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Why visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter? One of the best things about the winter season is the peace you can find in nature while the earth is blanketed in snow.  The park is less visited but still very much open and alive with activity. Reach beautiful backcountry areas  on snowshoes, skis, and at lower…

Winter brings deep snows to Rocky Mountain National Park west of the Continental Divide,  but the lighter snowfall on the east (Estes Park) side of the park often leaves low elevation trails open for hiking. Trails below 8,700 feet (2,700 m) make great winter hikes, sometimes without the aid of skis or snow shoes.  

Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park is epic! It’s a great outdoor activity for all ages because “if you can walk, you can snowshoe”! Snowshoeing with Kids Bear Lake Snowshoe Trails What to Wear and Bring

In winter, there’s nothing like getting away for a romantic stay in the mountains. Estes Park is the perfect mountain getaway, with cozy and romantic lodging choices, invigorating outdoor recreation,  shops to explore, and delicious and elegant restaurants with intimate evening music. Unlike many of the mountain towns along the I-70 corridor that revolve around alpine skiing, Estes Park will…

Winter weddings are a great opportunity to spend quality time with the ones you love and experience the charm of this quiet mountain town. Pre-wedding, guests can enjoy bonding time at a local spa, yoga studio or exploring Rocky Mountain National Park by jeep tour or snowshoe. Estes Park lights up at night offering a beautiful post-wedding stroll down the…

Are there any hot springs in Rocky Mountain National Park? Not inside the Park, but if you’re up for a day trip from visiting the east side of the Park, there are natural Colorado hotsprings to soak in at: Sulphur Springs Steamboat Springs

A definitive guide to camping when visiting Colorado’s most popular National Park – Rocky Mountain National Park. First, I’ll talk about how to find and reserve the best campsites in the Park. Then, I’ll give you camping alternatives during the busy summer season. Finally, we’ll talk about “wilder” camping: backcountry, winter, and the ultimate adventure – cliff camping. Sound good?…

Five Little Known Dog Hikes near Estes Park Recommended by Locals Here’s  a list of five great hikes south of Estes Park that you and your four legged friend can enjoy together. When you bring your dog along on your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation trip, he won’t be allowed to hike with you on any National Park trails.  The…

Winter Full Moon Night Walk For an unforgettable winter experience, join Rocky Mountain National Park rangers for a Full Moon Walk on the night of the full moon in winter months.  The next full moons are on  Jan. 20-21, 2019,  Feb. 19, 2019,  and Mar. 20, 2019, and are visible a day before and a day after. Although the January…

Estes Park is set up for evening entertainment, from intimate dining with a live music background, to fun and games at a local club or lounge.

Where can you watch wild birds in Rocky Mountain National Park? Everyone associates elk with wildlife watching in Rocky Mountain National Park, but birders and summer visitors should know that Rocky Mountain National Park is designated as a national “Important Bird Area” with over 200 different birds spotted – some very rare!

Take a virtual hike with Trekker! The trails listed below show up in Google Maps as Trekker 3D views. Select the trail you want, then use your cursor to move the yellow man symbol along the blue trail line to see the view from that point on the trail – a great way to preview your hikes!

Here’s a list of  some of the best guidebooks and books about Estes Park to help you plan your activities.  Learn more to enjoy and appreciate this special place! Many of these books can be found on Amazon and ship for free with Prime, however a local bookstore like Macdonald Book Shop on Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park is a…

The Stanley Hotel is an Estes Park landmark. Coming into town you see it on the hill above town, a big white neoclassical building.  With panoramic views, it looks over the Continental Divide of nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.  Lumpy Ridge forms a dramatic backdrop behind it. Built in 1909 , F.O. Stanley picked the best location for his 140…

Learn interesting facts about wildlife and the natural world in Rocky Mountain National Park month-by-month from a local nature guide. Text and most photos provided by Jared Gricoskie of Yellow Wood Guiding.  Find out how you can book your own guided tour of RMNP by visiting his website. Choose a topic or month and learn a fact: Lichen Do What…

Did you know that the only place to buy food inside Rocky Mountain National Park is at the Alpine Visitor Center at the top of Trail Ridge Road? But you can always take your breakfast, lunch or dinner to a picnic area on a beautiful mountain day and enjoy being outside. . . There are lots of convenient picnic areas…

Houses in the Estes area are spread out on mountainsides and valleys.  Since 1981 or 1982 on Halloween night the main street through town (Elkhorn Avenue) is closed from 5-9 pm and kids, adults and pets gather to trick or treat at the shops. The whole community contributes candy for the shops to hand out to trick or treaters.  Safe…

Health Care has certainly been in the news and on our minds over the past few years. With more time, money and energy spent on staying healthy, insurance companies are looking for new ways to cut their bottom line. Studies have shown that maintaining health is much less expensive than fixing health woes once they occur, so many insurance companies…

Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, Inspire the Future From September 4, 2014, through September 4, 2015, Rocky Mountain National Park along with local and national communities celebrated the park’s 100th Anniversary. Speakers, special activities, and community events were coordinated to commemorate the Centennial. Whether you’re a regular visitor, a national park traveler, or a virtual explorer, Rocky Mountain National…