Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain
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A particularly rewarding trip is a drive along the 50mi/80km long Trail Ridge Road, which runs through the park from east to west, following an old Indian trail. The starting-point is the Beaver Meadows entrance, above the little resort of Estes Park.
Related Attractions
Deer Ridge Junction
From the Beaver Meadows entrance, the road runs by way of Deer Ridge to the Many Parks Curve.At Deer Ridge Junction, there is a trailhead for a six mile round trip hike up Deer Mountain, climbing 1,083 feet to views of the park.
Forest Canyon Overlook
Forest Canyon Overlook is a viewpoint on a wooded gorge carved out by the Big Thompson River.
Rock Cut
From the Rock Cut, some miles northwest of Forest Canyon Overlook, there is a magnificent view of the Mummy Range, which strikes in a northeasterly direction, with Ypsilon Mountain (13,514ft/4,119m).
High Point
The High Point (12,182ft/3,713m) is, as its name indicates, the highest point on Trail Ridge Road.
Fall River Pass
Fall River Pass is a mountain pass on the Trail Ridge Road and at the end of the Fall River Road. The Alpine Visitor Center, one of five visitor centers for the National Park, is located at the pass.
Alpine Visitor Center
At Fall River Pass is a Visitor Center which can supply full information about the alpine zone of the Rocky Mountains.
Milner Pass
Beyond the Fall River Pass the Trail Ridge Road turns southwest to cross the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (10,758ft/3,279m).
Phantom Valley
Beyond Milner Pass the Trail Ridge Road runs down, with many bends, into Phantom Valley, through which flows a source stream of the Colorado River.
Kawuneeche Visitor Center
The Kawuneeche Visitor Center is located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, just north of Grand Lake.
Never Summer Ranch
Farther downstream from Phantom Valley is the Kawuneeche Valley, with the Never Summer Ranch, an open-air museum.
Colorado River Trailhead
From the Colorado River Trailhead on the Trail Ridge Road, there is a 7.4 mile round trip hike to the site of Lulu City.
Park Headquarters Visitor Center
The Park Headquarters Visitor Center at Rocky Mountain National Park is located just outside of Estes Park, en route to the Trail Ridge Road.
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