For GUESTS

Explore Estes Park

Here is our massive compendium of Estes Park’s best!

Weather – A small section about local weather, and what you need to know.

Activities – Hiking isn’t the only thing to do here. There’s great educational opportunities, fun off road adventures, white water rafting, cycling, and so much more.

Hikes – Of course, the hiking here is what brings so many people to Estes Park. It’s world class! Follow the link to our favorites, for all abilities.

Gear and Guides – Click for our favorite gear shops, fly fishing guides, and climbing and ski guides.

Food – Estes Park has slowly become a foodie’s delight over the last few years, particularly with the opening of Bird and Jim and the evolution of the menus of many of our favorite restaurants.

Drink – Three incredible new breweries have recently opene, all rivaling the best in Colorado’s Front Range. We also have a great winery and several outdoor beer gardens.

 

things to do

There are lots of things to do in Estes Park that are outside the National Park, so fret not if you can't get a entry pass during the summer, or if the park is closed due to a government shut down. Which has happened in the past and may happen again in the future. This is a great list to keep handy in case you just want a little more peace and quiet during your trip to Estes.

National Park Stuff

Go Hiking – Obviously! Scroll down to the hiking section to read about the hand-selected favorites.

Visit the alpine – One of the coolest parts of Rocky Mountain National Park is the high alpine tundra along Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest paved roads in the USA. It’s only open in the summer (opening dates depend on snowpack — generally sometime in May to sometime in October), but that’s when the elk are up there. Be sure to visit the Alpine Visitor Center to learn about the mysterious tundra ecosystem.

When Trail Ridge first opens, you very likely may not see much during parts of your journey, as the road will be walled of on either side by six to ten feet of snow. If you’re inclined to get a little more off the beaten path, you can actually drive the old historic Fall River Road up (all dirt, open seasonally), and then come down Trail Ridge Road.

Road conditions for both can be found here. Hours for the visitor center are here.

Learn, Learn, Learn – The Park’s main visitor center, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is  great place to learn about the park itself. Be sure to check out all the various park related activities, from guided hikes to talks on the ecology, biology or geology. The center is open year round. 1000 US-36, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-1206

– RockyGuides: Offer personalized private tours in Rocky Mountain National Park. Let us share our experience and knowledge as you discover the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Our guests depart with a deeper connection that enhances and enriches their visit to Estes Park and Rocky. Book Here!

Outdoor Stuff

Portraits, Family & Wedding Photos – The owners of several Wolf Dens happen to be two of Colorado’s top wedding and portrait photographers. They tend to book out family sessions and elopements on the weekdays and larger weddings on the weekends. Here are their sites, catering to a variety of budgets.

  • Dreamtime Images Weddings – Nathan began shooting weddings full time in 2006, after a career in the newspaper industry. He’s gone on to win 80 wedding and portrait awards in the years since and has shot worldwide. (970) 286-8351.
  • Dreamtime Images Portraits – The portrait branch of Dreamtime Images. Portrait sessions last about 2 hours and include a variety of fun, unknown and unique locations inside the National Park. (970) 286-8351.
  • AamodtStudio – Run by professional rock climber and photographer Rannveig Aamodt, who also owns a Wolf Den on the side of Eagle Cliff Mountain in Estes Park. She has a unique vision deeply tied with nature. (970) 212-6475.

Do Water Sports – The Lake Estes Marina is a great place for fishing licenses, fishing supplies, snacks, drinks, volleyball, horseshoes, picnic areas, and more. You can rent paddle boats, SUP boards, kayaks, motor boats, bikes, surrey bicycles and more. 1770 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-201.

Play Golf – Estes Park offers 9-hole and 18-hole courses, both within a minute or two from the center of downtown. Both courses are incredibly beautiful, offering incredible views of Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, and the entire panorama of the Continental Divide. There’s an awesome driving range at the 18-hole course with an incredible view straight into Longs Peak.

Play Disc Golf – Estes Park has not one but two great disc golf courses, and about an hour away in Nederland is one of the most unique courses in Colorado:

Ride a Horse – There are a number of outfitters in Estes Park that are worth checking out. You can’t really go wrong, but here are our favorite two:

  • Gateway Stables is right at the entrance to the National Park on Fall River Road. You leave here and ride horses directly into the park. Really great outfit, locally owned, and offering half and full day adventures. 4600 Fall River Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-5269.
  • Sombrero Ranches is another of Estes Park’s premiere outfitters, based on Highway 34 near the marina. Sombrero offers all sorts of horse trips into and around the National Park. Alternative locations inside the National Park so you can get deep into the woods. 1895 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8155.

Go Rafting – Rapid Transit is THE local rafting outfit. Note that there are no rivers to raft in in town — rather, they organize trips to the Poudre about an hour and a half away, outside Fort Collins. Awesome adventure nonetheless. 161 Virginia Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7238.

Ride an ATV to a downed airplane – There are a couple of great outfitters in town offering ATV and Jeep tours. Here are our favorites.

  • Estes Park ATV Rentals: The Air Force lost a T-33 military jet at 9,000 feet in the Estes Park backcountry, and these guys will throw you on an ATV and let you loose in the woods to go find it. Way fun afternoon guided adventure and highly recommended. 222 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7400.
  • Wild Side Jeep Tours – Super fun jeep tours both on the paved roads of the National Park and into the dirt roads of the backcountry. You’ll see and learn a lot about local history, wildlife & ecology. Really fun trips, and they bring heaters for cold weather. 212 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8687.

