Rocky Mountain National Park in Larimer County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Old Fall River Road

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2015

1. Old Fall River Road Marker

Inscription. To drive along Old Fall River Road is to travel back in time. The slower pace of driving on a winding dirt road recalls a time when traveling in a national park was both challenging and enchanting.

From 1920 to 1932, Fall River Road was the only motor route across Rocky Mountain National Park. Today, this road is open to uphill traffic only. Steep grades, narrow lanes, and hairpin curves still challenge motorists as they ascend more than 3,000 feet to Fall River Pass (11,796'). The more modern Trail Ridge Road replaced Fall River Road as the main route between Estes Park and Grand Lake in 1932.

Erected by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 40° 26.463′ N, 105° 45.243′ W. Marker is in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, in Larimer County. It is on Old Fall River Road near Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34). Located at the Alpine Visitors Center overlook. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Old Fall River Road, Estes Park CO 80517, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Glacial Cirque (a few steps from this marker); Gore Range (approx. one mile away); Trail Ridge Road at Rock Cut

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(approx. 2.3 miles away); Roger Wolcott Toll (approx. 2.4 miles away); Beaver Trade (approx. 3.4 miles away); Continental Divide (approx. 3.4 miles away); Horseshoe Park (approx. 5½ miles away); Changing Times Bring Changing Uses (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia article on the Fall River Road. (Submitted on September 27, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. National Park Service site about the road. (Submitted on September 27, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Old Fall River Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2015

2. Old Fall River Road

The dirt curving road on the left middle is the upper part of the Old Fall River Road.

Glacial cirque, birthplace of many glaciers (below the marker). image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2015

3. Glacial cirque, birthplace of many glaciers (below the marker).

Trail Ridge Store & Cafe to the left of markers. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 14, 2015

4. Trail Ridge Store & Cafe to the left of markers.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 840 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 27, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.