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 mountain 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 Park area will lift your spirits. The cadence of the mountain environment will both relax and invigorate you. The friendly faces and hospitality you’ll encounter will make you feel at home, and Estes Park will find a special place in your heart.

Estes Park, Colorado, and Rocky Mountain National Park are Colorado’s favorite family vacation destination. Rich in history, the town of Estes Park features hundreds of unique shops, galleries, and restaurants for you to enjoy. A variety of lodging properties provide accommodations to fit any budget.

Getting to Estes Park by Car
It is always a good idea to check road conditions to ensure your trip goes smoothly. Just call the Colorado Department of Transportation automated road conditions phone line at 877.315.7623

Directions to Estes Park from Denver
Take Interstate 25 to Colorado 66 (Longmont - Lyons) exit.
From the small community of Lyons you can travel either US 36 or Hwy 7 (Peak to Peak Highway) to Estes Park. Or you may take US 34 through Loveland, Colorado along the Big Thompson Canyon.

Getting around the town of Estes Park
There is no bus transportation in or to Estes Park. For the Estes Park Limousine call: 970.577.8687. There is a shuttle service: Estes Park Shuttle. For reservations and information: 970.586.5151.

Getting to Estes Park by Air
The nearest major airport to Estes Park is Denver International Airport (DIA) located in Denver, Colorado and is approximately 80 miles away. For more information about DIA, visit their website at www.flydenver.com

THE SUMMER SEASON IN Estes Park is heralded with events ranging from rubber duck races to free jazz concerts, fine arts shows and classic car parades. Midsummer brings celebration of fiber arts, Western heritage, classical music and, of course, Independence Day. Music and art are as much a part of the surroundings as nature's creations.

A stroll through the village reveals many artistic expressions created as a personal response to the beauty designed by nature. Sculptures in public places welcome you: a family of bighorn sheep, a soaring eagle, a cougar crouched on a rock, a beaver in a pond.

The music of the mountains underscores the artistic expressions of wonder. Listen to a chamber ensemble, a world-class orchestra in a concert setting, a brass band in a downtown park or a cowboy singer. Night spots around town feature country western, jazz, folk and rock music.

Five museums in and around Estes Park along with three in Rocky Mountain National Park celebrate the heritage of the Estes Valley from national landmarks to small treasures.

Visual artists strive to capture the beauty they see, sharing it with others through their work, whether through jewelry, glass, weaving, oil and watercolor, pottery or wood. Their representations can be found in Estes Park's numerous art galleries.

Visitors to The Estes Valley may enjoy one of our historically registered hotels or lodges and step back in time...

Hotels on the National Historic register include The Baldpate Inn 1917, Crags Lodge opened in 1914, the Stanley Hotel, which opened its Georgian Colonial Revival doors in 1909, and the Elkhorn Lodge, in business for 131 years of continuous lodging and guest ranch operations. It is the oldest guest ranch still operating in the entire Rocky Mountain Region, and the oldest continuously operating hotel in Colorado.

The Spur 66 corridor is a well-kept secret open to visitors for over 100 years. It is the site of the original entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Big Thompson River runs through the heart of the area. The winding road is quiet and scenic, while convenient to the downtown area. Another option is the Highway 34 through Big Thompson Canyon. It stretches from the city of Loveland to Estes Park, and is one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado. Lodging reflects the history of the area with cabins and cottages dating back to the early 1900s.

One can also enjoy the serenity of the Fall River Road, with cozy
cottages with wood-burning fireplaces to luxurious suites. This area offers a quiet peaceful choice and is convenient to the Fall River entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

A resort town is not complete without Bed and Breakfast Inns. Estes boasts over 15, including rustic, family oriented, romantic, modern or historic. All serve home cooked breakfasts and provide the personal touch of an onsite innkeeper.

Campgrounds are abundant throughout the area of Estes. You can find campgrounds for RVs as well as tent camping, in RMNP and in secluded locations outside the park.

Mountain Whitewater Descents
Cache La Pouder River; 888.855.8874
Mild to Wild!

Riverspointe Spa
970-577-6841
www.riverspointespa.com
Coupon - Free 10 hot stone upgrade
Located on the West end of Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park, Riverspointe Spa offers a wide variety of massage therapies and boasts extremely professional, highly trained Massage Therapists. Whether you are looking for relaxation, rejuvenation, or therapeutic work, we will far exceed your expectations.
We are a Premier Spa providing professional and quality massage, energy work, body treatments and facials. Our blending of Eastern and Western therapies empowers the client in their own healing process. Our unique Rocky Mountain location, with a peaceful river flowing by, aligns healing the individual, community, as well as our natural environment.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is the major attraction for our area. Elk, mule deer, big horn sheep, moose, coyotes and a great variety of smaller animals call the 416 square miles (265,769 acres) of Rocky home. With elevations from 8,000 to over 14,000 feet it has some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere.

