Drive Old Fall River Road

Estes Park, Colorado

4.6/5

based on 5 reviews

Save

View all 7 photos

All 7 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Russell Winterling

This route offers breathtaking views, countless photo opportunities, and an experience you will not forget. Only available July 4th-September.

This amazing drive starts after entering at the Fall River Entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park (although any entrance will work this is just the fastest route). Follow Fall River Road just past Sheep Lakes and take your first right onto Endo Valley Rd. From here travel to the Endovalley picnic area, you will see an entrance sign for Old Fall River Road, you have made it.

From here you will travel up a steep 16% grade dirt road for about 9 miles to the Alpine Visitor Center, here you can explore the high country and read about the nearby mountain peaks. On your way up you will follow Fall River and encounter several small waterfalls and small pull off areas where you can get out stretch your legs and take some pictures. Near the top there are some glacier fed steams with impressive waterfalls and cascades just asking for their picture to be taken. Once you've reached the top you must take either Trail Ridge Rd or Beaver Meadows Rd back down. I would recommend Trail Ridge as it offers grand views over some of the park's tallest peaks.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Chillin

Photography

Dog Friendly

Forest

Picnic Area

Scenic

Waterfalls

Drive Old Fall River Road Reviews

PRO

Lucas Bremer

PRO

Drive Old Fall River Road

07/14/20

A great rare glimpse of the old world in the parks. Make sure your vehicle isn’t loo long and sits high enough to make the switch backs and get over the potholes. This road is only open after the snow has melted along it. Some years it opens Memorial Day, some years it isn’t open after July Fourth.

5.0

Johnna Foster

Drive Old Fall River Road

11/22/17

Such a beautiful drive. Especially if you are trying to kill and little time and are completely beat from hiking and climbing the day before.

4.0

Lisa Groene

Drive Old Fall River Road

08/24/16

Outstanding views of the mountain range and valleys! A lot less traffic than Trail Ridge Road.

5.0

Carolyn Hoyt

Drive Old Fall River Road

05/21/16

Extremely pretty drive and very fun! Steep drop offs on the sides of the road. Not for the weak of heart!

5.0

Explorer

Jason Hatfield

Explorer

Drive Old Fall River Road

04/20/16

Definitely a pretty drive with less traffic than Trail Ridge Road, make sure to stop often to really enjoy all it has to offer. The past few years the road has seen construction closures and delayed openings due late season snow, be prepared for it to not be open.

4.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Drive through Rocky Mountain NP to Moraine Park

In this specific case, the adventure is focused on the sounds. At night in September and October you can expect to hear the eerie bugling from Elk reverberating around the mountains. Even after an hour or two I was still getting goose-bumps listening to them. Start your adventure at the Fall River entrance to the park, driving slowly and with the windows down to hear for elk as you may pass b...

Hike The Mummy Kill (a.k.a. Mummy Mania)

Wanna kill some mummies!? Of course you do! Who doesn't? Mount Chapin: 12,454 feet; Mount Chiquita: 13,069 feet; Ypsilon Mountain: 13,514 feet; Fairchild Mountain: 13,502 feet; Hagues Peak: 13,560 feet; Mummy Mountain: 13,425 feet The Mummy Kill is the perfect all-day hike for those seasoned hikers looking to push themselves a little further. The objective of the Mummy Kill is to hike the ...

Hike to Lawn Lake, Rocky Mountain NP

This 4 to 8 hour day hike leads to Lawn Lake, located inside a large basin at tree line, and surrounded by Fairchild Mountain, Hagues Peak, and Mummy Mountain. Lawn Lake is among the largest subapline lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you ascend into the sub-alpine zone, you will be greeted by the sound of running water, and soon rewarded with beautiful, lakeside views. Along the way, ...

Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail

To get to the trailhead, enter Rocky Mountain National Park on the 36. Keep right at the fork with the 34 and then you'll take your next left and the parking for the trailhead is the first parking area on your right. There is an outhouse at the trailhead too, so if you need to take a pit stop before beginning your hike this is a great place to do so. Once on the trail you will begin the slow...

Rocky Mountain NP's Trail Ridge Road

Start by entering Rocky Mountain National Park through Estes Park, Colorado. After acquiring a map start your ascent on Trail Ridge Rd (the road is closed in winter). The Road will take you up in elevation into the mountains so a good car is strongly recommended. As you wind up the switch backs, the tree line will start to thin and you will come upon an overlook called Medicine Bow Curve which...

Hike Deer Mountain

Beginning in Rocky Mountain National Park near the Deer Ridge Junction (where US 34 & US 36 meet), park your car in one of the 20 spots on either side of the road. Start at the trailhead booth and head north, keeping to the right-side trail at the first intersection about a tenth of a mile from the start (following South Deer Mountain Trail). You'll follow the very obvious trail, skirting a...

Drive Old Fall River Road

Details

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Drive Old Fall River Road Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Drive through Rocky Mountain NP to Moraine Park

Hike The Mummy Kill (a.k.a. Mummy Mania)

Hike to Lawn Lake, Rocky Mountain NP

Hike the Ypsilon Lake Trail

Rocky Mountain NP's Trail Ridge Road

Hike Deer Mountain

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps