DATE CHANGE: RMNP-Hike Old Fall River Rd to Alpine Visitor Ctr & Back-18m 3200ft

DATE CHANGE TO JUNE 22. See comments. The road is closed to hikers Tuesdays thru Fridays for road maintenance. So we can’t hike it on our originally planned date.

Old Fall River Road is closed to cars generally until early July…so the end of June is the perfect time for us to get our long distance hiking legs warmed up and hike up the unpaved road! We will plan to hike all the way to the Alpine Visitors Center and back.

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.

We hike as a group and hike at an average moving pace of about 2.5mph. Although the group may split up due to different hiking paces, everyone is expected to wait at all intersections & periodically otherwise so that we can regroup and so no one is left behind or hiking on their own for safety purposes.

DIFFICULTY: about 18 miles with about 3,200 feet elevation gain. This is a long hike, but keep in mind we will be on an unpaved road so the terrain will not be as rocky/uneven as our typical trails.

**HIKE DESCRIPTION: This hike is kinda new for me…We hiked it last October, but only went up 6 miles and back. So this time, let’s go all the way up! 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 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 we will start at the Endovalley Picnic Area: 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 stay on the road. Dogs are NOT allowed on the tundra, meadows, or side trails that break off the road. So if you bring your dog, you may NOT join us on the short side trail to Chasm Falls. 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: We will meet at the Endovalley Picnic Area…assuming it is open. If not, we will meet wherever the closure gate is. Note that the picnic area has a big loop with parking in various spots along the loop. So just find a parking spot and we will all meet back at the entrance on Old Fall River Road to start the hike. If you use Google Maps or Apple Maps, you can type in “Endovalley Picnic Area” 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.