Estes Park

United_States

Estes Park is a town in the Front Range region of the state of Colorado in America. It is located 90 miles northwest of Denver, on the eastern slope of the Front Range in north central Colorado. Estes Park sits at the east entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

"Park" in this case is a term that means a valley or meadow. Estes Park is named after an early settler, Joel Estes, who attempted to make a living by farming. Because of the short growing season it never really worked out. Since the mid-1800s the main business of Estes Park has been tourism. The clientele ranges from hard-core backcountry types to tour-buses full of drive through sightseers. The main draw is the scenery, which is awesome.

Year-round population is approximately 6,000 people, adding the surroundings it may be 10,000. In the peak of tourist season that probably triples. The best time to visit for outdoor activities is July through September. Everyone else thinks so too, so it can get kind of crowded. The heaviest traffic is probably in August. The family/kids crowd thins out after Labor Day.

Winter is a charming time of the year as well, since it is an excellent time to go snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Winter also provides greater opportunities to enjoy the tranquility of the Rocky Mountains as there are fewer tourists.

Winter weather is warmer than most mountain towns. But summer is also short. Summer temps peak in the low 90's(F) in town, much cooler as elevation increases. If you plan on spending any time out of your car up on Trail Ridge Road take a jacket. Estes is in a dry zone, getting maybe 13-15 inches of moisture a year. During the summer the regular weather pattern is clear mornings with a buildup of clouds at midday and sometimes a short rain shower.

Elevation in town is 7,522 feet above sea level. Some people experience discomforts due to altitude.

  • The neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park, particularly the drive over Trail Ridge Road.
  • Wildlife: elk (wapiti), bighorn sheep, mule deer, etc.
  • Fine arts/galleries
  • Historical museum

Most visitors to town are here for the nature, and activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, horse riding, mountain climbing (in particular, Longs Peak), birding and rafting are very popular. There are also 27 holes of golf.

  • Scottish festival. September.
  • Elk Fest. First weekend in October.
  • Christmas "Catch the Glow" parade. Weekend after Thanksgiving.
  • Rooftop Rodeo.
  • Yoga Journal Conference. Annual event in September.

Scottish festival. September.

Elk Fest. First weekend in October.

Christmas "Catch the Glow" parade. Weekend after Thanksgiving.

Rooftop Rodeo.

Yoga Journal Conference. Annual event in September.

Park Theatre, 130 Moraine Ave, +1 970-586-8904.

Reel Mountain Theatre, 543 E. Wonderview Ave, +1 970-586-4227.

  • Open Air Adventure Park, 490 Prospect Village Dr. Swinging on suspended ropes, riding a snowboard 21 feet in the air, or crossing on zip lines are just a few of the 32 elements you can challenge yourself on.
  • Stanley Park, 1209 Manford Ave, +1 970-586-6104. Playground.
  • Riverspointe Spa, 121 Wiest Dr, +1 970 577-6841. Slip into a soft robe, sip hot tea, listen to the river running by. Stay after your treatment to sit in the sauna.

Open Air Adventure Park, 490 Prospect Village Dr. Swinging on suspended ropes, riding a snowboard 21 feet in the air, or crossing on zip lines are just a few of the 32 elements you can challenge yourself on.

Stanley Park, 1209 Manford Ave, +1 970-586-6104. Playground.

Riverspointe Spa, 121 Wiest Dr, +1 970 577-6841. Slip into a soft robe, sip hot tea, listen to the river running by. Stay after your treatment to sit in the sauna.

This place has been a tourist destination since day one and numerous stores exist allowing you to outfit yourself for camping, hiking, fishing, biking or just about any other outdoor activity. In addition, there are quite a few fine art galleries as well as stuffed-bear stores, Christmas ornament stores, cowboy hat stores, and two Starbucks. Options also exist for those looking for T-shirts and "rubber tomahawks".

For groceries it's Country Market or Safeway and prices are comparable to the front range area. Car/RV service, parts and repair are available but somewhat limited. Gas prices are usually 10 cents/gal higher than Loveland or Longmont. There is no WalMart, so for odd items you may need to go to one of the hardware stores or to the sundries aisle at Safeway. There are at least three pharmacies and a nice local hospital.

  • Estes True Value, 461 E Wonderview Ave (Located in Upper Stanley Village, +1 970 586-3496. 8AM - 9PM. A hardware store that also offers camping and fishing supplies, sporting goods, clothing (including swimwear), toys and games, linens, housewares and $1.99 DVD rentals. It also has a RadioShack inside.

Estes True Value, 461 E Wonderview Ave (Located in Upper Stanley Village, +1 970 586-3496. 8AM - 9PM. A hardware store that also offers camping and fishing supplies, sporting goods, clothing (including swimwear), toys and games, linens, housewares and $1.99 DVD rentals. It also has a RadioShack inside.

