Visit
Visit Estes Park, Colorado
The gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Drive Trail Ridge Road across the Continental Divide, watch elk graze on the village green, tour the hotel that inspired The Shining and discover the mountain town that puts you at the doorstep of one of America's most visited national parks.
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A Perfect Day
One Day in Estes Park
Morning
Enter Rocky Mountain National Park early — hike to Bear Lake or Emerald Lake before the parking lots fill, then drive Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 feet.
Afternoon
Ride the Estes Park Aerial Tramway up Prospect Mountain for panoramic views, then walk the Riverwalk shops and galleries along the Big Thompson River.
Evening
Mountain cuisine and craft cocktails at Bird & Jim, then a ghost tour or a whiskey at The Stanley Hotel — the place that inspired Stephen King's The Shining.
Things To Do
The park and the town
350 miles of trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, Trail Ridge Road across the Continental Divide, elk herds grazing on the village green, a haunted grand hotel and a Riverwalk lined with shops — Estes Park is the east gateway to it all.
Rocky Mountain National Park
350 miles of trails, 77 peaks above 12,000 feet, Bear Lake, Emerald Lake and elk meadows — one of America's most visited national parks.
Trail Ridge Road
The highest continuous paved road in North America — 48 miles across the Continental Divide, topping out at 12,183 feet.
The Stanley Hotel
The 1909 grand hotel that inspired The Shining — day tours, night ghost tours, the Whiskey Bar and Cascades fine dining.
Estes Park Aerial Tramway
Ride to the summit of Prospect Mountain for panoramic views of the Estes Valley and the Continental Divide.
Estes Park Riverwalk
Shops, galleries and cafés along the Big Thompson River — stroll the path from downtown to the park entrance.
Elk Viewing
Herds of elk graze right in town — the fall rut in September and October is one of Colorado's great wildlife spectacles.
Where To Stay
Sleep at the park's doorstep
The hotel that inspired The Shining, a family-friendly Holiday Inn at the park entrance, riverside cabins and a YMCA campus with mountain views — Estes Park sleeps every pace and budget.
Rates shown include Booking.com Genius and partner discounts where available.
Holiday Inn Estes Park
Check today's lowest price →Ridgeline Hotel Estes Park
Check today's lowest price →YMCA of the Rockies — Estes Park
Check today's lowest price →Daven Haven Lodge
Check today's lowest price →Not sure where to stay?
Ask Abbi →Cabins & Camps
Sleep at the park's edge
Riverside cabins, YMCA family lodges and national park campgrounds — Estes Park's camping is as close to the Rockies as you can get.
Moraine Park Campground
Directions →Cabins around Estes Park
Check today's lowest price →Vacation rentals on Vrbo
Browse rentals →Dispersed & forest camping
Ask Abbi →Browse Every Stay
The full Estes Park map
Every bookable hotel, cabin and rental around Estes Park — live prices, one map.
Map not loading? Browse all Estes Park stays →
Where To Eat
Mountain dining at the gateway
Upscale mountain cuisine, a legendary BBQ joint, fine dining in a haunted hotel and a Riverwalk full of casual spots — Estes Park feeds four million park visitors a year, and it's gotten very good at it.
Bird & Jim
Directions →Smokin' Dave's BBQ & Brew
Directions →Cascades Restaurant at The Stanley
Directions →The Whiskey Bar at The Stanley
Directions →Latitude 105 Alehouse
Directions →Can't decide?
Ask Abbi →Explore Colorado
More Colorado Adventures
Explore scenic drives, historic places, protected landscapes and iconic peaks throughout Colorado.
Shop Local
Take Estes Park home
The Riverwalk and Elkhorn Avenue are lined with galleries, taffy shops, outdoor outfitters and one-of-a-kind mountain gifts.
Wild Spirits Gallery
Directions →Estes Park Mountain Shop
Directions →The Taffy Shop
Directions →Move Here
Could Estes Park become home?
Learn about housing, winter, work and daily life, then connect with a local broker through the Estes Park relocation page.
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Nearby Towns
The Front Range and the park
Estes Park sits at the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park — Grand Lake over the pass, the Front Range cities an hour south.