Reservations for Rocky Mountain National Park’s largest campground remain unavailable for this summer due to a major modernization project that began last summer.
The 244-site Moraine Park campground is undergoing extensive “rehabilitation,” including the relocation of some campsites away from wetlands, replacing failing water and sewer lines, burying three miles of power lines, and making sites more accessible for people in wheelchairs.
Campsite reservations go on sale six months in advance, and sales for other park campgrounds this summer are selling rapidly according to park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson, but Moraine Park reservations are on hold for now.
“The contractor has indicated that they will have the project completed by early summer,” Patterson said. “We want to be cautious, though, about when we open it for reservations so we don’t impact campers’ plans for this summer, if there are delays. We won’t be making reservations available until we know exactly when it will reopen.”
The closure of Moraine Park represents more than half of the 472 developed campsites on the east side of the park. It typically serves about 30,000 campers annually.
Reservations are available through recreation.gov.
Construction on the park’s Fall River Entrance continues. A new office and three entrance kiosks are being added, along with a fast pass lane, and the road is being widened.
“The contract is being extended through May 21 to accommodate paving operations,” Patterson said. “Much of the utility and drainage work has been completed. Construction of the buildings, masonry, and other site elements is ongoing, with paving to occur when conditions allow.”
Once again, the park will impose a timed-entry reservation system this year, beginning the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. This summer’s rules will be similar to those in effect last summer. Timed-entry reservations for Memorial Day weekend and June go on sale May 1.
