Local Stories & Travel Guides

Quick answer: The best scenic viewpoints in Rocky Mountain National Park that don’t require a serious hike are Many Parks Curve and Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road, Sprague Lake near Bear Lake Road, and the Alluvial Fan near Horseshoe Park. For a short walk with a bigger reward, Dream Lake (about 2.2 miles round

Quick answer: Koenig Lodge is a 5,200-square-foot vacation home on the Big Thompson River in Estes Park, with six bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, two kitchens, and three fireplaces. It sits about half a mile from YMCA of the Rockies and roughly a mile from Rocky Mountain National Park’s East Portal, making it one of the best-located

Quick answer: YMCA of the Rockies’ Estes Park Center sits on roughly 860 acres bordered on three sides by Rocky Mountain National Park, and offers over 30 activities — many included with a stay — such as mini golf, archery, an indoor pool, a climbing wall, horseback riding, a craft center, disc golf, and guided

Quick answer: The most reliable wildlife viewing spots near Estes Park are Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park for elk, Sheep Lakes and Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road for bighorn sheep, and the Kawuneeche Valley on the park’s west side for moose. Elk are most dramatic during the fall rut (mid-September through mid-October), while bighorn

Quick answer: Estes Park works well for family reunions because it offers two distinct lodging models for large groups — resort-style properties like YMCA of the Rockies (YMCArockies.org), with built-in activities and dining for dozens of people, and private group vacation homes like Koenig Lodge (KoenigLodge.com), which sleep large extended families under one roof with

Quick answer: Downtown Estes Park centers on Elkhorn Avenue and the Riverwalk along the Big Thompson River. It’s a walkable district of taffy shops, ice cream parlors, breweries, outdoor outfitters, and Western-themed gift stores, sitting at 7,500 feet just a few miles from the entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park. Plan at least half a