Grey Mountain wrote:
We are planning a trip to Colorado in a few weeks, and would like to take a day trip from our base camp through the park on the Trail Ridge Road. Are there any steep drop-offs on this road? My British Bride is not overly fond of sheer cliffs with beautiful valles several thousand feet below...
Yes. There are steep drop offs. 1000s of feet in places. Yes, there are sheer cliffs. Again with very steep drop offs.
You don't indicate which side you'll be coming from. I am up there frequently, have been for the better part of nearly 40 years. Here is some insight, from both sides.
From the Estes Park side, there are 2 ways in. The Beaver Meadows Entrance and the Fall River Entrance. Coming in from either is relatively uneventful. They meet approximately 6-8 miles in from either entrance. The Fall River entrance has less traffic coming in.
Once the roads meet, you'll be in forested areas past Rainbow Curve and Many Parks Curve. Once you get past Many Parks, you will be entering the tundra area above tree line. Immediately, there is a sheer drop off on the right side as you go up. There is also no guard rail or barriers. Once you reach the Canyon Overlook, you will be well above tree line and will be for 12 miles. Again, there are no guard rails. HOWEVER...coming from the Estes Park side, you will also be on the INSIDE, against the mountain terrain at your side, for a goodly portion of those 12 miles. There are a number of pull offs for you to enjoy the view.
Once you get to the Alpine Visitors Center (which frequently has a completely full parking lot), you will be heading down on the OUTSIDE/drop off portion, with no guard rails or barriers. But...you will also be getting back below tree line in fairly short order, and the drop offs become less significant, going DOWN to Grand Lake. You'll know when you are down in the valley, and it straightens out and is a beautiful drive to Grand Lake.
Coming FROM Grand Lake, again, you start up a valley, and just past the Colorado River Trailhead you'll begin to climb. You're in the trees, so really no big deal. That said, there several places before you get above tree line where there will be openings and, since you'r on the OUTSIDE, there will be some sheer drop offs. Not really too bad all the way up to Milner Pass, which is the Continental Divide. Past there, and up to Farview Curve, you'll be in the INSIDE/mountain side. At Farview, that's where you will begin the ascent with no guardrails and no barriers. You'll again reach the Alpine Visitors Center, and climb...no barriers, no guard rails and you are on the OUTSIDE/drop off side for the bulk of the 12 miles that you are above timberline.
All of the above that I described coming from Estes Park, you're doing in reverse coming from Grand Lake. Or going up from Estes Park to the Visitors Center and then returning. You're on the OUTSIDE. There's no escaping that.
Well, yes there is...sort of. From the Estes Park side, the Fall River Entrance, you have the option of taking the Old Fall River Road up to the Alpine Visitors Center. It's one way, so you have to commit to it. It's a dirt road with many switchbacks, but you're also in the trees for a goodly portion of it. It's 11 miles from the start of the one way portion, the last 3 or so miles are above the tree line into the tundra, and you'll get a fantastic vista of the valley you just came up. Then you can go down to either Estes Park or Grand Lake from the visitors center.
On Trail Ridge, a driver must focus on the road and not the sights. And focus on the other drivers. THAT is the real hazard of Trail Ridge Road. Be aware of the potential of the vehicle in front of you stopping at any time in the middle of the road, because they want a photo op of the wildlife up there. This happens all the time.
This is meant to be factual and informative. I have driven it hundreds of times without incident. I am also keenly aware of other drivers. AND the weather. It can snow/rain/hail up there at any time, and there can be fog that a British Bride will certainly be able to relate to. Be prepared for anything and everything.
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