Estes Park is the base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park and one of Colorado’s favorite mountain getaways: a 7,522-foot town where elk wander past the shops, a riverwalk winds through downtown, and Longs Peak fills the skyline.

Downtown Estes Park centers on Elkhorn Avenue, lined with candy shops, galleries, outdoor outfitters and restaurants, with the Riverwalk following the Big Thompson and Fall rivers just behind the storefronts. East of downtown, Lake Estes has a paved trail around the shore, a marina for paddling and fishing, and big views of the peaks. The Estes Park Aerial Tramway carries riders up Prospect Mountain in summer, and the Estes Park Memorial Observatory hosts stargazing nights under dark mountain skies. On the hill above town, the historic Stanley Hotel draws visitors for tours and its famous ghost stories.

Wildlife is part of daily life here. Elk graze on golf courses and lawns, and in fall the bugling of the rut echoes through the valley; always watch from a safe distance. Estes Park is the eastern doorway to Rocky Mountain National Park, with Beaver Meadows and Fall River entrances just minutes from downtown and summer access to Trail Ridge Road. Winter brings sledding, snowshoeing and ice climbing in the park, plus quieter streets and lower lodging rates in town. Popular events include the Estes Park Skijor and Frozen Dead Guy Days.

Insider tip: Start at the Estes Park Visitor Center at 500 Big Thompson Avenue for maps, trail tips and free advice. Its staff and volunteer ambassadors welcome more than 400,000 people a year, and trails lead from the center to Lake Estes and the downtown riverwalk.

The holiday season kicks off with the free Catch the Glow Parade on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. along Elkhorn Avenue, with lighted floats. Winter visitor center hours (October 1 to mid-May) are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See the Visit Estes Park events calendar for more.