Go To a Fun Park – There are a ton of mini golf courses and fun parks in Estes, but these two stand out for variety and uniqueness.

  • Fun City – Fun City may seem cheesy, but it’s actually a blast, especially for kids. There are bumper cars, go carts, mini golf, a giant slide, a bungee trampoline, gemstone panning, and giant water walking balls. A super fun late afternoon visit! 455 Prospect Village Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2828.
  • Open Air Adventure Park – This is a pretty fun family activity if the kids have had too much hiking. Ropes course, axe throwing, and more on the edge of downtown. Also near mini golf and other fun parks for kids. A great way to let everyone burn off some steam. 490 Prospect Village Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-3066.
Town Stuff

Do Yoga – Estes Park Yoga is the go-to yoga studio in Estes Park, run by a great team with lots of interesting classes. Offers private sessions as well as drop in classes all days but Saturday. 166 S St Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-3254.

See Movies – The Historic Park Theater is a piece of history, towering over the heart of downtown Estes Park. If there’s a good movie playing there (or a fun show/band) make sure to stop in and experience a little bit of history. 130 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8904.

Make Art – The Creativity Cabin is a pretty fun way to spend some time. They have a bunch of pre-made ceramic items like beer steins, coffee mugs and plates. You can bring your favorite craft brew and get busy. They’ll glaze it and ship it to you. 342 W Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 591-2559.

Get Fit – Our local community center, the Estes Park Community Center is *really* good. A pool, hot tub, lazy river, fitness equipment, basketball, an indoor track, ping pong, personal trainers and so much more. Great year round, on rain and snow days or for variety. 660 Community Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8191.

Find Ghosts – The Stanley Hotel is a world famous haunted hotel with a historic whiskey bar offering a bigger selection than anywhere in the state. Fun night: do a flight of tasting whiskeys and then do one of the ghost tours. Super fun evening. Reservations required for the tour. 333 East Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-4000

Visit the YMCA – Our local YMCA of the Rockies has a ton of fun family-centered activities, from archery and a beginner climbing wall to horseback riding, baseball and roller skating. Swing by the Y web site to see some of the various activity guides. There's a great disc golf course there too. 2515 Tunnel Rd, Estes Park, CO 80511. (970) 586-3341.

Winter Activities

Go Skiing – Estes Park is not a typical ski town, but we have great skiing here and nearby. The closest lift-accessible resort is Eldora Mountain, outside of Nederland, about a 55 minute drive. You can rent gear from the Estes Park Mountain Shop for much less than you’d pay on the mountain. Eldora is actually great because it’s orders of magnitude less crowded than the big resorts like Vail or Breckenridge.

We used to have an actual resort in Rocky Mountain National Park, but the lifts were dismantled in the 1980s and we now have the Hidden Valley recreation area, which offers sledding and backcountry skiing where you use randonee, splitboards or telemark skis to hike up, and then you ski down, thus “earning your turns.” Check the Gear & Guides section on who to hire.

Go Snowshoeing – You can rent snowshoes from the Estes Park Mountain Shop and make a self-supported trip into the park on one of our favorite hikes. Alternatively, hire one of the town's great guide services to take you deep into the National Park.

Go Sledding – Hidden Valley inside the National Park builds a sled hill each winter for families. You can rent sleds from the Estes Park Mountain Shop.

Take an avalanche course – There are a number of fantastic opportunities each winter to learn avalanche safety. The backcountry in Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect venue.

Learn to ice climb – Estes is a great place to learn to ice climb, and our local guiding companies know the best frozen water falls to teach you based on your skill level. Ice climbing is actually really fun and super safe since you’ll have a rope above you the entire time. When you’re on “toprope,” if you fall off, you immediately fall onto the rope and don’t go anywhere at all.

Weather

Estes Park has four true seasons, and each one requires different clothing and different precautions. Weather in the mountains is incredibly variable — we can have 60 degree days in the dead of winter, and snow flurries as early as September.

SNOW: It may surprise you, but winter snowpack in the Estes Valley is quite mild. We have a storm once every week to ten days, and the snow usually lasts for a day or two and then blows away or melts. Of course, sometimes we get hit with week long storms that leave feet and feet of snow behind, but these happen once or twice a year. Once in the National Park at 8,500 feet and above, there’s quite a bit of winter snowpack. All winter hikes will require microspikes and/or snowshoes.

ALTITUDE: We are at a high, high elevation, and it’s extremely easy to get dehydrated. Town is at 7,500 feet and most of our favorite hikes are in the 8,500 to 10,500 foot range. You will likely feel this severely during your first days here. The easiest way to avoid headaches, dehydration and altitude sickness is drink a LOT of water. Keep in mind your alcohol tolerance will be dramatically diminished at elevation.

RENTAL CARS: Weather is extremely unpredictable here, so you will need a vehicle that’s adequate for mountain travel from October to May. That means 4WD or AWD, or 2WD plus snow tires or chains.

