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-   -   drivin from estes park through rmnp, 34 or 36? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/drivin-from-estes-park-through-rmnp-34-or-36-a-891806/)

Grisslehamn May 22nd, 2011 12:11 AM

drivin from estes park through rmnp, 34 or 36?
 
which way 34 or 36 when leaving ep?

martym May 22nd, 2011 04:20 AM

Trail Ridge Road (the highway through RMNP) is highway 34.

qwovadis May 22nd, 2011 04:40 AM

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_Ridge_Road

usually stay at stanleyhotel.com

up 34 the spine of the rockies over Milner pass

to Grand Lake...

A truly awesome journey,

tekwriter May 22nd, 2011 06:10 AM

I'm guessing you're leaving Estes Park going east back towards Denver, right? If so, then both routes will get you there with quite different scenery.

Hwy 36 takes you into the foothills for a pleasant ride through the pine forests with some high vistas. You'd arrive in Lyons in about 30 minutes, then would need to go through the heart of Boulder to continue onto Denver, which sometimes can be congested, but it's nice to have a look if you haven't been there before.

Hwy 34 has a much more dramatic portion through the Big Thompson Canyon, definitely worth seeing. The canyon is high and narrow in places and you can often spot big horn sheep closer to Estes. After about 30 minutes, you end up in Loveland, from which you take I-25 to get back to Denver. It's a little longer route and the highway isn't that scenic.

When we travel to Estes several times a year, we usually take 36 to get there, and 34 home. It's all good!

happytrailstoyou May 22nd, 2011 08:14 AM

What about 7 and 72 to Nederland, south of Estes Park? Is that drive also scenic?

HTTY

Grisslehamn May 23rd, 2011 05:52 AM

no , people. im leaving estes drivin to grand lake through the park but the first part is 34 or 36. which one should i take?

Gretchen May 23rd, 2011 08:22 AM

Trail Ridge Road

fmpden May 23rd, 2011 12:22 PM

Doesn't make much difference. Only separated for a short distance and then becomes 34 or Trail Ridge Road over the top. I assume your travel is sometime this summer. While the target to open Trail Ridge is always Memorial Day weekend, CDPT is struggling with record snow fall and continuing snowfall such that they might miss this year. And if it doesn't quite snowing soon, it could be a problem keeping it open.


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