Estes Park under water!

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Northern Colorado has been having lots of rain and flash flooding the last couple of days. Estes Park (gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park) has had some serious flooding. The WorldMark Estes Park is closed and currently says no arrivals until Monday, but the flooding has gotten worse up there today. At one point all roads in and out of Estes Park were closed to general traffic.

Here are a few links with information, pics, videos, etc.:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=686801504681447
http://k99.com/thompson-river-floodi...nd-threatened/
http://k99.com/photos-from-the-flood...ound-colorado/

If anyone is heading there soon, you may want to rethink your plans.

Kurt

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

EP and the area between there and Longmont are the areas we used to visit every January. I can see how heavy rains could easily do what it did.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I'm sick. I don't know what to do. Everyone says go???? shaggy

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

US 34 from Loveland to Estes Park (Big Thompson valley) was totally destroyed today. This is one of the two major roads to Estes Park from the Front Range. I have no idea how long it will take to repair (after the waters go down), but I can only imagine that it will be several months. With winter approaching, I wouldn't be surprised if it is closed until next summer.



Yes, there is a road under all that water:


Estes Park is a mess as well. The whole downtown was basically a river yesterday through today. So sad.

Kurt

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I remember living in Denver when the Big Thompson last did this. My daughter, who was in elementary school, said it was the first time she realized scary things could happen to people and that there was no control possible. These pictures are just horrible.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

I'm sick. I don't know what to do. Everyone says go???? shaggy

How much longer do you have until you leave? Obviously, Denver will be safe, but will you be able to explore Estes Park? Maybe not. Could you change plans and divert to the Western Slope?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Pigsdad, it is hard to believe those pictures are showing a road, not a river. I am sorry for all those who live in the area. Very, very scary.

Shaggy, I hope you can salvage a least part of your trip.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Just saw this:

Sep 14, 2013 8:51 p.m.

Rocky Mountain National Park is closed to all recreational use.
The National Park Servcie said the closure includes the backcountry, all trails, secondary roads, picnic areas, and park campgrounds. Campers have relocated outside the park.

The east side of Rocky Mountain National park is under an emergency disaster declaration. The park will be closed until further notice. It is too soon to determine when sections of the park may reopen or when we will have the capacity to manage recreational use.

Trail Ridge Road, which is U.S. Highway 34 through Rocky Mountain National Park, is open for essential travel only.

Trail Ridge Road will remain open as long as weather and road conditions permit. It is highest continuous paved road in the United States, topping out at 12,183 feet.

At the request of the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County Emergency Services, park managers have been asked to only allow eastbound traffic to consist of community residents, family members of community residents providing support, emergency services and delivery trucks. This request is being made because the Estes Park community's infrastructure is overwhelmed due to the magnitude of this historic flood event. The limited resources must be focused on response and recovery. No visitors to the area will be allowed to travel east bound, even those with advance plans and reservations in the community.

Conditions continue to change. Trail Ridge Road is closed from the Fall River Entrance to Deer Ridge Junction. Trail Ridge Road is open from Beaver Meadows Entrance, U.S. Highway 36, through to Grand Lake. However, travelers should plan for the possibility of night closures if conditions warrant.

The rest of Phone and internet service is currently unavailable from most of Rocky Mountain National Park. Park personnel are currently unable to receive or make phone calls outside the local area.

U.S. Highways 36 and 34 to Estes Park were heavily damaged by flood waters and remain closed.

Scripps Only Content 2013

Basically, Trail Ridge Road (through RMNP) is the only reliable road in/out of Estes Park right now.

Kurt