfast and get ready, I headed to Trail Ridge Road and carefully drove through the pea soup thick fog at the lower elevations. Logging onto NPS’s website, then navigating to the RMNP site and the webcam feed from the Alpine Visitor Center, I saw that it was above the cloud cover and light coating of snow decorated the mountain tops and tundra. Waking up in Longmont a bit before sunrise on morning in early October, I found the skies to be completely overcast with a steady drizzle and was afraid my plans for the day, beginning with a visit to Trail Ridge Road, may be a bust. ![]()
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