DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver has been feeling the summer heat for a few weeks now, but at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, it's cool enough that some roads are just now opening from winter closures.

Rocky Mountain National Park announced on Friday that Old Fall River Road, which closed for the winter on Oct. 8, has opened for the season, offering visitors an up-close look at the high country.

Old Fall River Road was the first auto route to offer access to the high country in RMNP. Today, Trail Ridge Road is the more popular and vehicle-friendly route in the park and is known for being the highest continuous paved road in the U.S.

But Old Fall River Road holds its charm as a "motor nature trail," according to the National Park Service. The one-way gravel road winds through 11 uphill miles with tight switchbacks leading from Horseshoe Park to Fall River Pass, reaching 11,796 feet above sea level.

There are no guardrails, and the speed limit is 15 mph, which the NPS website says is a clear indication that the journey is not for the impatient. Sometimes, the trees are so close to the road that motorists can touch them.

"The journey to the alpine world at the top of Old Fall River Road is relaxing. The experience is one to be savored," the NPS website states.

Old Fall River Road first opened in 1920, but it has a long history. According to the NPS, the road follows a route traveled by Native American hunters in search of game.

Old Fall River Road is one of many roads in Colorado that are only open for a few months of the year. Visitors have a limited time frame to check it out before it closes again ahead of winter.