TAXIS & RIDESHARE OPTIONS: 1) JM Concierge Services: 970-682-9985  2) Explore Estes: 970-235-1156  3) Estes Park Shuttle: (970) 586-5151 4) Colorado Canyon Connection: (970) 614-8669

 

Summer

Summers are nice, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the 50s. Many homes here are older cabins and aren’t as well insulated as what you may expect. Thankfully, the mountain air blows down from the high peaks each night to cool things off. We open windows and turn on fans, and our homes cool really fast.

Be sure to bring shorts as well as pants, insulation layers and rain gear. Nearly every day of the summer we get brief afternoon thunderstorms from 3PM to 5PM that last about half an hour. The sky will be clear one minute, completely ominous a few minutes later, and perfect again 20 minutes after that. Don’t get trapped above treeline after 2PM due to lightning. It seems that every year, people get struck.

Fall

Highs average in the mid to high 50s, and overnight lows are just above freezing. Pack long pants, jackets and long sleeves, plus a few lighter layers for the warmer days. The weather in the early fall is the most stable, and it rarely rains. We’ll start seeing bi-weekly snow storms toward the end of October, but usually blows away and melts in a day or two. 

Winter

We call this season WIND-ter, and for good reason. It is extremely windy. When the 30-mph winds combine with highs averaging in the 40s and overnight lows in the low 20s, things can feel a little nippy. Pack for cold.

We do get cold snaps once or twice a year that can lead to temperatures -15F, and that's before wind chill. Those tend to happen in February.

Spring

Generally the same as fall, but with less predictable or stable weather. It’s much more likely to rain, snow or hail in the spring than the fall.

Our spring storms deliver the bulk of the moisture here, and the snow can be thick, heavy and deep. March to May can bring perfect summer temps, or 3 feet of snow, so be prepared.

Estes Park, CO
37°
Sunny
7:14 am4:37 pm MST
Feels like: 34°F
Wind: 5mph NW
Humidity: 29%
Pressure: 29.91"Hg
UV index: 0
6 pm7 pm8 pm9 pm10 pm
32°F
30°F
30°F
30°F
30°F
FriSatSunMonTue
36°F / 25°F
45°F / 34°F
37°F / 23°F
41°F / 28°F
37°F / 19°F
Estes Park, CO weather forecast ▸

things to do

There are lots of things to do in Estes Park that are outside the National Park, so fret not if you can't get a entry pass during the summer, or if the park is closed due to a government shut down. Which has happened in the past and may happen again in the future. This is a great list to keep handy in case you just want a little more peace and quiet during your trip to Estes.

National Park Stuff

Go Hiking – Obviously! Scroll down to the hiking section to read about the hand-selected favorites.

Visit the alpine – One of the coolest parts of Rocky Mountain National Park is the high alpine tundra along Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest paved roads in the USA. It’s only open in the summer (opening dates depend on snowpack — generally sometime in May to sometime in October), but that’s when the elk are up there. Be sure to visit the Alpine Visitor Center to learn about the mysterious tundra ecosystem.

When Trail Ridge first opens, you very likely may not see much during parts of your journey, as the road will be walled of on either side by six to ten feet of snow. If you’re inclined to get a little more off the beaten path, you can actually drive the old historic Fall River Road up (all dirt, open seasonally), and then come down Trail Ridge Road.

Road conditions for both can be found here. Hours for the visitor center are here.

Learn, Learn, Learn – The Park’s main visitor center, the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, is  great place to learn about the park itself. Be sure to check out all the various park related activities, from guided hikes to talks on the ecology, biology or geology. The center is open year round. 1000 US-36, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-1206

– RockyGuides: Offer personalized private tours in Rocky Mountain National Park. Let us share our experience and knowledge as you discover the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Our guests depart with a deeper connection that enhances and enriches their visit to Estes Park and Rocky. Book Here!

Outdoor Stuff

Portraits, Family & Wedding Photos – The owners of several Wolf Dens happen to be two of Colorado’s top wedding and portrait photographers. They tend to book out family sessions and elopements on the weekdays and larger weddings on the weekends. Here are their sites, catering to a variety of budgets.

  • Dreamtime Images Weddings – Nathan began shooting weddings full time in 2006, after a career in the newspaper industry. He’s gone on to win 80 wedding and portrait awards in the years since and has shot worldwide. (970) 286-8351.
  • Dreamtime Images Portraits – The portrait branch of Dreamtime Images. Portrait sessions last about 2 hours and include a variety of fun, unknown and unique locations inside the National Park. (970) 286-8351.
  • AamodtStudio – Run by professional rock climber and photographer Rannveig Aamodt, who also owns a Wolf Den on the side of Eagle Cliff Mountain in Estes Park. She has a unique vision deeply tied with nature. (970) 212-6475.

Do Water Sports – The Lake Estes Marina is a great place for fishing licenses, fishing supplies, snacks, drinks, volleyball, horseshoes, picnic areas, and more. You can rent paddle boats, SUP boards, kayaks, motor boats, bikes, surrey bicycles and more. 1770 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-201.

Play Golf – Estes Park offers 9-hole and 18-hole courses, both within a minute or two from the center of downtown. Both courses are incredibly beautiful, offering incredible views of Longs Peak, Lumpy Ridge, and the entire panorama of the Continental Divide. There’s an awesome driving range at the 18-hole course with an incredible view straight into Longs Peak.

