Summer Information For Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park In Colorado






Jul 4, 08

Estes Park / Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado

The Essence of the Rockies

In Estes Park, life is the way you wish it could be. This beautiful mountain town, surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains, is your gateway to the number one tourist destination in Colorado -- Rocky Mountain National Park! Here, you'll find so much to do, see and enjoy and you'll discover wonderful treasures, both tangible and intangible, to take away with you. The inspiring natural beauty of the Estes Valley will lift your spirits. The cadence of the mountain environment will both relax and invigorate you. And the friendly faces and hospitality you'll encounter will make you feel at home. Estes Park will find a special place in your heart.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park contains 415 square miles of the most spectacular mountain scenery in America. With its granite summits towering over broad, forested valleys, the landscape inspires a visitor with its immense size and beauty. The Park straddles the Continental Divide, the rooftop of America where melting snows and rainfall flow westward to the Pacific Ocean or southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the United States, travels through the heart of the Park providing access to the delicate beauty of the Alpine Tundra, which comprises a third of the Park's area. The route, with 11 miles above tree line, climbs from Estes Park at 7,522 feet above sea level to a high point of over 12,000 feet. The road is open from Memorial Day until late fall when heavy snowfalls at the summit make it impractical to clear the route.

Old Fall River Road, a popular trip for more adventurous motorists, is a dramatic 11-mile journey uphill past waterfalls, glacial deposits, icy pools, and breathtaking views. Sheer cliffs rise from the edge of the road to towering heights above. The circle is completed with a return trip on Trail Ridge Road.

Bear Lake Road follows Glacier Creek through 9.5 miles of spectacular scenery to Bear Lake, one of the few sub alpine lakes that is directly accessible by car. This is one of the most visited areas of the Park. Nestled in a glacial valley at 9,500 feet, the area puts the visitor within touching distance of some of the Park's most spectacular scenery and serves as a hub for hikes to many glacial lakes that dot the area. One of the more popular hikes takes visitors to Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes offering dramatic views of Hallett Peak and Longs Peak. Accessible all year, the Bear Lake area is an ideal starting point for cross country skiing, or snowshoe outings.

Rocky Mountain National Park was selected as one of the " Top 10 National Parks" by National Geographic Adventure magazine in their May, 2002 issue.

Alpine Visitors Center
Located at Fall River Pass at junction of Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road, 4 miles east of the Continental Divide.
Closes for the winter and reopens in late May, weather permitting.

Park Hours
The park is open 24 hours a day year round. Visitors can enter or exit at any time. If planning to stay overnight, visitors must be in a designated campground site or a backcountry campsite reserved by a valid permit.

Park Fees
Individuals and Families - Seven-day automobile pass $15
Pedestrians, Bicycles Motorcycles and Mopeds - Seven-day pass is $5 per person, not to exceed $10 per vehicle

Estes Park
Nestled in a high mountain valley at just above 7,500 feet elevation, Estes Park, Colorado is home to more than the year-around natural splendor of the mountains. This delightful mountain village welcomes visitors of al ages with festivals, cultural experiences, downtown gardens, playgrounds, river walks, bike trails and grassy parks featuring sculptures of mountain wildlife. Victorian lights and sidewalk benches add an old fashioned feel to the array of charming shops and restaurants.

Over 300 unique shops and galleries offer an attractive shopping variety from handcrafted art to special giftware and fine apparel. There are restaurants galore ... everything from typical fast food selections to trendy cuisine and fine dining can be found here. You can choose from a wide variety of accommodations ranging from rustic to luxurious ... all of which welcome visitors to a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.

Come into our mountains and discover the magic of the surroundings ... the charm of the village, the almost limitless variety of things to do and see ... it's an unparalleled experience, one that you will not soon forget.

Estes Park was selected by the readers of Family Fun magazine as the top town in the mountains and plains. It was selected on the basis of shop-keeper friendliness, great lodging, and spectacular views in Rocky Mountain National Park. April, 2002 issue.

Estes Park's beautiful dry climate attracts thousands of visitors each summer from hot, humid climates at lower elevations. The low humidity makes the hot summer days (average high in July is about 85°) seem cool to those from other areas of the country. And our cool evenings (it can dip to under 50° at night in July) are extremely comfortable. Mornings are almost unfailingly sunny, winter and summer, and the frequent summertime afternoon showers usually dissipate in time for the nightly display of stars in the sky, made even more spectacular by the lack of urban light and air pollution. Winters are surprisingly mild, with highs usually in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Snow seldom stays on the ground for more than a few days. The village of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are two of the most accessible mountain areas in the state of Colorado because there are no mountain passes to cross en route and because the highways are well maintained year-round.

According to archaeologists, the area has been a resort community for 10,000 years, attracting Ute and Arapaho Indian families for the summer. Drawn by the lure of pristine mountain surroundings, modern day visitors have included gunslingers, ranchers and inventors - one of whom was F. O. Stanley who opened his famed Stanley Hotel in Estes Park in 1909. More recently, Pope John Paul II visited the area in 1993 and the Emperor of Japan included Estes Park on his itinerary in 1994.