Rocky Mountain National Park

It's open..

http://www.cotrip.org/rWeather/All_Regions_060308_105002.html

It usually opens on Memorial Day weekend, can only remember a couple of times over the last 40 years or so it hasn't. I did spend the night on the 5th of July in 1994 up there as my Jetta wouldn't get over due to 18 inches of fresh snow, but myself and a couple of stranded park rangers played cards all night in the lodge at the top... : - )

Local Grand Lake Weather can be found here:

http://www.skyhidailynews.com/

 

several years ago I drove almost that exact same route from Scottsdale to Aspen over independence pass.

2 tips.

- watch your speed in Colorado. I had a postal worker complain about us and local cops near Gunnison pulled us over and told us the Highway Patrol wanted to talk to us. After 2 hours of waiting at the courthouse, Highway patrol gave us multiple tickets all based on her phone call. Criminal reckless driving ect... Was reduced eventually but cost $$$ to fight (imo) a corrupt system.

- be careful on independence pass....well around all mountains. I almost had a boulder take out my wife and I in our F355 as we were driving down into Aspen. Almost had the same thing happen 3 days ago in Vail on a bike path too.

 

of corrupt cops around... I know that we had one a few years back, but we ran his sorry arse out of town. It was funny to watch the town fathers hire a retired denver cop, who was their friend, to be the police commissioner of the town and then he immediately fired the idiot and then resigned a while later so he could continue to enjoy his retirement.. After that the town hired the local sheriffs department to be the police.. Much better situation....

 

I just got back from camping for 4 days in SW Colo. Very green, all the rivers are at their banks and there is very little traffic. Maybe I'm a bit early but there are a lot fewer people than usual.

As of yesterday, Independence was still closed. I drove over CO133/92 between Carbondale and Delta and it is a must do on a bike. Zero traffic and McClure pass is stunning. 550 from Silverton to Ouray is amazing as is CO145 up the Delores river from Delores to Telluride.

Have a blast.

 

The latest news is that it will open this Thursday, but to stay safe I would say this weekend! It should be a nice ride with all the melting snow in the high country and the green every where.