Play Disc Golf – Estes Park has not one but two great disc golf courses, and about an hour away in Nederland is one of the most unique courses in Colorado:

Ride a Horse – There are a number of outfitters in Estes Park that are worth checking out. You can’t really go wrong, but here are our favorite two:

  • Gateway Stables is right at the entrance to the National Park on Fall River Road. You leave here and ride horses directly into the park. Really great outfit, locally owned, and offering half and full day adventures. 4600 Fall River Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-5269.
  • Sombrero Ranches is another of Estes Park’s premiere outfitters, based on Highway 34 near the marina. Sombrero offers all sorts of horse trips into and around the National Park. Alternative locations inside the National Park so you can get deep into the woods. 1895 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8155.

Go Rafting – Rapid Transit is THE local rafting outfit. Note that there are no rivers to raft in in town — rather, they organize trips to the Poudre about an hour and a half away, outside Fort Collins. Awesome adventure nonetheless. 161 Virginia Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7238.

Ride an ATV to a downed airplane – There are a couple of great outfitters in town offering ATV and Jeep tours. Here are our favorites.

  • Estes Park ATV Rentals: The Air Force lost a T-33 military jet at 9,000 feet in the Estes Park backcountry, and these guys will throw you on an ATV and let you loose in the woods to go find it. Way fun afternoon guided adventure and highly recommended. 222 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7400.
  • Wild Side Jeep Tours – Super fun jeep tours both on the paved roads of the National Park and into the dirt roads of the backcountry. You’ll see and learn a lot about local history, wildlife & ecology. Really fun trips, and they bring heaters for cold weather. 212 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8687.

Go To a Fun Park – There are a ton of mini golf courses and fun parks in Estes, but these two stand out for variety and uniqueness.

  • Fun City – Fun City may seem cheesy, but it’s actually a blast, especially for kids. There are bumper cars, go carts, mini golf, a giant slide, a bungee trampoline, gemstone panning, and giant water walking balls. A super fun late afternoon visit! 455 Prospect Village Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2828.
  • Open Air Adventure Park – This is a pretty fun family activity if the kids have had too much hiking. Ropes course, axe throwing, and more on the edge of downtown. Also near mini golf and other fun parks for kids. A great way to let everyone burn off some steam. 490 Prospect Village Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-3066.
Town Stuff

Do Yoga – Estes Park Yoga is the go-to yoga studio in Estes Park, run by a great team with lots of interesting classes. Offers private sessions as well as drop in classes all days but Saturday. 166 S St Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-3254.

See Movies – The Historic Park Theater is a piece of history, towering over the heart of downtown Estes Park. If there’s a good movie playing there (or a fun show/band) make sure to stop in and experience a little bit of history. 130 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8904.

Make Art – The Creativity Cabin is a pretty fun way to spend some time. They have a bunch of pre-made ceramic items like beer steins, coffee mugs and plates. You can bring your favorite craft brew and get busy. They’ll glaze it and ship it to you. 342 W Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 591-2559.

Get Fit – Our local community center, the Estes Park Community Center is *really* good. A pool, hot tub, lazy river, fitness equipment, basketball, an indoor track, ping pong, personal trainers and so much more. Great year round, on rain and snow days or for variety. 660 Community Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8191.

Find Ghosts – The Stanley Hotel is a world famous haunted hotel with a historic whiskey bar offering a bigger selection than anywhere in the state. Fun night: do a flight of tasting whiskeys and then do one of the ghost tours. Super fun evening. Reservations required for the tour. 333 East Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-4000

Visit the YMCA – Our local YMCA of the Rockies has a ton of fun family-centered activities, from archery and a beginner climbing wall to horseback riding, baseball and roller skating. Swing by the Y web site to see some of the various activity guides. There's a great disc golf course there too. 2515 Tunnel Rd, Estes Park, CO 80511. (970) 586-3341.

Winter Activities

Go Skiing – Estes Park is not a typical ski town, but we have great skiing here and nearby. The closest lift-accessible resort is Eldora Mountain, outside of Nederland, about a 55 minute drive. You can rent gear from the Estes Park Mountain Shop for much less than you’d pay on the mountain. Eldora is actually great because it’s orders of magnitude less crowded than the big resorts like Vail or Breckenridge.

We used to have an actual resort in Rocky Mountain National Park, but the lifts were dismantled in the 1980s and we now have the Hidden Valley recreation area, which offers sledding and backcountry skiing where you use randonee, splitboards or telemark skis to hike up, and then you ski down, thus “earning your turns.” Check the Gear & Guides section on who to hire.

Go Snowshoeing – You can rent snowshoes from the Estes Park Mountain Shop and make a self-supported trip into the park on one of our favorite hikes. Alternatively, hire one of the town's great guide services to take you deep into the National Park.

Go Sledding – Hidden Valley inside the National Park builds a sled hill each winter for families. You can rent sleds from the Estes Park Mountain Shop.

Take an avalanche course – There are a number of fantastic opportunities each winter to learn avalanche safety. The backcountry in Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect venue.

Learn to ice climb – Estes is a great place to learn to ice climb, and our local guiding companies know the best frozen water falls to teach you based on your skill level. Ice climbing is actually really fun and super safe since you’ll have a rope above you the entire time. When you’re on “toprope,” if you fall off, you immediately fall onto the rope and don’t go anywhere at all.

