Colorado Autumn, by Elizabeth Anne VanderPutten

Estes Park

Estes Valley / Estes Park

Almost from my first glance, I fell in love with Estes Park. And by the time we left, I was talking about retiring here for three or four months a year.

(Of course, two week later having  driven around the state, perspective returned. Bolder seemed a more likely retirement spot.)

Estes valley or 'park' in the parlance of the mountains according to the town history was explored by Joel Estes (1859) who brought his family and briefly settled here (1863-66). 

Elkhorn Avenue

Estes Park (pop 5500) began by catering to hunters and ranchers. Today it is the main gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park and caters to tourists.

Unlike many other National Park gateway towns, such as Springdale outside Zion or Tusayan at the entrance to Grand Canyon, Estes Park seems to have its own personality apart from tourism.

In many places, there is no "there;" they are simply areas where people work or suburbs where they sleep.

The Main Street, Estes Park

This is another view of the main shopping area in Estes Park.

A few blocks down the street, there was an artists exhibit on the grounds in front of the town hall and sponsored by the Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park. I was impressed with the number and range of works displayed. 

A few of the surprisingly numerous cultural organizations include: American Chamber Players, Art Center, Chamber Music Society, Estes Park Jazz. Big Band & Village Bands. Estes Valley Quilt Guild.and the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies.

Historic Mary's Lake Lodge

Our most memorable meal was Sunday dinner at Mary's Lake Lodge, a 90 year old hotel and condo overlooking the valley with the snow peaked Continental Divide as a backdrop. 

Opened in 1913 as the Rockdale Hotel, it was originally one overnight stops on the "Scenic Circle Tour."

Estes Park Trail System

One of the things about Estes Park that I liked a lot is their extensive system of hiking trails in town.

They are used all the time.

The system  consists of three trails -- Lake Estes Trail, Fall River Trail aka River Walk Trail, and Fish Creek Trail. Together they currently extend 26 miles (green) and almost 100 more are planned (orange).

The River Walk Trail and the Lake Estes Trail are paved and connected to each other.

Our Base Station for the Rocky Mountain NP

Estes Park was our base station for visiting  RMNP.

Our first day, we drove across Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake.

The next two days we spent photographing and hiking around Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, and Bear Lake areas.

Finally we explored the other eastern slope entrances, including the North Entrance aka Fall River, the Lily Pond Entrance, Long Peak Entrance, and Wild Basin.