Limited campsites scheduled to open June 4.

Just a short time after camping in Colorado's state parks resumed, Rocky Mountain National Park has shared some good news. Beginning May 27, RMNP will start allowing visitors back into its boundaries. The park initially closed on March 20 amid coronavirus concerns of local communities, and it will be taking a phased approach to reopening. 

Park officials are working with the State of Colorado to follow the "safer-at-home" guidance, as well as with county and local officials, as it starts increase recreational access and services. As such, officials are telling us to expect a much-different park experience this year. 

 "The health and safety of park visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. Rocky Mountain National Park staff continue to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored," said an RMNP press release. 

Here's what we know so far:

Camping: parts of Moraine Park and Glacier Basin Campgrounds will open on June 4. About half of the campsites will be available by reservation only. Aspenglen, Timber Creek, and Longs Peak campgrounds will remain closed.

Backcountry campsites: permits will be issued starting on May 27. 

Shuttle bus operations: shuttles within the Bear Lake Road corridor will begin on May 27. Capacity on the shuttles will be limited to 15 passengers per trip. 

For those who already had camping reservations in late May, officials should have contacted you about canceling or rescheduling. Park staff will continue to evaluate the opening of other campgrounds, shuttle runs, and operations as the summer progresses.

Even though RMNP is reopening, park officials also remind us that the Colorado Tourism Board is discouraging out-of-state visitors, and it's still requested that Colorado residents recreate at close to home as possible. This may mean waiting to schedule a visit until safer-at-home guidelines change.

"The current Safer at Home guidance for the State of Colorado encourages Colorado residents to 'limit activities to your immediate community, not travel more than 10 miles from your home to recreate or vacation and not travel to mountain areas.'"

What do you think about RMNP's phased reopening? Let us know in the comments.