Hikes

Estes Park offers the best hiking in all of Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park offers some 300 miles of trails from low lying meadows to alpine jaunts high above treeline.

Estes is a year-round hiking destination, though you will likely want to rent snow shoes during the winter months (or even hire a local outfitting company to take you on a backcountry ski tour) to the deeper areas of the park from October to April.

The best book out there is The Complete Hiking Guide written by long time local Lisa Foster. It was so popular its first run went out of print nearly immediately and it took several years to be able to find it again.

Below are our hand-selected favorites, organized from mild to strenuous, but be sure to check out AllTrails.com’s Estes Park section for a crowd-sourced hiking guide. During the winter, you’ll likely need microspikes, snowshoes and other gear, which you can rent from our friends at the Estes Park Mountain Shop at (970) 586-6548. They also have the best up-to-date information on trail conditions.

Most of these hikes can be done year-round, but see details below.

Easy

Bear Lake – At the end of Bear Lake Road, beautiful year round, and the essential jumping off point for adventures in the National Park. If you want to keep it super easy, just cruise the mostly paved path around Bear Lake (leaves from the parking lot) taking in huge views of Hallet Peak and the rest of the Continental Divide.

However, you can also take many of the other hikes from Bear Lake, as its trail networks to many of the Park’s most alluring hikes, snowshoe trips, backcountry ski tours, and backpacking trips.

You absolutely need to be there early in the summer (like, 7am) or you need to be prepared to park at the rideshare lot on Bear Lake Road and take the shuttle up. It gets a lot of traffic so the snow will likely be packed down in the winter, though microspikes would be helpful because it can get icy.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/bear-lake–2
Distance: 0.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 42 feet
Difficulty: 1/10

Emerald Lake – Every visitor to Estes should hike to Emerald Lake, accessible from the Bear Lake trailhead. The hike is about an hour and a half, and winds through a number of other lakes (Dream, Nymph, etc) before arriving in a glacial alpine cirque with the huge face of Hallet Peak rocketing nearly straight out of the water.

Plan to be at the trail head around 7am in the summertime, or else you’ll need to take the Park ‘n Ride bus due to traffic. From November to April, you’ll need to rent snowshoes, microspikes or backcountry skis (it’s a fantastic destination for the beginner off-piste skier).

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/emerald-lake-trail
Distance: 3.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 708 feet
Difficulty: 3/10

Gem Lake – Relatively moderate 3.4-mile hike to the shores of the tiny Gem Lake, in a big granite basin on Lumpy Ridge. Interesting rock formations along the way. Most of the time you have a great view across the Estes Valley of Longs Peak.

Gem Lake sits at the lower elevations so it’s generally accessible year round without any special equipment, though some spots may be icy in the winter after storms. Once at Gem Lake you can continue all the way around Lumpy Ridge for a long, long loop, or come straight back.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/gem-lake-trail
Distance: 3.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 990 feet
Difficulty: 3/10

Moderate

Sky Pond – About 8 miles round trip to one of the most stunning glacial lakes in Colorado. Very different than the hike to Chasm Lake or Twin Sisters because you don’t spend much time above tree line, but once you arrive, you’ll be greeted with incredible views of a bunch of 1,000-foot granite spires towering above you.

The trail is relatively flat for the distance, and only steeper in a few sections, so while it can be a long day out for those who aren’t yet acclimated, it’s fairly easy. Doable in the winter with snowshoes, best with backcountry skis, and perfect from mid-May to mid-October.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/sky-pond-via-glacier-gorge-trail
Distance: 8.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 1765 feet
Difficulty: 6/10

Twin Sisters Trail – We love this hike! It’s a great way to avoid the hustle and bustle of the “Park Proper” during the high season, and it’s as good or better than anything inside the Park. The 7-mile out-and-back trail to the top of Twin Sisters winds its way though a beautiful pine forest to a wild summit usually shared with resident bighorn sheep.

Twin Sisters sits on US Forest Service Land bordering the National Park, so it’s a little less popular than its brethren a few miles away, but the views are amazing. You’ll see Longs Peak, the entire Continental Divide, and on a clear summer day you can see the entire Front Range from Fort Collins to Denver.

Winter conditions can vary, but it gets a LOT of wind. Snow tends to quickly blow away, leaving behind packed snow and ice toward the summit. Recommend microspikes, but rarely snowshoes.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/twin-sisters-peak-trail
Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2516
Difficulty: 7/10

Pawnee Pass – Estes gets ridiculously busy, but south of town lies the Roosevelt National Forest, which is every bit as gorgeous but way less crowded than Rocky Mountain National Park. The Long Lake Trailhead is the staging ground for one of our favorite hikes, Pawnee Pass, which passes lakes and streams and ends up high above treeline on the Continental Divide with views to the east and west of the Rockies.

There’s nothing particularly unique about this hike — no weird rock formations, no crazy peaks rising dramatically from some lake — but it’s just breathtakingly gorgeous the entire way. Moose encounters are not uncommon.

Note that the trailhead is a 45 minute drive from Estes Park, in the Indian Peaks Wilderness which borders Rocky Mountain National Park. It begins in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area (there’s a $12 fee, and it’s cash only). Also, dogs are welcome.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/pawnee-pass-trail
Distance: 8.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 2103 feet
Difficulty: 7.5/10

Strenuous

Chasm Lake – One of the most beautiful hikes in the park, though 9.4 miles long and strenuous, and at higher elevations. Luckily, and because of this, it’s less busy. The journey begins at the Longs Peak Trailhead about 10 miles out of town and wanders through a pine forest, through the alpine tundra, and eventually to Chasm Lake at the base of Longs Peak.