Much like other tourist towns, Estes Park features many different types of restaurants with everything from Mexican to wild game available.

  • The Donut Haus, 342 Moraine Ave., +1 970-586-2988 (closed Mondays).
  • The Egg and I, 393 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-1173. Great place for breakfast. Popular with locals and seasonal guests/workers.
  • Estes Park Pie Company, 370 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-577-7437.

The Donut Haus, 342 Moraine Ave., +1 970-586-2988 (closed Mondays).

The Egg and I, 393 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-1173. Great place for breakfast. Popular with locals and seasonal guests/workers.

Estes Park Pie Company, 370 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-577-7437.

  • Big Horn Restaurant, 401 W Elkhorn, +1 970-586-2792. Voted best breakfast/BBQ.
  • Bob & Tony's Pizza, 124 W. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-2044. Cheap, decent pizza. A teen hangout that's changed little since the 1950s - arcade games, pool tables and juke boxes in the back. If you can find an empty brick, write your name on the wall.
  • Ed's Cantina, 390 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-2919. One of the most popular local eats. Dinner $10-15. Largely Mexican food menu. Has both bar and restaurant seating areas.
  • Grumpy Gringo, 1560 Big Thompson Ave, +1 970-586-7705. Great atmosphere and views. Impeccability clean dining and rest rooms. The service is friendly, and the owner often walks around to say hello. The food, however, is mediocre, the ground beef in tacos etc. always tastes odd.
  • Local’s Grill, 153 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-7600.
  • Nicky's Steakhouse, 1350 Fall River Rd, +1 970-586-5376. Good Greek food.
  • Penelope's Burgers, 229 W. Elkhorn Ave. Voted best in Estes.
  • Poppy’s Pizza Riverwalk, 342 E. Elkhorn Ave (Barlow Plaza, +1 970-586-8282.
  • Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, 1675 Hwy 66, +1 970-586-4116. Steakhouse and live music. Excellent entrées $15-$25. Good specials. Lively mountain atmosphere.
  • Sweet Basilico, 430 Prospect Village Dr, +1 970 586-3899.

Big Horn Restaurant, 401 W Elkhorn, +1 970-586-2792. Voted best breakfast/BBQ.

Bob & Tony's Pizza, 124 W. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-2044. Cheap, decent pizza. A teen hangout that's changed little since the 1950s - arcade games, pool tables and juke boxes in the back. If you can find an empty brick, write your name on the wall.

Ed's Cantina, 390 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-2919. One of the most popular local eats. Dinner $10-15. Largely Mexican food menu. Has both bar and restaurant seating areas.

Grumpy Gringo, 1560 Big Thompson Ave, +1 970-586-7705. Great atmosphere and views. Impeccability clean dining and rest rooms. The service is friendly, and the owner often walks around to say hello. The food, however, is mediocre, the ground beef in tacos etc. always tastes odd.

Local’s Grill, 153 E. Elkhorn Ave., +1 970-586-7600.

Nicky's Steakhouse, 1350 Fall River Rd, +1 970-586-5376. Good Greek food.

Penelope's Burgers, 229 W. Elkhorn Ave. Voted best in Estes.

Poppy’s Pizza Riverwalk, 342 E. Elkhorn Ave (Barlow Plaza, +1 970-586-8282.

Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, 1675 Hwy 66, +1 970-586-4116. Steakhouse and live music. Excellent entrées $15-$25. Good specials. Lively mountain atmosphere.

Sweet Basilico, 430 Prospect Village Dr, +1 970 586-3899.

  • Sundeck Restaurant, 915 Moraine Ave (Located beside Alpine Trail Ridge Inn., +1 970 586-9832. Family restaurant specializing in fresh Rocky Mountain trout and serve a variety of Mexican, American, and German foods.

Sundeck Restaurant, 915 Moraine Ave (Located beside Alpine Trail Ridge Inn., +1 970 586-9832. Family restaurant specializing in fresh Rocky Mountain trout and serve a variety of Mexican, American, and German foods.

  • Kind Coffee, 470 E Elkhorn Ave (Intersection of Hwy 37 & Elkhorn, +1 970 586-5206. Locally roasted, organically grown, fair trade coffee. A nice break from the hordes that run to the green Starbucks sign like a pack of Pavlov's dogs.

Kind Coffee, 470 E Elkhorn Ave (Intersection of Hwy 37 & Elkhorn, +1 970 586-5206. Locally roasted, organically grown, fair trade coffee. A nice break from the hordes that run to the green Starbucks sign like a pack of Pavlov's dogs.

Cell phone service is pretty good in town, depending on the carrier, but spotty in the National Park unless you are on high ground. The local library has Internet terminals available for walk-in use, sign-up required. Kind Coffee, Notchtop Bakery, Barlow Plaza and various hotels and restaurants have free wireless Internet.