About This Tour
Trail Ridge Road climbs to 12,183 feet—the highest continuous paved road in America. Up here, the trees disappear, the air thins, and you're standing in true alpine tundra, surrounded by peaks and sky. It's one of the most accessible high-altitude experiences anywhere, just an hour from Denver.
This GPS-triggered audio tour covers Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road, taking you through four distinct ecosystems in a single drive. You'll witness how altitude transforms everything—from dense forests to fragile tundra where plants grow just inches per year.
Tour Coverage
The tour plays stories anywhere you travel along the orange route. Just download the tour and start driving along the route.
What You'll Learn
- Why trees simply cannot survive above treeline—and what does
- The four distinct ecosystems you'll pass through on one drive
- Where to watch the famous fall elk rut (and hear them bugle)
- Ute and Arapaho trails through these mountains, centuries before roads
- How to recognize altitude sickness and what to do about it
What's Included
- 519 GPS-triggered story sites
- Offline functionality - service is limited, especially on Trail Ridge
- Coverage of Trail Ridge Road and Bear Lake Road
- Altitude tips—you'll feel the thin air above 10,000 feet
- One-year access to the tour
Know Before You Go
- Open year-round, 24 hours — A valid entrance fee or park pass is always required.
- Timed entry reservations — Timed entry permits may be required during peak season. Check the park website for current requirements.
- Trail Ridge Road — This high-elevation road closes seasonally due to snow. Call 970-586-1222 for recorded road status updates.
- High altitude — The park reaches over 12,000 feet. Prepare for altitude sickness, rapid weather changes, and cooler temperatures.
- Contact the park — Call 970-586-1206 for current information (8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily in summer).
For more details, visit the National Park Service - Rocky Mountain Plan Your Visit page.
Ready to Explore?
Download your tour and experience the roof of the Rockies.