Rocky Mountain Current and Average Weather

Rocky Mountain National Park has two distinct climates. The Continental Divide runs northwest to southeast through the center of the park. This accounts for the two climate patterns - dry on the east side near Estes Park and more humid with twice the precipitation on the west side near Grand Lake. Temperatures are moderate at the lowest elevations, but quickly become much colder as elevation increases. The top of Trail Ridge Road, at over 12,000 feet, is likely to be cold any time of year, and may see snow at any time. It may be 20°F cooler at this altitude than the lower parts of the park. The statistics below are taken from the town of Estes Park, and are representative of the conditions on the park's lower east side, which includes areas such as Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and Bear Lake.