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Several Roads In Rocky Mountain National Park Re-opened

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Roads conditions improved considerably Friday in Rocky Mountain National Park.

By 4 p.m., the park announced most of the closures resulting from the latest spring snowstorm had been lifted.

The roads were closed Thursday as snow fell in the area, measuring up to 31 inches in the Estes Park area.

"Park snowplow operators have been working through the day to plow roads and numerous parking lots," stated the park's statement to media.

The latest changes:

  • Trail Ridge Road is now open to Many Parks Curve.
  • Access to the park from the Fall River Entrance and the Beaver Meadows Entrance has re-opened.
  • Bear Lake Road has re-opened to Sprague Lake. The upper portion of Bear Lake Road above Sprague Lake, as well as the Bear Lake parking lot, are expected to re-open sometime Saturday.

There are still closures:

  • Endovalley Road from the US 34 junction.
  • Moraine Park Road from the Bear Lake Road junction to the Fern Lake Trailhead.
  • Wild Basin Road at the Sandbeach Trailhead.
  • Upper Beaver Meadows Road.
  • There are also numerous parking lots have not been plowed and are inaccessible.

Roads on the west side of the park remain open, though, with the exception of Trail Ridge Road up to the Alpine Visitor Center.

RMNP 2
( credit - RMNP)

If you're heading to the area, to check conditions and road status in the park, call 970-586-1222.

Amazingly, a number of adventurous people endured the conditions while overnighting in the wilderness.

"Park rangers have also accounted for all wilderness camping permit holders who were camping overnight in the park's backcountry," according to the park's statement.

The park 15 permits were issued for Thursday night. This number does not reflect the number of people in each group. That number was unavailable Friday afternoon.

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