RMNP - Hike Old Fall River Road

Old Fall River Road closes to vehicle traffic on October 6…so this is the perfect time to hike up the unpaved road! The entire road is 11 miles one way from Horseshoe Park to the Alpine Visitors Center.

RMNP FEE: Note that for this trailhead, timed entry passes are only required if you enter after 9 am. So we are good! However there is still the National Parks fee of $30 per vehicle if you do not have an America the Beautiful Pass. If anybody would like to carpool and save on the fee, please put a comment in the event indicating where you want to carpool from so that anybody interested can reply.

DIFFICULTY: about 12 miles with about 1,600+ feet elevation gain. Elevation gain is estimated! I’m planning the hike to go 6 miles then turn around. But distance is up to you. If there are some of you who want to hike further up the road, you may…or alternatively you may turn around early.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: This hike is new for me…I’ve driven the unpaved road a couple times and only have vague memories. But I’ve never hiked the road. Old Fall River Road opened in 1920 and was the first auto route offering access to RMNP’s high country. The road follows a route traveled by Native American hunters who visited what is now the National Park because of abundant game. Along the road, we will take the side trails to the Alluvial Fan…where we can see the effects of the Lawn Lake flood, which created the alluvial fan in 1982. We will also take the side trail to see Chasm Falls, a beautiful waterfall leaping 25-feet from a tight narrow rock slot. We will do the following hike in alltrails except only go 6 miles up the road: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/fall-river-road

DOGS: Though not allowed on RMNP trails, dogs are allowed on Old Fall River Road. However your dog MUST be leashed and dogs are NOT allowed on any of the side trails that break off the road. Dog owners must clean up pet excrement. Please be sure your dog is well behaved and can handle the length of the hike.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: Since I’m not sure where the Old Fall River closure will start, let’s all meet in the parking lot at the Fall River Visitors Center and we can follow each other in our cars from there to a good parking spot. If you use Apple Maps or Google maps, you can type in “Fall River Visitor Center” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-105.679&lat=40.421

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.