Great trails await on Old Fall River Road

Alluvial Fan Trail. Rocky Mountain NPS photo.

Before the modern, safer U.S. Hwy. 34 was constructed, Rocky Mountain National Park visitors traversed the park via Old Fall River Road. That road still can be driven, offering access to sights usually not be seen by others exploring the main tourism areas.

To reach Old Fall River Road, take U.S. Hwy. 34 west from Estes Park. Turn right/north onto Endovalley Road. The road turns to dirt and becomes Old Fall River Road right after the turnoff to Endovalley. It closes during winter due to the heavy snowfall.

Among the many trails along Old Fall River Road:
• Lawn Lake Trail – Immediately north of the Hwy. 34 junction, the northern portion of the trail heads to Roaring River and then meets the Ypsilon Trail. The southern route crosses Hwy. 34 and goes to the meadow West Horseshoe Park.
• Alluvial Fan Trail – The short hike crosses a spread of rocks and sediment left by Roaring River where it slows before it joins the Fork River. An east and a west trailhead are along the road.
• Chasm Falls Trail – Literally less than a hundred feet in length, the trail heads from a parking lot alongside the road to the Fall River waterfall. The rock here funnels the water into a narrow gorge where it drops 25 feet.
• Chapin Creek Trail – The trail starts about nine miles from the Hwy. 34 junction and heads north to Chapin Pass, which sits at 11,202 feet. There the trail diverges: the north route goes to Chapin Creek and a meadow; the south route goes to an alpine tundra and the Mt. Chapin summit.
• Alpine Ridge Trail – After crossing alpine tundra, the road ends at the Alpine Visitor Center and rejoins Hwy. 34. This trail can be taken to a point 300 feet above the center.

Learn more about the park's day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at Rocky Mountain National Park guidebook.