Estes Valley Recreation & Park District
Estes Valley Recreation & Park District is a public agency providing parks and recreation programs for members of the community and visitors to Estes Park. • 970.586.8191  •  www.evrpd.com

COLLECTIONS: 
The Baldpate Inn is probably most famous as home for several unparalleled collections. The world renowned Baldpate Key Collection is displayed from the walls and ceiling of the Inn’s Key Room.  Among the thousands are the keys to Westminster Abbey, Fort Knox, Hitler’s desk, and Jack Benny’s dressing room.  Keys as diverse as that for a submarine, jail cell, or a castle are found in the collection along with keys from virtually every country in the world.  Visitors are invited to become part of the Baldpate Key Collection by donating their own key. The Baldpate Photograph Collection is equally as noteworthy.  Lining the walls of our dining rooms, you will find fascinating autographed photographs of presidents, movie stars, and many historic world figures.  Both collections are open to the public at no charge.  www.baldpateinn.com

Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park
"We are committed to ensuring that the arts are an essential part of the cultural environment of the greater Estes Valley." • 970.586.9203 • www.EstesArts.com

Sarah Stonebeck Concert, February 26, Stanley Hotel

Rocky Mountain Harmony College Barbershop Concert, February 4, YMCA of the Rockies-Estes Park Center, A barbershop concert featuring small groups and full choruses from throughout the area.

Winter Ecology: A Snowshoeing Trek for Families, Jan 28, Feb, 11, Feb. 25, Mar 10, Mar 24, Rocky Mountain National Park, Discover the serene beauty of RMNP in the wintertime on this four-hour snowshoe hike. This fun and educational program will lead you through snow-covered pine, spruce, and fir trees to learn how plants and animals survive wintertime using their unique adaptations and keen survival skills. Also, learn more about the properties of snow and how it can help the inhabitants of an area survive the long winter months.

Light & Snow: Winter Photography, March 2-4, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar and Conference Center

Estes Park Music Festival Concert, March 4, Stanley Hotel

Joel Linscheld, March 11, Stanley Hotel, The Roaring Twenties will be featured in this jazz piano conceert presented by the Estes Park Music Festival

Giddyup Kitty Concert, March 25, Stanley Hotel, The bluegrass band, Giddyup Kitty will perform in this presentation from the Estes Park Music Festival.

Birds of Prey & Other Spring Migrants, April 19, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center, The diversity of raptors in Rocky Mountain National Park is high, particularly around Lumpy Ridge and Deer Ridge during spring migration through the Park. One can usually see in a day's time golden eagles, Northern goshawk, prairie falcon, red?tailed hawk, Cooper's hawk, osprey, peregrine falcon, Swainson's hawk, American kestrel and, at times, the bald eagle along with other migrating species such as White-Faced Ibis, pelicans, American Avocets, and a variety of waterfowl. Participants will learn about the ecology of these birds and acquire identification skills. Jeff will also discuss why and how climbing closures are placed on certain cliffs to protect nesting raptors.

24th Annual Estes Park Duck Race, May 5, Begins at Nicky's Resort on Fall River at noon, Ends at Riverside Plaza in downtown Estes Park

Behind the Scenes at Rocky Mountain National Park, May 11, Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (BMVC), Have you ever wondered about what it takes to run a park like Rocky? Here is your chance to find out the secrets of how the employees of the park do their jobs to keep park operations running smoothly for visitors just like you. Stroll along paved pathways to experience the "behind the scenes" functions of the backcountry office, fire management building, ranger operations station, park greenhouse, and museum storage facility. End your journey at the Rocky Mountain Nature Association building for lunch and to learn about how you can help support your parks today!

Life Signs: Tracking the Invisible, May 16, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center, A swelling on a twig or a hole in a stem, a stray feather or a piece of eggshell, an abandoned nest or a mound of soil: so many different things tattle the comings and goings of secretive creatures that otherwise remain invisible. This seminar will demonstrate how to acquire then develop the observation skills necessary to read wildlife signs as if they were a newspaper.

Jazz Fest & Artwalk, May 19-20, Performance Park Amphitheater, For two days the mountains are alive with the sounds of great jazz at the outdoor amphitheater at Performance Park.

Wings at Dusk, May 24, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center, This seminar will introduce people to the mysterious world of the birds that begin their days at twilight -- owls, poor-wills, nighthawks, and snipe. Learn about the nesting, habitat, conservation, natural history and ecology of these amazing and beautiful birds. This seminar, which begins at 2:00 PM, will provide the best opportunity for viewing -- from dusk until 9:00 PM.

Antiques & Collectibles Show, May 26-28, Barn W-Fairgrounds at Stanley Park, More than 50 vendors offer a treasure trove of antiques and collectibles. Top Hands sponsors the show as a fundraiser for the Rooftop Rodeo.

Art Market, May 26-28, Bond Park, More than 90 artisans assemble to kick off the summer season and to showcase their art in Bond Park in the center of downtown Estes Park. Local, regional and national artisans will offer fine arts and crafts for sale.

Fishing Derby, June 2, Lake Estes Marina,

Wool Market Workshops, June 7-8, Estes Park High School

Waterfall Hike with Poles, June 9, Rocky Mountain National Park Cascading waterfalls and gorgeous scenery will be the backdrop for this hike as participants learn how optimal use of hiking poles can save knees as well as improve balance, posture, strength and endurance. Top-quality loaner poles are provided so folks can learn which poles fit them best and suit their specific needs and goals.
Allenspark History Tour, June 16, Estes Park Museum, Join historian Edie DeWeese for a special tour of Allenspark, a quaint mountain town established in 1897.

