Trail Ridge Road, which topped our recent list of the ten best places to see Colorado fall color, has been closed for the season, and the photo above, shared on the Rocky Mountain National Park Facebook page, shows why. The photo, taken on October 18 near Medicine Bow Curve, was snapped by a ranger who skied to the area from the west side of the park and experienced six-to-eight foot drifts. But popular destinations such as Bear Lake Road, Moraine Park, Horseshoe Park and the section of Trail Ridge Road along the Kawuneeche Valley remain open and spectacular scenery remains on view, as indicated by a new album capturing the fall season in the area. Check out the images below, complete with captions and credits from the RMNP Facebook page.
Please respect the elk during their mating season and never approach a wild animal. ch (photo taken by SF 10/14/13).
Blue skies, golden trees, and crisp air...Fall is a wonderful time to visit the Rockies. ch (photo taken by SF 10/14/13).
The march of the turkeys! ch (photo taken by SF 10/14/13).
The Alluvial fan has yet again been transformed by the last flooding event, but is open and accessible from the eastern parking lot. ch (photo taken by JB 10/16/13).
Continue for more photos of the fall season at Rocky Mountain National Park.
The park has already experienced the first snowfall and now most trails are covered with snow and sometimes ice. (photo taken by SL 10/18/13).
Things are starting to ice over in the high country. Its beginning to look a lot like winter around Sprague Lake. ch (photo taken by SL 10/18/13).
The Mummy Mountains highlight the flat Horseshoe Park meadow and provide great scenery to the area. ch (photo taken by SL 10/18/13).
Water flowing through the fall colored grasses of upper hidden valley. ch (photo taken by VIP Schonlau).
Continue for more photos of the fall season at Rocky Mountain National Park.
A foggy fall day around Bear Lake. ch (photo taken by VIP Biddle).
First snows capping the Never Summer mountains on the west side of the park. ch (photo taken by JB 9/25/13).
There has been so much moisture this year that mushrooms have been able to grow on the tundra. (photo taken by JB 9/25/13).
Sprague Lake has wonderful views and is only a short .75 mile loop around the lake. ch (photo taken by BR on 9/26/13).
Continue for more photos of the fall season at Rocky Mountain National Park.
Sometimes you may spot moose hanging out in the middle of the lake if your lucky! ch (photo taken by BR 9/26/13).
Even some of the shrubs flaunt their beautiful fall colors. ch (photo taken by JB 9/26/13).
The north shore of Bear Lake looks back at the beautiful Longs Peak, and is the same image you see on the back of the Colorado State quarter. ch (photo taken by BR 9/26/13).
Pocket gophers leave behind evidence of their tunnel making and you can see raised dirt tubes in the areas they have been working. ch (photo taken by SF 9/27/13).
More from our Things to Do archive: "Photos: Ten best places to see Colorado fall color."
Michael Roberts has written for Westword since October 1990, serving stints as music editor and media columnist. He currently covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports and stories that defy categorization.
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