Current Fire Information & Regulations

Rocky Mountain National Park Announces Plans for Prescribed Burn on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 if Conditions Allow

Road Closure Planned on U.S. 36/Trail Ridge Road Between Bear Lake Junction and Deer Mountain Junction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Based upon the potential for favorable weather and conditions, fire managers at Rocky Mountain National Park are planning to conduct a prescribed burn on Wednesday, November 19. Firefighters plan to burn up to 294 acres. This burn area is located inside Rocky Mountain National Park, west of Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and near Upper Beaver Meadows Road. Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which includes mainly grasses and small shrubs, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation.

Due to the proximity of burn operations near the road, U.S. Highway 36 inside Rocky Mountain National Park will be temporarily closed from Deer Ridge Junction to Bear Lake Road Junction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beaver Meadows Entrance and Bear Lake Road will remain open.

Interested in taking a scenic drive to Many Parks Curve? Visitors should plan to enter the park via Fall River Entrance/U.S. Highway 34.

The primary goal of the project is to reduce the threat of wildland fire to adjacent communities and NPS infrastructure by using prescribed fire to reduce the amount of fuels available in this area. When fighting the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 and the Fern Lake Fire in 2012, firefighters were able to take advantage of previous and existing prescribed fire and hazardous fuels treatment areas that provided a buffer between the fire and the town of Estes Park. Prior hazard fuels projects were instrumental in stopping the fire from jumping Bear Lake Road and Trail Ridge Road.

If conditions are favorable, ignitions are planned to occur on Wednesday, November 19. "With the anticipated weather this week, conditions are right to complete another section of the Front Country Prescribed Fire," said Nathan Hallam, Fuels Specialist for Rocky Mountain National Park. "Winds are expected to be enough to disperse smoke but not put containment lines at risk and precipitation later in the week will help extinguish any lingering heat after operations are complete." Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of the operation and will be patrolling the burned area. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn, mostly during the warmest part of the day. With cooler temperatures in the evening, smoke may linger and accumulate in low-lying areas.

Additional information may be shared on InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/cormp-front-country-prescribed-fire, on www.nps.gov/romo and on Rocky Mountain National Park’s official social media channels.

Smoke may be visible both inside and outside the park. Every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts on visitors and the adjacent community; however, some smoke is anticipated to disperse east of the park. Smoke may affect your health: For more information see https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health.

For the safety of visitors and firefighters, park visitors will not be allowed to stop along U.S. Highway 36 near the burn area or walk within or near the burn area.
Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability and environmental regulations are continually monitored as a part of any fire management operation. For more information please contact the park Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

Fire Restrictions

Rocky Mountain National Park always has Stage 1 fire restrictions in place where campfires are prohibited throughout RMNP, except within designated campfire rings in picnic areas and frontcountry campgrounds.

The use of portable charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves and propane/butane-fueled gas stoves is allowed.

Fireworks are always prohibited within Rocky Mountain National Park. Visitors are urged to use caution and vigilance regarding the use of fire in authorized locations.

These Rules are Always in Effect

• Fires, including grills and charcoal briquettes, are only allowed in designated areas and sites where a metal fire ring or grate is provided. These areas include developed campgrounds, some picnic areas, and some designated wilderness campsites. Campfires and grills are not allowed anywhere else in the park.
• Petroleum-fueled stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. A permit is required to use a petroleum-fueled stove in designated wilderness sites.
• The park may enforce stricter fire regulations, including fire bans.

Fire Safety Tips

• To report a fire in the park, call 911.

• Never leave a fire unattended. Before leaving or going to sleep, completely extinguish your fire by dousing it with water and stirring the ashes until there is no more heat, smoke, or embers.

• Be careful with equipment such as stoves, lanterns, heaters, and grills. Avoid spilling flammable substances, store fuel away from appliances, and allow equipment to cool.

• Discard cigarettes and matches properly. Completely extinguish and dispose of smoking materials in a cigarette receptacle or carry them out of the park with you.

Area Closures - Updated May 2025

Approximately 30,000 acres, or 10 percent of Rocky Mountain National Park, were impacted by the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires of 2020.

West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

• Sun Valley Trail has reopened.
• The area and trail west of the Sun Valley Trail, used for angler access to the Colorado River, remains closed (see map).

Northwest Area of Rocky Mountain National Park

• Upper Mummy Pass Trail is closed to all users.

Safety Tips when Recreating in Burn Areas

Park visitors should be aware of additional hazards when recreating in burn areas including:

• Burned-out stump holes where the ground may be weak and unstable
• Unstable dead trees, especially in windy conditions
• Loose rocks, logs and rolling debris
• Flash flooding and significant debris flow possible in burn areas
• Dry, hot conditions with little forest canopy to provide shade

Park staff will continue to assess areas on both sides of the park for fire impacts, safety and downed trees, erosion and rock fall.

Overview of the East Troublesome Fire

On October 21, 2020, the East Troublesome Fire ran approximately 18 miles before it moved into the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, and then spotted approximately 1.5 miles from the head of Tonahutu Creek on the west side of the Continental Divide to the head of Spruce Creek on the east side of the Continental Divide.

Rapid evacuations took place in Grand Lake on October 21. Evacuations for the majority of the Estes Valley were implemented on October 22, as weather predictions forecast major winds on the night of October 23 through October 24 pushing the fire further to the east.

The East Troublesome Fire was the largest fire in Rocky Mountain National Park’s history. It burned over 21,000 acres within the park.

Firefighting actions and favorable weather on October 24 and 25, helped halt the major movement of the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak Fires.

• For information on the East Troublesome Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7242/
• For information on the Cameron Peak Fire visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6964/

Fire Weather Information

To learn more about weather conditions in the park, including fire weather watches and advisories, visit the National Weather Service’s page for Rocky Mountain National Park.