By day four of our road trip we had made it to the edges of Rocky Mountain National Park: Estes Park. What a quaint little town! If you are headed towards Rocky Mountain National Park you should absolutely spend some time in Estes Park.
Estes Park is located just 65 miles north and west of Denver and can easily be reached by car. On the way you will pass through the city of Boulder which is another place to stop in if you’ve got the time. Once you’ve arrived in Estes Park you should:
1. Check out the “Main Street” of Estes Park.
It is essentially a tourist trap filled with kitschy souvenir shops and restaurants, but it is adorable and a great way to stretch your legs. More than 200 independently owned retailers, restaurants and attractions line the downtown along Elkhorn and Moraine avenues.
2. Take the Riverwalk.
Behind the visitor’s center you can access the Riverwalk. Fall River and the Big Thompson River flow along the backside of Elkhorn Avenue and the city has created a path that follows these rivers lined with murals from local artists, bronze statues, contra chimes and more. You are able to access many of the shops on the Main Street but can avoid the traffic, be soothed by the sound of the river and be shaded by the trees!
3. Take the Estes Park Aerial Tramway.
Head south on Moraine Ave towards Prospect Mountain and you will find the Estes Park Aerial Tramway. This tram gives amazing views of the entire city of Estes Park along with some epic views of the eastern parts of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is $14 round trip for adults, $10 for kids 6-11 and kids under 5 ride free. The are no reservations required to ride the tram, but if you have a pet you won’t be able to bring him or her with you. Hint: For less crowds, better photography, and calmer weather, ride early morning or late afternoon.
4. Stop in to Elkins Distilling Company.
Elkins opened on July 4, 2016 as the town’s first legal distillery. Located in the eastern part of Estes Park, across the street from Lake Estes, the distillery has a tasting room and outdoor seating. They distill a corn whisky with an all-Colorado grown grain bill and proofed with pure waters from Rocky Mountain National Park, their white whisky earned a silver medal at the 2016 Denver International Spirits competition! They also offer a number of craft cocktails made with their whisky! Try the Smoked Old Fashioned or the Black Forest!
5. Grab a bite at the Hunters Chophouse.
Open in the evenings daily, the chophouse has a diverse menu including Smoked Elk Carpaccio, Bison Sirloin Steak, and Baked Colorado Trout. My favorite thing on the menu is absolutely the wild game sampler: brats of smoked buffalo, jalapeño elk, apricot boar, pheasant, and cheeses.
6. Visit one of the city’s breweries.
Estes Park is not unlike the rest of Colorado in that it has enough breweries that you could make a whole afternoon of brewery hopping: Rock Cut Brewing Company, Avant Garde Aleworks, and Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co.
7. Take a hike.
There are a number of stunning hikes in and out of Rocky Mountain National Park in the Estes Park area. They range from easy hikes to stunning lakes to day long hikes into the wilderness and to the tops of surrounding mountains. Check out my favorites here.
8. Visit the Estes Park Museum.
Check out the history of Estes Park by checking out the 30,000 items at the Estes Park Museum. From historic photographs, postcards, and archives to textiles, artwork, furniture, tools, and even a Stanley Steamer automobile. Over 12,000 of these items are images in its historic photograph collection.