Old River Road - Rocky Mountain National Park

 We did not have immediate access to the Rocky Mountain National Park today (I explain at the end of this post) so we had time to consider what we would do when we were in the park. When we paid for our camping site, the salesperson recommended to Cindy that we drive the Old Fall River Road because the views were spectacular and we were likely to see wildlife. The gravel section of the Road is about 9 miles in length is gravel and one way only. It takes about an hour. The road was built between 1913 and 1920. 

I think I remember driving Pikes Peak road when at least part of it was gravel and gravel is not an issue for me having grown up in Iowa. Old Fall River Road is one way and the speed limit is low (the documentation I provide says 15, but I think you can go a little faster in sections). I did not find it scary, but I was driving and not looking over the edge. Cindy had a different perspective. The switchbacks were something and about at the turning radius the car could handle. All in all, it was an interesting experience. I did take on video and that will give a sense of what it was like. At the top, you switch to the Ridge Road which actually ascends to over 12,000 feet before heading down again. The Ridge Road is blacktop with two-way traffic and a top speed of 35.

At the summit, the air contains less oxygen and it was easy to tell even without any exertion. I can see why athletes train at altitude. We had a cup of coffee and left without spending a lot of time. We did not see any wildlife and except when at the summit, I kept my eyes on the road.

Timed entry reservations

National Parks are experiencing tremendous visitor pressure and not just for access to the campgrounds. The parks themselves receive too many visitors. Rocky Mountain National Park uses a process called Timed Entry Permits. You need to have a QR code just to be admitted to the park. Earlier in the year you could acquire a permit ahead of time, but now you must complete an online application beginning at 6 the night before you want access to the park. Before 9 and after 2 you can simply wait in line at the gate, but when we left today this line was miles long (it was a Saturday). Our permit allowed us to show our code beginning at noon and we still had to wait in line about 30 minutes to get to the gate and show our code to gain access. This is the new reality for visiting the National Parks.