More areas of Rocky Mountain National Park reopened Tuesday as park staff continue to assess how the East Troublesome Fire impacted the park.
On the west side of the park, the North Inlet Trail reopened to Cascade Falls. The trail remains closed beyond the falls. A short section of trail from the Kawuneeche Visitor Center to the North Inlet Trail called the Lower Tonahutu Trail also reopened Tuesday.
On the east side of the park, the Moraine Park Road reopened to the winter turnaround for Fern Lake Road. Fern Lake Road, Fern Lake Trail and Cub Lake Trail are all still closed.
The Bierstadt Trail system reopened Tuesday and visitors can access Bierstadt Trail from Bear Lake, the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, and the Park & Ride area. Two sections of the trail that go into the Mill Creek Basin remain closed.
Upper Beaver Meadows Trail reopened to the Moraine Park area, but Beaver Mountain Trail and the Ute Trail from Upper Beaver Meadows are both still closed. The trails between Upper Beaver Mountains Road and Deer Mountain are open.
To see the current status of trails at RMNP, visit its website here.
The East Troublesome Fire ran about 18 miles east on Oct. 21 and began to move into the west side of the park. The fire spotted on the east side of the Continental Divide. Its rapid spread spurred evacuations in Grand Lake and the Estes Valley. Strong winds continued to push the fire east for several days before more favorable firefighting weather moved in Oct. 24 and 25.
The East Troublesome Fire, as well as the Cameron Peak Fire, burned 30,000 acres, or about 9% of the park. Both wildfires are 100% contained.
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy, RMNP’s nonprofit partner, is accepting donations to support future restoration efforts from the fires.