Fall River Road Rocky Mountain National Park This eleven mile dirt track completed in 1921 is very close to the original way it was built. It is one of the most scenic and beautiful drives in all of Colorado. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park just west of Estes Park it follows Fall River from Horseshoe Park all the way to the divide at Fall River Pass. The road is open from about July 4th until the first big snow closes the road and pass.

To get to Fall River road enter at the Fall River gateway which is the northern entrance to the park on the east side of the continental divide. Drive to the west end of Horseshoe park and you will see a sign to Fall River Road and the Endovalley Picnic area.

When you get to the junction to the picnic grounds the entrance to Fall River Road is the left branch. Once you make the decision to go there is no turning back The road is only one way and single lane between eight and fourteen feet wide. It is very narrow in places with tight corners and switchbacks. In places as you wind your way to the top you can look straight down from the edge.

The posted speed limit is 15 mph which in itself tells you something. Be prepared however in the summer tourist rush to drive the whole trip closer to 5 mph. I recently drove the road in late August after the full summer season was over at about 10mph.

Following the same trail as the Native Americans used to get over the 11,796 foot mountain pass the first major stop or pullout is Chasm Falls. There is parking here for about 15 to 18 cars. The trailk follows the river down as you can view the river falling and pooling in many spots. This trail can be steep to those who have physical problems or who are bothered by altitude. Be careful, pay attention.

Along the way you are not more than a few feet from fall river as you wind your way across sheer mountain faces and in to beautiful grass filled meadows. There are many places to stop along the way to let the family explore.

Along the road you are liable to see various forms of wildlife that live in the park. There will be many marmots, a few deer and near the top there could be a great many elk visible especially in the summer. The elk migrate every summer starting in about June to spend the summer in the tundra above 10,000 feet. Not every elk migrates but the vast majority do.  I August especially at twilight keep you eyes open for the large lone male bulls which are preparing for the rut season by staying by themselves. During this time they hone their antlers getting ready for the big show in September and October.

Also keep your eyes open for the coyotes which follow the elk into the high country. They are not as visible at the top as they are down in the lower valleys but I have seen them near the top of Fall River Road in Willow Valley and at the very top just below the visitors center at over 10,000 feet. They are highly adaptable and seemingly can live anywhere from the city streets of Fort Collins to the high mountain tundra.

The head waters of Fall River are in the Fall River Cirque a large bowl just below the visitors center. On a recent trip there was still snow in fairly good quanity still clinging to north facing slopes. The cirque used to be the birth place of the large glaciers which formed the moraines in the parks far below. History says this whole Fall River basin was once a huge 11 mile glacier.

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