Estes Park
Trails, parks and places worth an afternoon in and around Estes Park.
Trail
Forest Service trail #933 off Highway 7 to a 9,740-foot summit with views of Longs Peak…Forest Service trail #933 off Highway 7 to a 9,740-foot summit with views of Longs Peak, the Continental Divide, Lake Estes and the town. Level for a mile, then switchbacks and a short scramble.
Colorado Highway 7, 5.8 miles south of Estes Park (on the right heading south)
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
The trailhead where Bear Lake Road ends, at 9,475 feet: the short loop round Bear Lake…The trailhead where Bear Lake Road ends, at 9,475 feet: the short loop round Bear Lake, and the trails to Nymph, Dream and Emerald lakes, Odessa Lake and Flattop Mountain. The lot is often full by 9 am.
End of Bear Lake Road, 9.2 miles from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Small lot, shuttle stop and vault toilet on Bear Lake Road…Small lot, shuttle stop and vault toilet on Bear Lake Road, at the foot of the steep 1.5-mile climb to Bierstadt Lake through aspens.
Bear Lake Road, 6.8 miles from Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead on the road along Moraine Park for the 2.4-mile walk to Cub Lake…Trailhead on the road along Moraine Park for the 2.4-mile walk to Cub Lake, starting at 8,080 feet with about 540 feet of gain.
Fern Lake Road along the edge of Moraine Park, off Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead at the end of the Moraine Park road for The Pool (1.7 miles), Fern Falls (2.5)…Trailhead at the end of the Moraine Park road for The Pool (1.7 miles), Fern Falls (2.5), Fern Lake (3.8) and Odessa Lake (4.9), starting at 8,155 feet.
End of Fern Lake Road along Moraine Park, off Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead on Bear Lake Road for Alberta Falls (0.8 mile), Mills Lake, The Loch, Black Lake and Sky Pond…Trailhead on Bear Lake Road for Alberta Falls (0.8 mile), Mills Lake, The Loch, Black Lake and Sky Pond. The lot fills early every day; the park suggests Park & Ride and the Bear Lake shuttle.
Bear Lake Road, about 8 miles from US Hwy 36, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead in Horseshoe Park for Lake Ypsilon (4.5 miles one way) and Lawn Lake (6.2 miles)…Trailhead in Horseshoe Park for Lake Ypsilon (4.5 miles one way) and Lawn Lake (6.2 miles), starting at 8,540 feet. Stock loading area nearby.
Road to Endovalley, off US Hwy 34 at Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Lot beside Highway 7 with vault toilets and a viewing dock, at the start of the Lily Lake Trail: benches…Lot beside Highway 7 with vault toilets and a viewing dock, at the start of the Lily Lake Trail: benches, two bridges and a wetland boardwalk, with views of Longs Peak and Twin Sisters.
Colorado Highway 7, about 6.4 miles from Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Forest Service trailhead on US 36 between Estes Park and Lyons for the Lion Gulch Trail to Homestead Meadows…Forest Service trailhead on US 36 between Estes Park and Lyons for the Lion Gulch Trail to Homestead Meadows, where eight homesteads were settled between 1889 and 1923. No fee; dogs on a hand-held leash.
US Hwy 36 at mile marker 8, 7 miles east of Estes Park (south side of the highway)
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead by the Longs Peak Ranger Station at 9,300 feet, for Chasm Lake (4.2 miles) and the 8-mile…Trailhead by the Longs Peak Ranger Station at 9,300 feet, for Chasm Lake (4.2 miles) and the 8-mile, 4,885-foot climb to the summit of Longs Peak.
End of Longs Peak Road, off Colorado Highway 7, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Rocky Mountain National Park trailhead 1.8 miles by road from Bond Park downtown…Rocky Mountain National Park trailhead 1.8 miles by road from Bond Park downtown: Gem Lake is 1.6 miles and about 1,000 feet up from here. A park entrance pass is required.
Off MacGregor Avenue/Devils Gulch Road, 1.5 miles from Bond Park, Estes Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Paved lot, picnic tables and restrooms beside Sprague Lake…Paved lot, picnic tables and restrooms beside Sprague Lake, with a short loop round the lake that the park describes as wheelchair and stroller accessible. Open all year.
Sprague Lake Parking Area, Bear Lake Road, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Trailhead
Trailhead and ranger station at the end of Wild Basin Road, off Highway 7, for Copeland Falls (0.3 mile)…Trailhead and ranger station at the end of Wild Basin Road, off Highway 7, for Copeland Falls (0.3 mile), Calypso Cascades (1.8), Ouzel Falls (2.7) and the lakes beyond.
End of Wild Basin Road, off Colorado Highway 7, Rocky Mountain National Park
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Park Our pick
Trail Ridge Road, which links Estes Park and Grand Lake in summer…Trail Ridge Road, which links Estes Park and Grand Lake in summer, Bear Lake Road and more than 350 miles of trail. An entrance pass is needed at all hours, and a timed-entry reservation from late May to mid-October.
1000 US Hwy 36, Estes Park, CO 80517
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Venue
Nonprofit gallery upstairs in Stanley Village showing regional and local artists…Nonprofit gallery upstairs in Stanley Village showing regional and local artists, with art classes and the fall Estes Valley Plein Air paint-out.
517 Big Thompson Ave, Unit 201, Estes Park, CO 80517
May 15–Oct 15: daily 11 am–5 pm
Oct 16–Dec 21 and Jan 9–May 14: Fri–Mon 11 am–5 pm
closed Nov 26 and Dec 22–31
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Venue
Tram running since 1955 from Riverside Drive to the 8,708-foot summit of Prospect Mountain…Tram running since 1955 from Riverside Drive to the 8,708-foot summit of Prospect Mountain, with a viewing platform and café at the top. Open daily May 9 to November 1 in 2026; no park pass needed.
420 East Riverside Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517
Daily 9 am–7 pm to Oct 11
daily 9 am–6 pm Oct 12–Nov 1
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Venue
The Town of Estes Park's events complex on Rooftop Way, with indoor and outdoor event space and equestrian…The Town of Estes Park's events complex on Rooftop Way, with indoor and outdoor event space and equestrian facilities. Its Events Division puts on the Town's signature events, from the Wool Market in June to the Rooftop Rodeo in July.
1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park, CO 80517
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Venue
The library district's main library on East Elkhorn: books and media, public computers, printing…The library district's main library on East Elkhorn: books and media, public computers, printing, meeting rooms, a makerspace and programs, plus a holds-and-book-drop mini-branch, The Twig, at the community center.
335 E. Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517
Mon–Thu 10 am–8 pm
Fri–Sat 10 am–6 pm
Sun 1–5 pm
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Lodging Our pick
F.O. Stanley's 1909 hotel, known for its link to Stephen King's The Shining…F.O. Stanley's 1909 hotel, known for its link to Stephen King's The Shining. Visitors who are not staying can book tours, eat at the restaurants and see concerts; day parking is $10.
333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
Check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am
Checked by [FIRST NAME], October 6
Nothing in this category yet.
From the guide
Families·
Where to take children in Estes Park, Colorado: the national park's free Junior Ranger books and easy lake loops…Where to take children in Estes Park, Colorado: the national park's free Junior Ranger books and easy lake loops, the elk rules, the community center's pools and Cubz Den…