"Note to self: Avoid RMNP during the rutt on a free day and a big event in Estes."
YOU KNOW IT !!!
But now for the numbers via the track log (granted I left via Fall River exit, which I thought would be quicker, but the meadow was choked with more gawkers)
Morning trip through the park - Beaver Meadows to west exit 1h 18m;
Evening trip through the park - west entrance to Fall River exit 1h 26m.
But it FELT like 30 minutes longer.
`tis rare to make use of the few passing zones in the park but when a pickup is rolling 15 mph under the limit, not making use of pull-outs, multi-car pass here we go.
Tom - how was traffic in downtown Estes? I went Fall River to avoid it and was amazed at all of the curbside parking on US-34 near the visitor center where cars aren't normally seen.
edit: but I'm still happy to take the slow and scenic routes and avoid 70 & 25.
I also visited the curiosity of Larimer County road 22h. It was closed after the flood and on the way back to FoCo I checked to see if it had opened - it is!! (it could have been closed permanently). 22h is a two-way, one lane, with blind corners, shelf road with no guard rail with 40' drop... It's short but does make a wonderful short-cut route between The Dam Store and Masonville / FoCo (
Google map)