| Shopping |
There many stores to shop in while you
are in Estes Park. Most stores are located downtown, which
is well suited for walking and exploring. We really like
two galleries, one is called Earthwood Artisans and the other is
called Earthwood Collections, but we may be a bit
biased. But really, we hope you enjoy all the shops and
we're sure you'll have fun shopping in Estes Park! |
| Hiking |
There are numerous hiking trails in
Rocky Mountain National Park, the adjoining national forests,
and throughout the town of Estes Park itself. |
| Snow Shoeing |
Snow Shoeing is said to be one of the
fastest growing winter activities and the snow shoeing in Rocky Mountain
National Park is among the best in the United States.
There are hundreds of miles of trails here. Many nice trails lead from the Bear Lake parking area in the park. You can
rent snow shoes from several local sporting goods stores in
town. |
| Walking |
The River Walk Trail and the Lake Estes
Trail are paved and connected to each other. These trails
make for great, in-town walks. There are also many areas
within Rocky Mountain National Park that are flat and allow for
great, relaxing walks (Lilly Lake and Bear Lake are nice).
The Knolls-Willows Open Space (the 19 acres in downtown behind the
Library) is a nice place for a walk when you are downtown. |
| Biking |
There are numerous bikeways in the
town of Estes Park. You can rent bikes from local sporting
goods stores and also from the Lake Estes Marina. |
| Wildlife Viewing |
Native wildlife is abundant throughout
the Estes Park area. You will see and experience wildlife
while you are here. Keep your eyes and ears open! |
| Cross-country Skiing |
The Estes Park area has some of the
best cross-country skiing in the United States. There are
many trails in Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding
area. Cross-country skiing is great fun and great
exercise. You can rent skis in town. |
| Downhill Skiing |
The closest downhill skiing area is
Eldora Mountain. It is located just outside the small town
of Nederland, Colorado. Nederland is just 45 minutes to
the south of Estes Park. Many people choose to stay in
Estes Park as part of their skiing adventure to Eldora due to
the wide variety of lodging, dining, shopping and other
attractions located in Estes. |
| Ice Skating |
There are two outdoor skating areas in
the Estes Park area. One is at Trout Haven and the other
is at the Aspen Lodge. Both provide skate rentals and are
only open when the water is frozen! |
| Fishing |
Fly fishing, trout fishing, lake
fishing, river fishing, in-town, and in the backcountry, there
is great fishing in this area. There are guide services
available in Estes Park. |
| Swimming |
There are many places to swim in Estes
Park. The Aquatic Center is a nice pool that is open to
the public. It has a children's area, a full size pool, a
diving area, pool toys, locker rooms, and a swinging rope.
Many of the hotels, motels and resorts also have private pools
for their guests. There is also a huge pool at the YMCA of
the Rockies. |
| Boating |
There is boating on Lake Estes during
the summer. Boats can be rented at the Lake Estes Marina.
You can even water ski at certain times in the summer! |
| Horseback Riding |
There are numerous stables in and
around Estes Park for great horseback riding experiences. |
| Golfing |
There are two great golf courses in
Estes. An 18 hole and a 9 hole. These are beautiful
courses with some interesting challenges, like herds of Elk. |
| Bowling |
There is a bowling alley in
town. This is a really cool bowling alley. |
| Tennis |
There are free tennis courts located
in Stanley Park. There are also courts at the YMCA of the
Rockies. |
| Libraries and
Museums |
The town of Estes Park has a nice
library (downtown) on E. Elkhorn Avenue, but there are several other
interesting libraries to be found in town, too. For
example, there is an interesting library at the YMCA of the
Rockies. There are also several small museums in town that
focus on the history of the town and the surrounding area.
They are unique and worthwhile to check out. The Stanley
Museum (think the Stanley Steamer), the Culutral Arts of Estes
Park Fine Art Gallery, the Estes Park Area Historical Museum, the
Enos Mills Cabin Museum and the McGregor Ranch Museum are good
examples. |
| Rock/Ice Climbing |
The area is a mecca for rock/ice
climbing enthusiasts. Outdoor routes are too numerous to
mention. There is also an indoor climbing wall that is
open year round. Stop by one of the local sporting goods
shops to get more climbing information. |
| Farmer's Market |
There is a great Farmer's Market that
runs one day a week throughout the summer. It's located by
the Estes Park Brewery. |
| Dining |
You have choices that range from fast
food to gourmet in and around Estes Park. Stop in the store and we'll
give you our current picks for where to eat. |
| Brewery's |
Yes, Estes Park has its own
Brewery. The beer is fresh and it's award winning.
Check it out. |
| Live Music |
There is live music all year round. Check out the Stanley and other
beautiful venues for classical and chamber music. Check
out the Wheel Bar, Lonigan's for rock,
funk and reggae music; Kelly's Palce for dance music. Check out
the Tavern at Mary's Lake Lodge, The Gallery Restaurant, Hunter's
Chop House and other restaurants/bars in town for all
types of live (and mostly free) music. There are many free outdoor concerts in
the Spring, Summer and Fall featuring Jazz, Native American,
Celtic and many other music forms. These are usually right
downtown in Bond Park or in Performance Park. We even host live music at our
store. Listen, dance and enjoy! |
| Spas |
Get a massage, a facial, a manicure, a
professional style or a pedicure while your in town.
Pamper yourself, there are many options to choose from. |
| Camping |
The best all around camping is
probably located in Rocky
Mountain National Park, but there are many other options around, too. |
| Lodging |
There are hundreds of motels, hotels,
resorts and B&B's to choose from. These go from rustic
to real nice. Just enjoy! |
| And Much More! |
Of course this list of things to do in
the Estes Park area is not complete, but we hope that this
information helps you plan your stay. |