The destination is completely surreal. The vertical Diamond face of Longs juts out of the nearby glacier, with the summit looming several thousand feet straight above. This is one of our favorite places in the National Park.

We highly recommended starting this hike fairly early in the morning so you can return below treeline before the summer thunderstorms roll in at 2pm. You can hike this in winter (microspikes required, snowshoes sometimes necessary), but you will likely endure gale-force, freezing winds ripping off Longs. That said, more and more people are doing it each winter.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/chasm-lake
Distance: 9.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2601 feet
Difficulty: 8/10

Longs Peak – If you’re looking to bag a 14,000-foot peak, Longs should be at the top of your list. It is a long, 15-mile round trip hike with nearly a mile of elevation gain, but it’s one of the more accessible 14ers in Colorado, and worth every drop of sweat. You’ll start in a pine forest, ascend through the alpine tundra, hit the boulderfield (literally a field of flat boulders that you walk across) and the unusual rock formations of The Keyhole, scramble up the back side of Longs, and summit.

It is an adventure and a serious undertaking, so be prepared. You can read more at the All Trails link below, plus this helpful trip report, this page from the National Park Service, and this guide from SummitPost.

Estes has strong winds at altitude, plus predictable mid-afternoon thunder and lightning storms that roll in during the summer months around 2pm — which means it’s highly advisable to be safely below treeline by then. For this reason, and depending entirely on your fitness level, you’ll need to leave the parking lot between 3 and 7am.

The hike is doable but extremely serious in the winter, and you will need significant winter/snow experience, ice axes, crampons, other appropriate gear, and be prepared for arctic conditions with sub-zero temps and gale force winds.

All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/the-keyhole-and-longs-peak-trail
Distance: 14.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 5039 feet
Difficulty: 10/10

Gear & Guides

Estes Park has ton of outfitters, shops and guides specializing in everything from skiing to climbing to fishing. There are a lot of quality small businesses out there, but here are our personal favorites.

Gear

Estes Park Mountain Shop – For gear, save your time and money and just go here. The Mountain Shop rents basically every bit of outdoor gear you can think of, from mountain bikes to fly rods, snowshoes, bikes and skis. They’ve got a ton of new gear, plus a massive bargain basement filled with last year’s boots and jackets all at huge discounted prices. This is the place for trail updates, guidebooks, conditions reports and rentals. 2050 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-6548.

Fly Fishing Guides

Estes Angler – One of the two main fly fishing guide services in Estes Park, offering trips into the National Park and also the Big Thompson River just down canyon from Estes along Highway 34. Click here for the weekly fishing report! 338 West Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2110.

Kirk’s Flyshop – One of the go-to fishing guide outfits in Estes. Kirk’s has a lot of incredible fly fishing knowledge, particularly regarding all the local secrets. Book trips here into the Park and beyond, plus purchase gear. 230 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-0790.

Climbing, Hiking & Ski Guides

Kent Mountain Adventure Center – A favorite guiding outfit specializing in rock, ice and winter sports. Aside from the daily hiking and climbing trips, KMAC offers the most unique and innovative outdoor adventures in Estes Park, including the town’s only via ferrata (a huge trail in the sky where you walk along sections of rebar affixed into the side of vertical cliffs); a cliff camping excursion (you sleep on a ledge suspended hundreds of feet off the ground); and a sky net wedding where you can get married in a net suspended 100 feet off the ground. 1230 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-5990.

Colorado Mountain School – CMS is one of the town’s longest running guiding outfits. You can hire a pro to guide you through a day of rock or ice climbing, or backcountry skiing or snowboarding. Also offers great courses like avalanche safety. 341 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (720) 387-8944.

Estes Park Rock Climbing – A new guiding outfit in Estes that holds a unique concession to guide at the top of Prospect Mountain in the center of Estes Park. Prospect has some of the best views around of the Continental Divide. They’ve got some pretty cool programs where you take the aerial tramway to the summit, learn to climb, and then come back via tram. Also offering hiking and snowshoe tours in the National Park. 1230 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 205-9226.

Eat

There’s a pretty good food scene in Estes Park, and it’s gotten better and better each year over the last decade. We’re now sporting one of the best restaurants in the Front Range with one of the top sommeliers in the state.

Kind Coffee offers great local coffee, and Inkwell and Brew brings in beans from one of the state's best roasters in Boulder.

As the brewery scene has matured, the food truck market (many of which are from local eateries) has grown exponentially. We now have food trucks with authentic street tacos, a traveling wood-fired pizza joint and incredible barbecue. Here are some of our favorites!

Coffee and Breakfast

Coffee on the Rocks - Wonderful coffee shop on the banks of the Big Thompson and on the edge of a duck pond. A really relaxing way to spend a morning fueling up before hitting the trails. Good breakfast sandwiches and fair prices, and often less busy than Kind Coffee. 510 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-5181.

