Winter and shoulder-season camping around Estes Park

2026 campground closing dates

• Aspenglen closed at noon on September 28, 2026; Timber Creek closed at noon on October 5, 2026. [NPS]
• Glacier Basin and Longs Peak are closed for the 2026/2027 winter season; NPS hasn't posted 2027 dates. [NPS]
• Moraine Park closes for summer at noon on October 19, 2026 and reopens for winter camping at 1 p.m. the same day. [NPS]

Moraine Park in winter

Open sites: Loop A sites 1–62 and all of Loops B, C and E (groups of 8 or more use a Loop E group site). Running water and restrooms are in Loops A, B and C, with vault toilets in Loops B and E. The dump station and fresh water fill near the ranger station stay open; there are no water hookups at any site, and electric sites are only in Loops B and C. [NPS]

Winter fees are $30 a night for a standard site and $55 with electric, paid with Scan & Pay in the Recreation.gov app or at the Beaver Meadows or Fall River entrance. Firewood and ice aren't sold in winter; the nearest supplies are in Estes Park. Campsites aren't plowed or shoveled — bring a shovel. Between November 1 and April 30 you can camp up to 14 nights in the park. [NPS]

Trail Ridge Road and winter driving

Trail Ridge Road (US-34) normally closes to through travel in mid-October and reopens in the last week of May, weather permitting; in 2025 it closed on November 14, and it reopened on May 29, 2026. In winter it's gated at Many Parks Curve on the east side and at the Colorado River Trailhead on the west, so Timber Creek and Grand Lake are a long drive around from Estes Park. Status line: 970-586-1222. [NPS][NPS]

Bear Lake Road is open year-round; expect snow and ice in winter and spring. Temporary closures can happen at any time with fall weather. [NPS]

Timed entry in the shoulder season

In 2026, timed entry for most of the park ended October 12 and for the Bear Lake Road corridor October 18. After that no timed entry reservation is listed, but a park entrance pass is always required. [NPS]

Forest Service campgrounds in the shoulder season

On the Forest Service status table, Olive Ridge and Pawnee closed for 2026 on September 13. Camp Dick switched to first come, first served on September 7; Camp Dick and Peaceful Valley both close November 15. Fees are reduced when a campground's water system is off. [USDA Forest Service][USDA Forest Service]

Water shutoff & dump station status

Each value comes from the linked official page on the checked date; private parks show only what their listing states. "Not listed" means no source we use states it — call ahead before relying on water or a dump station in the shoulder season.