Rocky Mountain National Park · Colorado

Utility Area Trails

0.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 30 ft of climbing · 150 ft of descent · 7,764 ft–7,846 ft · asphalt surface · trail class Fully Developed · hiking

Visitor centers

7,846 ft 7,820 ft · 0.1 mi high 7,846 ft

Along the way Beaver Meadows Visitor Center

Hiking with Traction Devices the Park Service's write-up

no dogs

A person is hiking on a snow-covered trail with traction devices
Hiking in winter & spring with traction devices Photo: NPS

Enjoy the winter wonderland that Rocky has to offer from late October to early June. When there is hard-packed snow and ice on the trails, don't forget to carry and use traction devices!

Traction devices help prevent slips and falls when walking on snow and ice. There are many different types of traction devices available. They attact to the bottom of your boots and provide extra grip for the soles of your boots.

Along with traction devices, remember to wear layers of warm clothing and waterproof boots. Hiking poles are also helpful when hiking year-round.

Pets Pets are not allowed on any trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Accessibility During the winter and spring seasons, from late October to early June, expect conditions on trails to vary. Factors like elevation and access to direct sunlight have an impact on the amount of snow or ice that might be on a trail. During the winter and spring seasons, most trails in Rocky Mountain National Park are covered with snow and ice. Traction devices are helpful when hiking on hard-packed snow and ice. For soft and deeper snow, it is best to switch to snowshoes.

This hike on nps.gov

All 162 trails in Rocky Mountain National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.