Inkwell & Brew - Wonderful coffee shop in downtown Estes Park that also sells papers, inks and small books. Lovely location off the main drag on the riverwalk, on the bank of the river. Quieter and less busy than Coffee on the Rocks and Kind Coffee. Check their web site above to for an occasional event schedule that includes intermittent things like open mic spoken word nights. 150 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-1297.

Kind Coffee - Kind is our iconic Estes Park coffee house -- locally roasted, with a good selection of breakfast foods like burritos and pastries. Awesome during the summer because you can sit along the bank of the river, though it can get super busy. Consider bringing some mountain roasted coffee beans home with you. 470 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-5206.

Notchtop Bakery & Cafe - Notchtop is my favorite going out to breakfast spot. I love the Caveman hash 🙂 We aspire to use the most naturally grown and fresh ingredient locally available (focusing on organic) in our food. We use only non-genetically modified bread and flours, cane sugars and pure vanilla. There is NO high fructose corn syrup in our food. Everything is made from scratch; we slow roast our own turkey, pork, beef, and chicken. Our sausage and hamburgers are handmade. We have vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan entries and are able to accommodate most food allergies. 459 E Wonderview Ave #5, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-0272.

The Egg of Estes - THE place for a hearty and healthy breakfast in Estes Park. The Egg used to be part of a franchise, but the owners broke off and went indie. Now it's locally owned and operated, with fantastic omelettes, egg dishes and strawberry waffles, plus a healthy selection of fresh pressed juices. Expect to wait a little in the summer, so get there early, put your name on the list, and poke around downtown for 15-20 minutes. 393 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-1173.

Estes Park Pie Shop - We go here to buy pies, plain and simple, and we like pies for breakfast. Rhubarb, cherry, peach and apple pies are all excellent. Their pie selection depends on who bought what earlier in the day, so be sure to stop in first thing. 509 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7437.

Mountain Fare

Lonigan's - Exclusive 15% off discount on food for our guests! Just mention you're staying at a Wolf Rentals property. Fantastic pub-style food with craft beers and great cocktails. One of the latest to close establishments in town, so it's great for a visit after a long summer (or winter) day in the Park. Karaoke til midnight on the weekends. 106 W. Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-4346.

Hunters Chop House - Old Fashioned Mountain Fare. Hunter’s Chophouse is a family owned, casual steakhouse that features aged, hand-cut in house daily, steaks, chops and many unique wild game dishes, with other flavorful house specialties. Our menu features a wide variety of game and a large selection of meat entrees. We have a very rustic relaxed setting with great views of the Rocky Mountains and Lake Estes. Our bar features more than 100 whiskeys/whiskys and a wine collection with more than 100 offerings. We have free parking for guests and an outside patio. 1690 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-6962.

Bird and Jim - This place transformed the food scene in town. Offers farm-to-table mountain fare, focusing on local ingredients. One owner is one of the best sommeliers in the country. Great cocktails, with a great inexpensive loss leader burger and a nice selection of happy hour munchies. I love going here even on sunny summer afternoons and sitting on the patio and watching the clouds roll over the Rockies. Make a reservation in the summer! 915 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-9832.

The Rock Inn - The Rock is an Estes icon, built in the 1930s as a big band dance hall -- and it still honors its history as a lively local hotspot. Great food, a ton of good beer on tap, yummy cocktails, and a very busy music schedule. There's often a party at the Rock. Click through to the web site to peep the schedule of bluegrass and live acoustic. 1675 CO-66, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-4116.

Smokin' Dave's BBQ & Brew - Smokin' Dave's is a Colorado staple! Some of the best BBQ in the region. Highly lauded, world (?!) famous lunch and dinner fare. You can take it back to your place to eat, too. I always suggest going here to my guests! Waits can be long. 820 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-7427.

Italian and Pizza

Antonio's Real New York Pizza - By far, the best pizza in Estes Park, or order to go. The exterior may seem offputting (it's an old Mexican restaurant) but the pizzas may be the best you've had. We've heard the same from lots of guests. Closes early so check their hours. 1560 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-7275.

Dunraven Inn - Tasty Italian restaurant food serving all three meals. They recentlyl moved to the Estes Park Resort, with pretty incredible views of Lake Estes, Prospect Mountain, Twin Sisters and Longs Peak. A warm ambiance and good food. 1700 Colorado Peaks Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-6409.

Bird's Nest - A newly constructed coffee, bakery and pizza bistro on the outskirts of the National Park, between downtown and the Beaver Meadows Entrance. This was built by Bird and Jim and serves as its second business. The vibe is exactly as you'd imagine: your favorite coffee shop but with a wood fired pizza oven in back. It's super super good! 1221 High Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586 4707.

Mexican

Ed's Cantina - Ed's Cantina is a local staple, with a fun collection of margaritas and tasty Mexican food all concocted by the owner herself. We love the spicy, skinny and avocado margs. Try the fish tacos and the carne asada plate. Park in the library parking lot across the street. 390 Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2919.

La Cocina de Mama - Simply put, La Cocina de Mama has the best tacos in town. Get a plate of street tacos -- two chicken and two asada tacos, but the choice is yours. In the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the view of Lumpy Ridge. Also often has local craft beer on tap. 361 South St. Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-9001.

Ethnic Flavors

Himalayan Curry & Kebab - Exclusive 15% off food for our guests if you mention you're at a Wolf Rentals property! One of the best Indian places in Estes Park, with a great location in the heart of downtown. Absolutely recommended for lunches and dinners. Takeaway possible. 101 West Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-6226.