Coda Coffee Estes Park Marathon, June 16-17, Estes Park Middle School, The highest paved marathon course in the world and one of the most scenic on a USATF certified course. All four races start and end in Estes Park at the public school complex (elevation 7,550 feet) and take place on paved, certified courses. There is no race-day registration for the marathon or the half marathon. There will be race-day registration for the 10K and 5K races only.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Show, June 16-17, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Estes Park Treasure Hunt, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31, Estes Park Visitor Center, Using a GPS unit, discover the natural treasures along the River Walk in downtown Estes Park and near Lake Estes.

Campfire Ghost Stories: Living History Tales of the West, June 21, July 5, July 12, YMCA of the Rockies, People from the past come to life in this presentation about the history and adventures of several past residents and visitors to the Estes Valley.

Summer Birding with a Naturalist, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center

Capturing Wildlife Images, June 20-22 and Sept, 19-21, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center, Truly great wildlife images "connect" with a viewer and elicit a variety of emotional reactions - humor, joy, excitement, reverence, apprehension, a sense of wonder, and much more.

Miniature Horse Show, June 10, June 21, June 23-24, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park,

Westernaires, June 22-23, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, June 23-24, Bond Park, Scandinavian midsummer celebration with music, dance, food & craft vendors, craft and lefse demonstrations, Viking re-enactors, silent auction, and raffle. Starts with raising of the Maypole at 9:30 Saturday, followed at 10 with a parade of flags and costumes, and the national anthems. Continuous entertainment all day. Free, all ages, handicap accessible.

Secret Places in Rocky Mountain National Park, June 29, ndovalley Picnic Area inside Rocky Mountain National Park, A prudent sense of safety keeps us looking at the ground as we walk, and trails trick us into looking straight ahead to see what's coming. The consequence of looking down and looking ahead is that we miss what's around.

Historic Tour, June 30, Tour Various Historic Homes/Ranches, Beginning May 24 at Estes Park Museum at 200 E. 4th St., Estes Park Visitor Center at 500 Big Thompson Ave., or Macdonald's Book Shop at 152 E. Elkhorn Ave. Get your tickets early, as this event sold out last year!

Coolest Car Show, July 4, Downtown Estes Park

Marriage is Murder, Friday evenings July 6, July 20, August 3 at 7:30 PM. Saturday evenings July 14, July 28, August 11 at 7:30 PM. Sunday afternoon matinee July 29 at 2:00 PM. , Baldpate Key - Thedral Theater.
Ex-spouses Paul and Polly Butler write murder mysteries together. They act out the crimes in Paul's apartment: poisoned chocolates and lethal martinis, alibis and fingerprints, bodies in a trunk and bodies all tied up, daggers, guns and even an axe all contribute to the hilarity. Nobody gets hurt, but their egos take some hits as they find that their marriage was mixed up with their work and learn that marriage, like murder, is in the details.

Southern Comforts, Friday evenings July 13, July 27, August 10 at 7:30 PM, Saturday evenings July 7, July 21, August 4 at 7:30 PM. Sunday afternoon matinee July 15 at 2:00 PM, Baldpate Key - Thedral Theater.
A romantic comedy of the golden years. Ex-spouses Paul and Polly Butler write murder mysteries together. They act out the crimes in Paul's apartment: poisoned chocolates and lethal martinis, alibis and fingerprints, bodies in a trunk and bodies all tied up, daggers, guns and even an axe all contribute to the hilarity. Nobody gets hurt, but their egos take some hits as they find that their marriage was mixed up with their work and learn that marriage, like murder, is in the details.

Rooftop Rodeo, July 10-15, Rodeo Arena, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park, Named the Outstanding Small Rodeo in the nation four years in a row,

Hunter Jumper Half Penny Show, July 18-19, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Youth Fly-Fishing & Stream Ecology, July 18 and August 11, Hollowell Park,

Hunter Jumper Festival I, July 25-29, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Native Americans of Rocky Mountain National Park, August 5, Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center

Hunter Jumper Festival III, August 6-10, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Dressage Horse Show, August 16-29, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Senior Pro Charity Rodeo, August 17-18, The Fairgrounds At Stanley Park

Heritage Festival, August 18-19, Bond Park, Explore the history of Estes Park with mountain men, early settlers of the area and music.

Draft Horse Show, August 19, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

John Denver Tribute Concert, Sept. 1, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Labor Day Arts & Crafts Show & Sale, September 1-3, Bond Park

Barrel Racing, September 2-3, Fairgrounds at Stanley Park

Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival, September 6-9, Stanley Park

Autumn Gold - A Festival of Bands, Brats 'n Beer, September 22-23, Bond Park

Running of the Bulls, September 22, Lake Estes Marina, Views of the snow-capped peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, fall colors, and the elk rut season are highlights of this fun event for a great cause: Partners Mentoring Youth.

Elk Fest, September 29-30