Estes Park Attractions & Activities

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Climate:

Estes Park's beautiful dry climate attracts thousands of visitors each summer from hot, humid climates at lower elevations. The low humidity makes the hot summer days (average high in July is about 85°) seem cool to those from other areas of the country. And our cool evenings (it can dip to under 50° at night in July) are extremely comfortable. Mornings are almost unfailingly sunny, winter and summer, and the frequent summertime afternoon showers usually dissipate in time for the nightly display of stars in the sky, made even more spectacular by the lack of urban light and air pollution. Winters are surprisingly mild, with highs usually in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Snow seldom stays on the ground for more than a few days. The village of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are two of the most accessible mountain areas in the state of Colorado because there are no mountain passes to cross en route and because the highways are well maintained year-round

History:

According to archaeologists, the area has been a resort community for 10,000 years, attracting Ute and Arapaho Indian families for the summer. Drawn by the lure of pristine mountain surroundings, modern day visitors have included gunslingers, ranchers and inventors - one of whom was F. O. Stanley who opened his famed Stanley Hotel in Estes Park in 1909. More recently, Pope John Paul II visited the area in 1993 and the Emperor of Japan included Estes Park on his itinerary in 1994.

The Name:

The word "park" in the name "Estes Park" comes from the geologic description of a glacially cut level valley between mountain ranges. "Estes" refers to one of the earliest settlers.

Transportation:

Estes Park is readily accessible year-round. Regular shuttles run daily between Estes Park and Denver; local taxi services are available year-round.

Rocky Mountain National Park:

Daily nature walks and interpretive programs are offered by the National Park Service. Hikes, horseback rides (through local stables), auto or bus tours give visitors different views of the park. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the U.S., takes a winding course 12,183 feet above sea level. The summit can also be reached via Old Fall River Road, the original road crossing the Continental Divide. More than 90 percent of the park's 415 square miles is wilderness. Camping and backpacking are permitted within the national park, although some areas require advance reservations or permits.

Shopping:

More than 300 shops in Estes Park offer an unsurpassed variety of goods. Handcrafted Southwestern arts, crafts and jewelry, fine giftware, collector items of all varieties and fine apparel can be found here. Most shops in the community ship purchases to any location within the United States.

Dining:

Whether on the run or seeking a leisurely experience, Estes Park has the perfect restaurant or café to suit everyone. Nearly 100 restaurants cater to every imaginable taste: American, Southwest, Chinese and Italian fare are among the selections available.

Fine Arts and Cultural Activities:

Estes Park residents and visitors have long valued fine art, music and theater. The area is the home of the famous Rocky Ridge Music Center; the Estes Park Music Festival; the Stanley Hotel's Sunday afternoon concert series; SummerFest, the Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies summer-long festival of music and entertainment; regional professional theater companies; and the Christian Artists Music Seminar at the Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies. There is also a popular chuck wagon dinner theater featuring western-style music and entertainment.

Oils, acrylics, gouache/watercolor, sculpture, photography, pottery, jewelry and woven creations are among the art forms by world-renowned artists who display their work in numerous studios and galleries.

Museums & Points of Interest:

Visitors to the area can learn more about the area, its history, wildlife and resources by visiting any of the museums and points of interest in the Estes Park area. They include:

Lake Estes Hike & Bike Trail travels around Lake Estes 3¾ miles from the Estes Park Visitors Center to the Lake Estes Marina and along the causeway to Mall Road, finally connecting below the dam. The 10' wide concrete trail features riparian (bird friendly) vegetation. Summer restroom facilities are available adjacent to the golf course and at the Marina as well as at the Visitors Center year-round. The stretch from the Visitors Center to the Marina boasts a fishing pier and is wheelchair accessible.

Alpine Visitors' Center features tundra exhibits near the high point of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Enos Mills Cabin & Nature Trails, an 1885 cabin museum with memorabilia of the famous naturalist.

Estes Park Area Historical Museum with its Stanley Steamer, homestead cabin, and original Park headquarters building.

MacGregor Ranch Museum, a family's collection of ranch equipment, household belongings and clothing from 1860 to 1950. The MacGregor Ranch is living history and is still operated as a working ranch. It is one of the area's earliest homesteads and provides a glimpse of what ranching and mountain living were like in the 1900s. The museum is on the grounds

The Stanley Hotel, designed and constructed by F. O. Stanley, inventor of the photographic process used by Kodak and of the Stanley Steamer automobile, was completed in 1909. The hotel is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The Stanley Museum at The Stanley Hotel, a branch of the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine, has a permanent exhibit plus a changing exhibit focusing on the Stanley family.

Art in public places continues to be an important part of Estes Park's cultural attractions. At the east entrance to town (junction of U. S. Highway 36 and Colorado Highway 7) stands Samson, a bronze sculpture of the trophy-sized bull elk killed by a poacher's arrow in 1995. At the intersection of U. S. Highways 36 and 34 stands a family of bighorn sheep. In downtown Riverside Plaza are bronzes depicting mountain lions, eagles, and beaver. Outside of the Municipal Building are several bronze chipmunks cavorting on the rocks.