Trail Ridge Road, one of Colorado's premier alpine scenic byways, cuts across Rocky Mountain National Park and the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (10,758 elevation). It would seem that the Divide should be the highest point along the roof of the Rockies road, but that point falls between Gore Range and Lava Cliffs overlooks, just south of the Alpine Visitor Center. At this high altitude (12,183 feet), the wind-swept landscape exhibits only sparse vegetation. Many of the plants in this alpine tundra ecosystem are similar to ones found in the artic region.
This Picture of the Day shows that the park's lower elevations are heavily covered with fir, spruce and aspen trees. Summer wild flowers also adorn the roadsides of U.S. Route 34. Trail Ridge Road is usually open from Memorial Day to mid October, depending on favorable weather conditions..