Estes Park is definitely a destination where you get a lot of bang for your buck. The views are free. Entrance into Rocky Mountain National Park is $25/car for a day pass or $35/car for a week (that's cheaper than taking the family out to the movies). Our hotels and restaurants and shops are pretty…
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Plowing isn't normally big news or cause for celebration--unless the plow is clearing Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road. This year (2022) Rocky Mountain National Park hopes to open Trail Ridge Road fully on Friday, May 28 - weather-permitting, of course. Trail Ridge Road connects…
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Colorado’s snowpack is the lifeblood of the West. As it melts and makes its way down rivers and valleys, it makes some fine waterfalls, too. Late spring and early summer are the ideal times to make the most of the melt and see the falls gushing. Obviously, the falls are a grand sight to see, but…
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How to Be Bear Aware in Estes Park Tips from the experts at Colorado Parks and Wildlife to keep yourself and Yogi safe Wildlife sightings can be a magical piece of the Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park experience. The chance to spot wildlife in the mountains is probably one of the top…
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I’ve been backcountry skiing in Rocky Mountain National Park for about a year now. My first foray was a wonderful birthday triathlon. I got my touring set-up and began last February, about a month before the park shut down with the onset of COVID. I stuck to Hidden Valley, as I had been told it was…
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Leave No Trace The most essential piece of trail etiquette is helping maintain it for the next person to experience it as well (or even better) than you did. Of course, Leave No Trace means the obvious – taking what you brought with you (pack it in, pack it out) and leaving what you find (as long as…
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Last year, I wrote..; "'There is nothing so American as our national parks,' said President Franklin D Roosevelt. And this week we celebrate these American treasures. According to the National Park Service “National Park Week is a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and…
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Estes is full of outdoor adventure year-round. Winter brings snowshoeing, backcountry skiing or splitboarding and ice climbing. It also brings a Hallmark town to life. All those outdoor activities are great, but so is cozying up in a real-life snow globe. Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word that…
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Estes has no shortage of spooky stories. But Halloween doesn’t just have to be spooky – there’s plenty going on, no matter what sort of event you’re looking for! American Legion Haunted House Friday’s & Saturday’s in October, American Legion Post 119 More Info Rock Cut Pumpkin Carving…
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The elk rut is a magical time of year when you'll hear bugles echoing around the valley and find bulls sparring and rounding up their harems. It's the pinnacle of wildlife watching, requiring a telephoto lens, binoculars, and safety (for yourself and the animals) at the forefront. It's important to…
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