10 Best Things to do in Estes Park, Colorado | Rocky Mountain National Park

On the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, lies Estes Park, Colorado. It is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and has some fun things to do. We recently visited this cute town, and some of our favorites were exploring the city, eating food, and touring the Stanley Hotel.
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0:00 Introduction
0:18 Visitors Center
1:44 River Walk
2:51 Elkhorn Ave
3:57 The Taffy Shop
4:47 Elk
5:42 The Stanley Hotel
6:50 Parking
7:04 Penelope's & Antonio's
8:33 Fun City
9:24 Lake Estes
10:02 Visit RMNP
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[@roarrman]

Heading here for my bachelor party. Its been beautiful and fun everytime I go. Love the outdoors and love the area.

[@WereintheRockies]

Have fun!

[@fsusarge]

Surprised that Sombrero Stables didn't make the hit parade. Great ride up to the high country in the Eisenhower [or is it Roosevelt? I'm gettin' old...] National Forest!!!

[@timothywillis8883]

Good video! Thanks!

[@WereintheRockies]

Glad you liked it!

[@Buddahgirl71]

So adding Estes Park to next Summers trips. Always wanted to visit the Stanley for the spookieness. Nice to see the other things to do. Greetings to you guys from Montana!

[@WereintheRockies]

You should! Thanks for watching.

[@gr260]

I HIGHLY recommend Himalayan Curry/Cafe. Amazing Nepalese food and very cool vibe

[@WereintheRockies]

Thanks for sharing!

[@raziakber3710]

Very good video. The place looks great but a bit far from we live, its about 1500 miles. Thanks for uolading a very good video!👍

[@WereintheRockies]

Y’u’re welcome, and thank you so much for watching and commenting !!

[@RyanandHotairBalloons]

We're in the Rockies where koa is Estes Park cross the street is is a bike shop you can buy or rent bike or ebike

[@kevinstreeter6943]

Stay at the Silver Moon to have parking downtown. I think the parking garage is new.

[@wendaltvedt4673]

I would add the Birch ruins across from the Stanley that overlooks the town. It's the remnants of an old cabin that sits on top of a hill with some history. I stopped going to Penelope's years ago due to a couple of bad experiences but Grubsteak makes a great smokey grilled flavored burger. Antonio's is super good though. Also Sweet Basilico for pasta they're affordable and really good.

[@WereintheRockies]

Awesome suggestion! That’s actually where we filmed the introduction at: the birch ruins.

[@wendaltvedt4673]

@@WereintheRockies Auh ok I probably didn't recognize the ruins because I always go to Estes during winter. It's my number 1 favorite town!

[@williambrown3208]

Can you catch the shuttle to Estes Park shopping and restaurants area from the Stanley Hotel?

[@WereintheRockies]

You should be able to catch it to the visitor center, then change buses to the one downtown.

[@williambrown3208]

@WereintheRockies okay, thanks. I am staying 3 nights in room 217 August of 2024 at the Stanley Hotel. I hope I get woken up to a 👻

[@WereintheRockies]

@williambrown3208 What?!?! You got the room!!! So cool

[@WereintheRockies]

@williambrown3208 Please email us to tell us how it was!!!

[@williambrown3208]

@WereintheRockies okay yeah I called the Stanley Hotel in July. I was able to book room 217 over a year in advance. I know from experience. I was on the computer midnight mountain on August 1st. I got 6 nights at the Many Glacier Hotel for August of 2024. Everything sold out within 15 minutes.

[@dancergirl182]

Is it worth visiting Estes Park in April? Where in Colorado would you recommend for a fun little 3 day getaway in April. No 4 wheel drive and not a fan of passes without guardrails and cliffs!

[@WereintheRockies]

April will be way less busy, and the snow begins to thaw in late April. However, hiking to higher elevations can be difficult. Sticking to hikes at the lower elevations will be best. Also in April, some roads and facilities in RMNP will be closed.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

I would try July or August

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

You can take a Bustang bus from Spring to Fall for $10 each way from Denver s Union Station to and from Estes Park

[@billricheter5678]

Looks like a bear in water in lower right at around 2:33

[@triciaphenicie5358]

I thought the same!

[@martacruz1788]

Hello, love your videos! You mention early July as the best time to come. How about mid to late June? Any problems visiting then?

[@WereintheRockies]

If you visit in June, you run the risk of things being closed and snow still on the ground. It is high elevation so it takes time for all the snow to melt.

[@fsusarge]

Veteran Estes Parker here, and mid to late June the only stretch of the National Park that's closed is Old Fall River Road, one way up only to the Alpine Center atop Trail Ridge Road. "Some snow" on the ground is part of the charm for me, as it's Tarzan-hot where I come from. Visit in May and you'll catch a late-season snowfall as I did last visit. Just remember the longer into summer you wait, the worse the crowding; am I right, Cheryl & Matt?

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Certain trails are covered in snow...like Chasm Lake

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

​@@fsusargeSome times Trail Ridge will get snow way late and close Trail Ridge

[@RyanandHotairBalloons]

and bike shop you can rent ebikes

[@Scotty_J.]

First question i would ask the visitor center is "where are the gas stations?"

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Depends what you eat

[@michaelwaller6093]

Unfortunately, Estes Park is no longer the quiet and quaint mountain town it used to be. Tourism has spoiled this town to the point that locals can hardly afford to live there anymore. Years ago, before RMNP became so popular, it was a really fun place to go. Now - just one big, expensive, tourist trap. No knocks in you, or your videos as I enjoy them. Just putting into (my) perspective what Estes Park used to, and has now, become.

[@WereintheRockies]

Yes, the growing popularity of the national parks has definitely changed the towns around them.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Not spoiled at all...BTW from Denver for $10 each way, Bustang provides a bus with free Wifi and charging ports...from Denver up to Estes Park and back several times a day from spring to fall

[@philiphill6697]

Every one of these types of videos makes Estes Park less inviting. More humans = less enjoyment in the mountains. We've loved the park to death.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Plenty of trails not used

[@craigcothren6629]

This is a terrible video

[@WereintheRockies]

Sorry you fell that way.

[@kevinstreeter6943]

The bear at 2:35 makes it worth it. Do not expect to see a bear downtown.

[@kevinstreeter6943]

@@WereintheRockies The bear is enough to make it worth my time. Never expected to see a bear downtown.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Not at all

[@wearelosingit5835]

I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE IN DENVER BACK IN THE 70’S. WENT TO ESTES ON WEEKENDS . LOVED THE COUNTRY MOUNTAIN FEEL. MARRIED IN THE EARLY 90’S . BACK TO ESTES. LOVED IT. LOOKS LIKE A BIG CITY TOURIST TRAP NOW. BIG PARKING GARAGE. REALLY. WE CONTINUE TO DESTROY AMERICA

[@WereintheRockies]

Thanks for watching.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Well they have city shuttles and from Spring to Fall they have Buses from Union Station in Denver to Estes and back for $10 each way with Bustang