Rocky Mountain National Park to take input on day use visitor access

Rocky Mountain National Park officials have announced they will take public input on a long-range Day Use Visitor Access Strategy.

They say they hope to determine how to provide visitor access while still protecting the fundamental resources and values of the park.

“We hope to hear from current park visitors as well as those who have told us they no longer visit Rocky Mountain National Park because of crowding and congestion,” Park Superintendent DarlaSidles said in a news release.

She said officials hope to help identify shared values, clarify key issues, and begin to develop potential management strategies to help the park prepare a longterm day use strategy.

According to the release, Rocky Mountain National Park has experienced a 44% increase in visitation since 2012, resulting in degraded natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of the visitor experience, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and a strain on the park’s facilities and daily operations.

In 2019, 4.67 million visitors came to Rocky Mountain NationalPark, but the number dropped to 3.3 million in 2020 with a closure followed by limits on entry imposed during the pandemic.

This year the park has announced plans to start a temporary timed entry reservation system on May 28 as a pilot program.

Two types of reservations are available — one allowing access to theBear Lake Road Corridor (from the junction of Trail Ridge Road tothe Bear Lake Trailhead) and the rest of the park from 5 a.m. to 6p.m., and the second allowing access to the rest of Rocky MountainNational Park, excluding the Bear Lake Road corridor, from 9 a.m. to3 p.m. The reservations are currently on sale for the period from May 28through June 30. The next release will be on June 1 for all of July and any remaining slots in June. Reservations will become available on July 1 for August, Aug. 1 forSeptember, and on Sept. 1 for October and any remaining days inSeptember. According to the park website, initially 25% of permits will be held and available for purchase the day prior at 5 p.m. No permits will be sold at the park. According to the release, the goal of the input process is to identify strategies to help protect park resources, offer varied opportunities for quality visitor experiences, enhance visitor and staff safety, and coincide with the park’s operational capacity.

The 60-day public comment period begins May 21 and runs throughJuly 19.

There also will be two virtual public meetings, one at 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, and the second at 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 25.

At the meetings the public can learn more about the purpose of the project, key issues, desired conditions for day use visitor access, potential management strategies, ask questions of staff and get information on how to provide formal written comments through thePlanning, Environment and Public Comment website.

To participate in the May 20 virtual meeting, register at bit.ly/3tETlgJ.

To register for the May 25 meeting, go to bit.ly/2RzscOI.

Those who register will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. It is recommended to join the webinar via computer.

Recording of both meetings will be posted online afterward and comments can be submitted online beginning May 21.

Article Originally posted at https://www.reporterherald.com/2021/05/08/rocky-mountain-national-park-to-take-input-on-day-use-visitor-access/