Estes Park, Colorado.
This is perhaps one of the best places we've ever visited and fallen in love with! ♥️
Visiting Estes Park in Colorado has been one of the most incredible and memorable experiences of my lifetime.
As we drove towards this mesmerizing town back in 2022, I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness as the beautiful landscapes of mountain scenery emerged and the road opened up endless opportunities for adventure right in front of us. I was in love!
If you have never been to this piece of heaven on earth, you are missing out. There is so much to say about Estes Park and everything this magical place offers. We have over 1,000 photos to prove it.
Today I hope to give you a snapshot of what you could experience.
The Town
Estes Park itself is something special. It’s like one of those quaint happy towns from a cheesy Hallmark Christmas show, only a thousand times better.
Laying at the mouth of Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s a place filled with a variety of shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants, but without the touristy overselling you’ll experience in towns like Sedona or Lake Tahoe.
Two of our favorite places were Brownfields, who sells awesome stuff for great prices, and Kind Coffee for sugar-free lattes and a relaxing vibe. If you want craft beer and live music, hang out at The Slab. These are just a few recommendations you can easily find on main street as you walk around.
Of course this doesn’t mean it’s not busy because it is!
Millions of tourists bombard this area every year and the weekends are always busy, creating long lines of traffic that will test your patience. And unless you learn the secret routes or perfect times to get out, it can take you a while to get around. Thankfully we learned how to avoid most of this. 😉
Still it feels like home - a comfortable and welcoming space that brings an overwhelming peace to your soul.
Finally if you’re lucky enough to be visiting during Halloween, their event was fantastic and fun. They shut down all the traffic on main street to allow the children to trick or treat all the stores and there were plenty of adults dressed up as well. You could enjoy food, drinks, and festivities in a very safe place.
The Outdoors and Wildlife
If you enjoy being outdoors and seeing an abundance of wildlife, you’ll soon discover Estes Park delivers it all.
Taking your time to walk around Lake Estes does so much to energize your mind, body, and soul. You’ll be able to spot bald eagles, watch herds of elk, gaze at the beautiful mountains, ride your mountain bikes, or just sit in solitude with a zen-like feeling at various points around the path.
The hiking trails in the area are endless joys of wonder.
No matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, you have unlimited options for hiking without even going into RMNP. We absolutely loved our time at Lily Lake and other trails. And we even managed to reach the summit of Twin Sisters Peak.
The wildlife is also unlike any place I’ve been.
Besides the gobs of wild turkey, rabbits, chipmunks, and mule deer, we spent hours watching large herds of elk do their thing all over town. We also saw bighorn sheep and moose, but unfortunately no bears.
It was so refreshing and invigorating.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Obviously this is the biggest draw and for a very good reason. There’s nothing quite like driving through and exploring RMNP! We spent a lot of time hiking in the park, taking pictures, watching elk and deer, and just standing in awe of all the majestic scenery you will see throughout it.
The downside can be the crazy amount of traffic.
It’s not uncommon to have to wait an hour to get into the park at certain times of the day, and when any wildlife appears close to the roads, you will come to a standstill. Be sure to pack your supplies including food, water, and layers of clothing. Additionally it’s smart to gas up your vehicle before heading to the park.
Once you get inside RMNP, we highly recommend checking out the entire drive on Bear Lake Road even if you have to take the free shuttle. Walking around Sprague Lake is also a must, as is stopping by Sheep Lake on the other side of the park.
And I really hate to share this secret, but the best time to go is at 6 am in the morning. There’s less waiting to get in and more wildlife to see.
Regardless of what you do you can’t go wrong here.
Other Recommendations
Lake Estes Visitor Center
This is a great area to walk around and enjoy nature. If you take the river walk access by the visitor center, you can easily stop in the art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants along the path.
Lily Lake Loop
If possible, take the drive on this breathtaking route up into the mountains. Once you arrive at the trailhead there’s an easy path that goes around this small lake. It’s truly worth it.
Lumpy Ridge Trailhead and Gem Lake
This hike is more moderate but it has stunning views and rock formations. Even if you don’t walk it, the drive to the area is beautiful.
Regardless of what you do you can’t go wrong here.
Smokin’ Daves BBQ
One of the best and most reasonable places to eat when visiting Estes Park. The food was amazing and they have a great selection of craft beers. Plus the vibe is fun and relaxed.
Sinclair Gas Station
We’re not recommending this for gas but for the burger place located inside of it. Their burgers kick ass and at only $6-$7, it’s a way better deal than most places.
The Memory of a Lifetime
As I said at the beginning, Estes Park in Colorado is probably the best and happiest place in the United States we’ve visited — and we’ve been to Maui, San Diego, Bar Harbor, Mount Denali, and a whole more!
We spent six weeks in this area and did not want to leave. Our stay at the Historic Crags Lodge was excellent and their team so awesome. We made new friends and experienced making memories of a lifetime. Sometimes I even shed tears thinking about it all.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to go there, please do so. It really is amazing.