Weather Improves, Trail Ridge Road Back Open

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) -- Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park is back open after 2 inches of snow and reduced visibility forced rangers to turn people away.

Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson says the road closed Wednesday and reopened Thursday morning.

The road reaches more than 12,000 feet at its highest point and is billed as the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Huge snowplows are used to clear the road for summer visitors.

Historically, it closes in late October and reopens on Memorial Day weekend. Last year, after heavy snowstorms continued well into the spring, the road didn't open until June 6. This year, the road opened on May 14.

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