Estes Park is expecting light snow or snow showers throughout the day becoming steadier and heavier in the late afternoon. Temperatures will rise to just above 30 degrees.  Additional snowfall of 1 to 2 inches through 5:30pm.  This evening temperatures drop to a low of 17 with an additional 4 to 6 inches of snow expected.

Tuesday we are expecting early snow showers that will become steadier snow in the afternoon. Highs in the low 30s. Snow accumulating anywhere from 2 to 4 inches during the day.  Tuesday night will bring an additional 2 to 4 inches.

The following photos were taken this morning in the Bear Lake area.

https://picasaweb.google.com/117855704395016629211/SnowFallInRockyMountainNationalParkApril152013?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN60hIa0l8mUqQE&feat=directlink

As of 9:15 a.m. this morning we had 15 new inches of snow at Bear Lake (9,475′ elevation) on the east side of the park.  Our total snow on the ground at Bear Lake was 58 inches.

In early 2012, a major road construction project began on the lower section of Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Bear Lake Road is one of the most popular scenic roads in Rocky Mountain National Park and provides year-round visitor access to a variety of wonderful recreational opportunities.  Bear Lake Road was completed in 1928 and until 2003, no significant improvements were made. No major road work has taken place on the lower section for more than 80 years.

Beginning in mid-March, visitors on weekdays may experience up to two 30-minute delays in each direction and beginning late May Bear Lake Road will be accessible by free shuttle bus only.  Private vehicles will be allowed all day on weekends. Although private vehicles will be allowed to travel on weekends through the construction area, shuttle buses will also be running. Visitors may experience some delays on weekends.

For more information on the Bear Lake Road Reconstruction project or on the Free Shuttle Buses visit http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/bearlakeroad_reconstruction.htm

Celebrate Earth Day at Rocky Mountain National Park!  A special Earth Day event will be held Saturday, April 20, at the Fall River Visitor Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Drop by the Fall River Visitor Center and have fun learning how to become better stewards of our shared environment.  There will be an Arts and Crafts station to create cool Earth Day artwork and park staff and scientists will be on hand to share information on a variety of topics!   The schedule of events follows:

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Family Discovery Day Program

11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. – Life on the Edge Program

1:30 p.m. – Story Time with a Ranger

10:30 to noon – Participate in a trash pick-up project and get free park admittance for the day!  Come dressed for the weather.  Equipment will be provided.

There will be park greenhouse tours from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Come see young plants springing to life.  Directions to the greenhouse will be available from the Fall River Visitor Center or Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park, please call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit www.nps.gov/room

Estes Park and RMNP offer outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing.  Bobcats, mountain lions and porcupines are well established in the Estes Park area but not easily spotted during the day.  The ultimate wildlife watching experience is viewing animals’ behavior without disturbing their normal activities.

Following a few simple guidelines will increase your chances of a “good look”:

- Try to blend with the landscape by wearing natural colors and walking softly.  It helps if you’re as free of added scent as possible as well.

- Stay on the sidelines, using binoculars or telephoto lenses to avoid crowding your subject.

- Move slowly, act uninterested, avoid staring.  Animals can detect tension and, if you try to sneak up on them, they’ll interpret your behavior as that of a predator and run.

- Please do not feed the wildlife.  Feeding produces a dependence on unnatural foods not healthy for survival in the wild.  What’s more, it’s illegal.

Fall, winter and spring are the best seasons for wildlife watching.  Elk observed at a distance on the tundra in summer are frequent visitors in town during the winter.  In the fall, elk and bighorn sheep ruts produce spectacular sights and sounds.  In spring, deer and elk sport new sets of velvet-covered antlers.

Wildlife Watching Tips: Your car serves as a good “blind” for watching wildlife, protecting you and the animals from one another.  Pull all the way off the road, turn off the motor and the lights.  Keep young children and pets quiet and inside the car.  Don’t trespass on private property and, when in the national park or national forest, observe posted signs.

Photo Tips: Respect the safety and welfare of your subject, aiming for photos of calm, dignified, unstressed animals.  Morning and afternoon light are best, with the sun at your back.  If you don’t have a telephoto lens, show the animal in its natural surroundings rather than trying to move in too close.  You could lose the shot altogether by spooking the subject.

To promote tourism in National Parks throughout the United States, the National Park Service is offering a handful of free entrance fee dates to all visitors.

April 22-26 (National Park Week)

August 25 (National Park Service Birthday)

September 28 (National Public Lands Day)

November 9-11 (Veterans Day weekend)

All you have to do is show up!

Make sure to take advantage of this great opportunity at Rocky Mountain National Park or the National Park of your choice. This is the National Park deal of the year.

Boulder Brook is located just one mile from the Fall River Road entrance!

From Friday, April 12 through Wednesday, April 24, all participating restaurants offer a three course prix fixe for $20.13 all night.  Plus, some restaurants will offer breakfast and lunch specials, or upgraded diner packages at $30.13 and/or $40.14.  Check out the list of restaurants and their menus at http://www.facebook.com/EstesParkRestaurantWeek or www.dineestespark.com.

Then, on Thursday, April 25, area restaurants gather for Taste of Estes!