Estes Park Rocky Mountain National Park

(Estes Park, Colorado - CO, USA)

The Rocky Mountain National Park is the number one reason why so many people choose to base themselves within Estes Park, or simply pass through the town. Outdoor sports and related activities don't come much bigger or better than those on offer within the Rocky Mountain National Park, while the scenery is everything that you could possibly expect to find, and then some.

One of Colorado's premier tourist attractions, the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park is just a stone's throw from Estes Park, being connected by regular free shuttle buses. However, a National Parks pass will be necessary to gain entrance to the park itself and the remain valid for up to seven days.

Layout and Attractions

Close to the park are a total of three different visitors centers, as follows:

• Beaver Meadows Visitors Center / Park HQ
  Address: US-36
  Tel: +1 970 586 1206
  Open hours: daily, summer - 08:00 to 18:00; fall to spring - 08:00 to 17:00
• Kawuneeche Visitors Center
  Address: US-34, north of Grand Lake
  Tel: +1 970 627 3471
  Open hours: daily, summer - 08:00 to 17:30; fall to spring - 08:00 to 16:30
• Lily Lake Visitors Center
  Address: Highway 7, south of Estes Park
  Tel: +1 970 586 5128
  Open hours: May to November, daily - 09:00 to 16:30

The following are actually located within the Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Fall River Visitors Center
  Tel: +1 970 586 1415
  Open hours: summer, daily - 09:00 to 17:00; fall to spring, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00
• Alpine Visitors Center
  Tel: +1 970 586 1206
  Open hours: May to October, daily - 10:30 to 16:30

Day trippers from Estes Park will find that the easiest and most popular hikes are based around the Bear Lake Trailhead, and also the Glacier Gorge Junction Trailhead. Also of note is the Moraine Park Trailhead, and the rather steep Flattop Mountain Trail, which is really only suitable for the fittest of hikers. Reaching the very summit of the Longs Peak mountain is equally arduous, with this busy trail not opening until July, since it is often snowbound until the arrival of summer.

Families staying is Estes Park and visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park will be able to enjoy a number of highly suitable child-friendly attractions. These include the short trail to the top of the Lily Mountain, the Gem Lake within the Lumpy Ridge region, and the Calypso Cascades, which are to be found in the Wild Basin. The Trail Ridge Road may also be of interest, crossing the Continental Divide and boasting some superb views around Mount Ida.