Nepal's Cafe - Nepal's Cafe is where a lot of locals go for lunch. Highly recommended if you're in the downtown area around noon, with the added bonus of outdoor seating in the summer. Chili chicken, saag, garlic naan and more. Can't go wrong at Nepal's. 184 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-07035.

Sandwich Shops

Scratch Deli & Bakery - Scratch Deli is one of two sandwich shops I recommend for people taking lunch with them into the park (the other is across the street inside the Country Market). Craft sandwiching at its finest with in house cheese, meats and bread. Go here for hot sandwiches and to Country Market for cold ones. 911 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8383.

The Country Market - Kitty-corner from Scratch is our other favorite sandwich shop, hidden inside the local indie supermarket, Country Market. The roast beef on rye sandwich plus a bag of chips and a pickle is the perfect thing to stash in your bag on the way into the National Park. Go here for hot sandwiches and Scratch for cold ones. 900 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2702.

eating BBQ

Drink

Colorado is famous for its craft beer and many distilleries, and (forgive my friends in Bourbon County) but we are now producing some of the best whiskeys in the country. Colorado Springs' 291 Distillery is up up up there. So it's only fitting that the tastes of the best libations have made their way to Estes. 

In recent years, three incredible craft breweries have opened and have become a social hub in the town. Avant Garde and Lumpy Ridge, just a few blocks from each other, have lots of live music, while on the other side of town, Rock Cut features super fun quiz nights. 

Meanwhile, we've got a couple great distillery tasting rooms, and the Stanley Hotel has the largest and most diverse whiskey collection in the state. 

pouring rose into a glass
Breweries

Avant Garde Aleworks – Part of the trio of new craft breweries in Estes Park. Avant Garde is the new kid on the block with great beers and a wonderful outdoor patio. Open late year round, often with a food truck. Silent movie nights, definitely worth a visit. Two blocks away from Lumpy Ridge Brewing Company. 920 Dunraven St, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 591-2700.

Lumpy Ridge Brewing Company – Lumpy Ridge is another part of the trio of awesome new craft breweries in Estes Park. It sits in an old converted gas station with awesome views of the rockies. A favorite for summertime ambiance and the place to watch Fourth of July fireworks. Also the home of many favorite local IPAs. All the labels are hand drawn by Wade, a co-owner and one of Estes Park’s most unique local artists. Check their web site for live music schedules. Two blocks away from Avant Garde. 531 South St. Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 235-1752.

Rock Cut Brewing – Part of the trio of Estes Park craft breweries rivalling the best in the state. Great selection of beers with lots of fun trivia nights and events. Often with a food truck, and if it’s not there you can bring take-away Chinese from the place next door. Fun place for a post-hike beverage and a game of corn hole. 390 West Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-7300.

Distilleries and Wineries

Elkin’s Distillery – If you like mountain whiskey, visit Elkins Distillery. It’s a great way to sample locally made whiskeys. Fun tasting room and mercantile. 137 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 480-1848.

Hogback Distillery - A Boulder-based distillery bringing the best of Scotland to the Rockies. Check out this new tasting room and gallery at the western edge of town, just outside the National Park. 857 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (720) 263-0313.

Snowy Peaks Winery – Located in the heart of downtown, Snowy Peaks has two to three dozen Colorado wines to sample, plus a wine making facility with tours that uses grapes grown in Colorado (usually the Western Slope area around Grand Junction). Also serves locally made cheese and foods on the dining area and patio. 292 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-2099.

Bars

The Stanley Hotel – The Stanley is famous for many things: Dumb and Dumber, being haunted, The Shining. But many don’t know that the Cascades Restaurant is home to a historic Whiskey Bar reputed to have 1500+ whiskeys from all over the world and the largest whiskey collection in Colorado. This place is super fun if you’re a whiskey aficionado. The ceilings are copper plated, the vibe is chill, and there’s usually something fun going on there during weekend nights. Recommend a flight of whiskeys; the bar tenders there will pick from the collection and serve you something interesting. 333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 577-4000.

The Wheel Bar – A rowdy mountain bar/saloon in the center of downtown, which has been an Estes Park fixture since the mid-1940s. Features a pool table, darts, and a foosball table. The Halloween Party here raises the roof, and the Wheel Bar is usually one of the last places to close. Also features an outdoor patio area for warm evenings. 132 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-9381.

The Slab – The Slab is a unique outdoor pub/beer garden with a huge selection of beers to choose from, plus wines, soft drinks and food. If you want to sit outside and enjoy the summer air in the heart of downtown, this is a good choice. They also have frequent events like live music (usually in the summer) posted on their web site. 116 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 586-8904.

The Barrel Beer Garden – Another of downtown’s beer gardens, and probably the best place to go if you want to sample a lot of different beverages. The Barrel also hosts an outrageous selection of primarily Colorado beers (84 taps!), plus a large outdoor seating area. Check their web site for the food truck schedule. Dogs allowed outside. 251 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517. (970) 616-2090

Taxis & Rideshare Options

1) JM Concierge Services: 970-682-9985

2) Explore Estes: 970-235-1156 

3) Estes Park Shuttle: (970) 586-5151

4) Colorado Canyon Connection: (970) 614-8669

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