We stay 4 days in Estes Park, the ideal entry point to Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver. A park that has just moved up to 3rd place in the rankings of the most visited national parks in the USA and we quickly understood why as soon as we arrived. It doesn't seem like the park is so successful when you come to visit Estes Park in October as there are not many tourists in this season.
Here's how this post from our Estes Park travel blog is structured.
1. When to come to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)?
2. The most beautiful lakes around Estes Park
3. Horseback riding in Estes Park
4. Explore Rocky Mountain National Park by Jeep
5. Where to stay in Estes Park?
6. Where to eat in Estes Park?
It's still the nice season but the rush of the summer months is well and truly over. In 4 days on the spot, we experienced 20 degrees during the first 2 days and the chance to hike in a t-shirt, then it was the snow that appeared.
The landscape was then covered with a thick blanket of snow in the space of one night. We couldn't help but stay 2 more days. So happy!
Staying in Estes Park and exploring the Rocky Mountain National Park is also being in the middle of nature with wild animals. Unforgettable!
After 2 days visiting Denver for the first time, it will be good to be back in nature. And what a Nature! It is always with our car rented at Sixt that we arrive in Estes Park.
Welcome to our travel blog OneDayOneTravel. We are Franck and Richard and we will take you to Estes Park to dream through our story, our photos and our video. We'll send you a dream but also help you to prepare your future stay in Estes Park.
And it all starts with a video.
Access to the road trip playlist in the American West
This video vlog is the 2nd episode of a long series shot in the American West between Denver and Los Angeles. We are far from arriving in Los Angeles ^^
Estes Park Colorado : Staying in the Rockies between fall and winter
From the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, we first arrive in Lyons. The road then begins to climb more seriously towards the peaks of the Rockies. Denver is already at 1,609m above sea level and we will double in altitude. After 1h30 of driving (we had some traffic jams), we finally arrived in Estes Park.
Here is an interactive map to help you find your way.
1. When to come to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)?
You can come and explore Estes Park all year round. It all depends on what you are looking for. The busiest months are July and August, when traffic can get really bad in the wilderness. Visitors even have trouble parking for hiking! The quietest months are June, when everything is in bloom, and September and October for peace and quiet and beautiful colours.
Early November is the change of season. It can go from 20 degrees to 0 degrees with snow. This is what we experienced! The access to certain roads in high altitude are then blocked but we reassure you, the park is gigantic and you will inevitably find your happiness there. You should know that you can 't ski in Estes Park. On the other hand, you can take advantage of the joys of winter by practicing a whole range of soft activities. More information on the website of Visit Estes Park. You can also find all the latest news about the village and the park there.
Good to know : To access Rocky Mountain National Park, you will have to pay $25 per vehicle for 24 hours unless you opt for the America the Beautiful card, which allows you to access all the national parks in the United States for 1 year. We talked to you about it in detail in this article: road trip in the American West. This card is very quickly profitable because the entrance to the national parks in the United States varies between 20 and 30$. To buy it, it's very simple. You just have to ask for it at the entrance of any national park in the USA.
2. The most beautiful lakes in Estes Park
2.1. Bear lake, Nymph lake, Dream lake and Emerald lake
The most beautiful lakes to discover on a hike are located in the south of Rocky Mountain National Park. A magnificent hike accessible to all, lasting at least 2 hours round trip, allows you to contemplate 4 lakes at once: Bear lake, Nymph lake, Dream lake and Emerald lake. What we love is that each lake offers its own enchanting setting and breathtaking panorama of the surrounding mountains. And the wildlife is never far away!
The most popular lake is Bear Lake as it is close to the car park. Then, the further you go, the less people you meet. Yet the trail is easy. It is the difference in altitude, although not so important, which must repel a lot of visitors.
Here is the 2nd lake, the Nymph lake.
A few minutes of walking later, we come across the Dream lake. It is more and more beautiful and there is more and more snow!
Emerald lake is the highest lake of this hike. We can't go much higher ^^
Good to know:
Don't forget to bring water, snacks, sun cream and other necessities. The weather can change quickly in the mountains, like in the Alps.
For information, the Sprague lake located not far by car is very nice too. That's where we take you under the snow at the end of the video.
2.2. Lily lake and Gem lake : 2 hikes without entrance fees
Apart from Rocky Mountain National Park, you can also hike around Estes Park without paying the entrance fee.
2.2.1. Hiking around Lily lake
Lily lake is only a few minutes drive from Estes Park. The convenience is that the car park is right next to the lake. The pontoon that you can see as soon as you arrive in front of the lake is really nice.
A short and very bucolic hike allows you to go around the lake. Brave or not to hike, just on the left side, you will be able to come acrossmoose which are used to hang out in the high grass nearby.
2.2.2. Hike to Gem lake
The Gem lake hike is an easy 5km round trip trail that climbs well with a 320m positive elevation gain in a granite and fir setting and leads to a high altitude lake, Gem lake. Here again, there is no entrance fee.
The scenery is sublime all along the hike and what views of the plateau and the snowy peaks of the Rockies. After 1 hour of climbing, we are rewarded by the beauty of Gem lake. The lake is not huge but it is so bucolic! It's like being in a cartoon set. Great for a picnic once you arrive.
