Rocky Mountain Resorts Blog

When your kids have outgrown the easy nature loop but are not quite ready for a full-day summit push, Estes Park has plenty of trails that hit the sweet spot. These family hikes Estes Park visitors love offer real elevation, memorable scenery, and satisfying destinations without turning the day into an endurance test.   Emerald Lake: Best All-Around Adventure Start with the Emerald Lake Trail from Bear Lake. The route...

If you want Rocky Mountain scenery without committing to a long hike, Lily Lake Estes Park is one of the easiest places to spend a few memorable hours. Located south of town along Highway 7, this peaceful area combines an approachable lake loop, fishing, wildlife watching, picnic tables, and mountain views in one compact outing.   Walk the Lily Lake Loop Start with the Lily Lake Trail, an approximately 0.8-mile...

Few places make a mountain adventure feel as effortless as Sprague Lake Rocky Mountain National Park. Located along Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, this peaceful destination combines reflective water, Continental Divide views, an accessible loop trail, picnic facilities, fishing, and wildlife watching. Here is how to spend a summer day at Sprague Lake without rushing from one activity to the next.   Arrive Early for Sunrise Views...

The road to the Alpine Visitor Center is part of the adventure. Perched at 11,796 feet on Fall River Pass, this spectacular stop is the highest-elevation visitor center in the National Park System. Here, the forests disappear, the alpine tundra opens in every direction, and the Rocky Mountains seem to stretch forever.   Drive Above the Tree Line Most visitors reach the center by following Trail Ridge Road, the dramatic...

Is Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park? A question that gets asked many times, is one that we can easily answer. Yes, in a sense. We get to the bottom of this question and a few others below about visiting Estes Park and RMNP. Is Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park? The easy answer is yes. Estes Park is a town, not a park, next to Rocky Mountain...

As if the landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park wasn’t beautiful enough, for a couple of months out of the year, parts of the park burst with colorful wildflowers, adding another element of beauty. Late spring into summer is the perfect time to spot wildflowers in Colorado. Typically, when at a higher elevation, the wildflowers are at their peak during July into August. At lower elevations, they reach their peak...

Planning on driving along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) this summer? It’s a popular scenic drive near Estes Park and an amazing way to see the park with its unrivaled elevation and status as one of the top roads of America’s Byways in Colorado. The 48-mile road was first opened to drivers in 1932 and climbs as high as 12,000 ft. with about 11 miles of...

The wildlife in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park is abundant and it’s one of the main reasons why over 3 million people visit the park each year. But just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to see. While the bears may be in hibernation for the season, there is plenty of other winter wildlife watching in Estes Park and in Rocky Mountain National Park. Get your...

Wondering what to do in Estes Park at night? Don’t worry the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down in our little mountain town. So, we’ve gathered up a list of our favorite activities and places to go to have a good time! Visit Rocky Mountain National Park Yes, that’s right! Rocky Mountain National Park is open at night. In fact, the park is open 24 hours a day,...

One way to beat the crowds at the downhill ski areas is to go cross country skiing. During the winter and spring months, the expansive terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park offers many incredible outdoor experiences for cross country skiers. Discover where to cross country ski in RMNP and start trekking towards your Rocky Mountain adventure today! About Cross Country Skiing in RMNP Moderate to deep snow fills most of...