The descent is done in approximately 30 minutes.
3. Horseback riding in Estes Park
Exploring Estes Park on horseback is a must-do activity in the Rockies. We chose a 1 hour scenic ride in the mountains but there are other options as well.
We chose to try a horseback ride with Sombrero Stables in the eastern part of Estes Park. This ride is ideal for beginners.
The pluses
The small group,
The very nice and experienced guide,
The calm and the beauty of the site,
Very calm horses.
The minuses
The welcome was a bit too quick for our taste,
The bomb is not compulsory.
Prefer a longer hike if you want to enjoy it more, because in the end, the hike is limited to a tour of the heights of the ranch, which necessarily limits the number of viewpoints. In any case, the walk is ideal for beginners and families.
Practical information
Website of Sombrero Stables
Price per person: $50
Address: 1895 Big Thompson Avenue in Estes Park
Tel: +1 970 586 4577
4. Explore Rocky Mountain National Park by Jeep
A 3 to 3.5 hour guided tour of several natural spots in Rocky Mountain National Park in a Jeep that can accommodate up to 9 people and the driver. No off-roading on this route as we experienced before starting this road trip to Moab in Utah with Land Rover. So, theexpedition is open to everyone.
You will find several types of experiences to live by Jeep on the Green Jeep Tour website (link below). Here is our feedback on the " Mountain Experience Tour ".
The pluses
A no brainer way to get a first glimpse of the Rocky Mountain National Park,
The driver-guide and his relevant explanations (in English) throughout the tour,
The breathtaking panoramas,
The small group,
The short hikes,
The $25 Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fee included in the price.
The -
The Jeep did not add much value to the tour as there was no off road. Just a more open view from the outside.
We could have done the same thing with our own vehicle for the $25 per person entrance fee as we never left the marked and perfectly paved roads (ok, except for a 500m track to reach a car park).
Disappointment on 2 spots : The river we reached at the end of the track was not interesting at all. The last lake, Sprague Lake, on the other hand, had one and we didn't even stop there. We went back there under the snow by our own means 2 days later (see the end of the video).
Practical information
Website of Green Jeep Tours
Price per person: $74.90 (Rocky Mountain Park entrance included)
Address: 157 Moraine Avenue in Estes Park
Tel: +1 970 577 0034
5. Where to stay in Estes Park?
There are a number of options for staying in Estes Park. We chosea cottage by the river at Brynwood on the river. The establishment also offers cheaper rooms in their motel.
We occupy the cottage n°26, what is called in the United States a cabin. It can accommodate up to 6 people. Excellent location, if not the best, because directly on the river. And when we say "on the river", the water flows 3 meters away from the terrace.
Fortunately, the 2 bedrooms (1 large bedroom with 2 queen size beds and 1 bedroom with 1 king size bed) are located at the back of the cottage so there is no noise. In the living room with its fireplace and comfortable sofa facing directly the river, the light background noise of the water is rather pleasant, even relaxing, in any case inspiring at the time of writing these few words. And the icing on the cake, there is a private outdoor jacuzzi that we tested under the snow on the last day! Unforgettable experience of course. The cabin also has a private bathroom of course.
If you want to cook on site like us, the cottage also has a fully equipped kitchen. For shopping (including buying logs for the fireplace) there is a small shopping centre a few hundred metres away. Very convenient.
There are several types of accommodation available at Brynwood on the river, at widely varying rates. From $90 for a room in the motel to $224 for our cottage for example at the end of October.
The top of the range hotel The Stanley Hotel is an alternative to Brynwood on the River if you are looking to stay in thehistoric highland villagehotel.
The prices are understandable as the hotel is in a great location with incredible views across Estes Park. Stephen King stayed here and it was this hotel that inspired his novel Shining. Don't hesitate to visit the hotel as it can be visited. Due to lack of time, we limited ourselves to the outside.
It's here for all the other addresses where to sleep in Estes Park.
6. Where to eat in Estes Park?
We have to admit that with all the facilities very easily accessible from our accommodation, we rather prepared sandwiches for lunch and cooked in the evening at the cottage. We might as well enjoy the kitchen and the fire at home ^^
Main street of the high altitude village of Estes Park
Nevertheless, there are some good addresses like Smokin' Daves BBQ & Taphouse which offers the best grilled food in the Rockies! Everyone is talking about this place because the prices are cheap, the food is excellent and the atmosphere is relaxed.
For breakfast or a daytime snack, we suggest you stop at Coffee on the Rocks. It is located near Brynwood on the river.
More ideas where to eat in Estes Park.
This 4 days stay in Estes Park will remain one of the highlights of this road trip inthe American West. It was a totally different stage in a rather deserted road trip, and it was such a contrast to our 2 days visiting Denver.
In conclusion of this stay in Estes Park between autumn and winter, 
Estes Park, theperfect stopover during a road trip to breathe, disconnect and hike in the mountains in the middle of the wild animals of the forest. You could think you were in a Walt Disney cartoon. An incredible experience to be had at least once in your life, and one that is accessible to the whole family. We have never seen so many deer in the wild before. We have already travelled quite a few kilometres in Canada for example.
