Drinks & Nightlife
An Estes Park staple for an adult beverage or two. A good place to chat up some locals.
23 Einheimische empfehlen
Wheel Bar
132 E Elkhorn AveAn Estes Park staple for an adult beverage or two. A good place to chat up some locals.
A popular post-hike local brewery on the way into town from RMNP.
42 Einheimische empfehlen
Rock Cut Brewing Company
390 W Riverside DrA popular post-hike local brewery on the way into town from RMNP.
Their Moraine Ave. location offers a nice outdoor atmosphere to have a burger and a sip of moonshine to unwind after shopping downtown or hiking in the park. They have indoor seating and are open in winter as well. Their downtown location is just retail.
Full Throttle Distillery & Grill Estes Park
Their Moraine Ave. location offers a nice outdoor atmosphere to have a burger and a sip of moonshine to unwind after shopping downtown or hiking in the park. They have indoor seating and are open in winter as well. Their downtown location is just retail.
Food Scene
Rustic cabin or lodge feel. Good food and we enjoy going on nights with live music. One of our favorites.
68 Einheimische empfehlen
The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern
1675 Colorado 66Rustic cabin or lodge feel. Good food and we enjoy going on nights with live music. One of our favorites.
Best food in town and an amazing view, too! A little pricey, but you're on vacation, right?!
25 Einheimische empfehlen
Twin Owls Steakhouse
3110 South Saint Vrain AvenueBest food in town and an amazing view, too! A little pricey, but you're on vacation, right?!
Darn good pizza. It's usually busy so plan accordingly.
28 Einheimische empfehlen
Antonio's Real New York Pizza
1560 Big Thompson AveDarn good pizza. It's usually busy so plan accordingly.
Smokin' Dave's BBQ & Tap House
820 Moraine AveAbout the best BBQ in town.
Great atmosphere. Eclectic menu and little pricey, but it's worth a night out. It gets very busy so consider making a reservation.
67 Einheimische empfehlen
Bird & Jim
915 Moraine AveGreat atmosphere. Eclectic menu and little pricey, but it's worth a night out. It gets very busy so consider making a reservation.
MMM, (delicious) PIE!...enough said! You can eat lunch and dinner there, too.
13 Einheimische empfehlen
You Need Pie Diner & Bakery
509 Big Thompson AveMMM, (delicious) PIE!...enough said! You can eat lunch and dinner there, too.
A very popular place for breakfast. Great food. The oatmeal pancakes are a hit with us.
20 Einheimische empfehlen
The Egg of Estes
393 E Elkhorn AveA very popular place for breakfast. Great food. The oatmeal pancakes are a hit with us.
About the best donuts in town. It's located in the Sinclair Station on Moraine Ave. Go early because they often sell out.
23 Einheimische empfehlen
Donut Haus
860 Moraine AvenueAbout the best donuts in town. It's located in the Sinclair Station on Moraine Ave. Go early because they often sell out.
Their cinnamon rolls are in high demand so go early to avoid being shutout.
15 Einheimische empfehlen
Cinnamon's Bakery
920 W Elkhorn AveTheir cinnamon rolls are in high demand so go early to avoid being shutout.
Notchtop Bakery & Cafe
459 E Wonderview AveA great breakfast or dinner restaurant.
Mountain Home Cafe
Great for breakfast or lunch.
Ed's is a popular Mexican restaurant downtown. Pleasant outdoor seating along the river walk.
68 Einheimische empfehlen
Ed's Cantina & Grill
390 E Elkhorn AveEd's is a popular Mexican restaurant downtown. Pleasant outdoor seating along the river walk.
Poppy's Pizza & Grill
342 E Elkhorn AveSightseeing
We personally haven't taken a tour but many of our guests have and enjoyed it. If you're not familiar with the park and where to find wildlife, put this on your list of activities.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Green Jeep Tour
157 Moraine AveWe personally haven't taken a tour but many of our guests have and enjoyed it. If you're not familiar with the park and where to find wildlife, put this on your list of activities.
Rent a Jeep or ATV and spend the day off roading in Roosevelt National Forest or driving the historic Switzerland Trail. We mean, really, it's hard to have more fun than that.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Backbone Adventures
1851 N Lake AveRent a Jeep or ATV and spend the day off roading in Roosevelt National Forest or driving the historic Switzerland Trail. We mean, really, it's hard to have more fun than that.
The Stanley Hotel -- historic and haunted. Definitely worth the visit. We recommend attending one of Aiden Sinclair's Underground magic/illusion shows.
333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
The Stanley Hotel -- historic and haunted. Definitely worth the visit. We recommend attending one of Aiden Sinclair's Underground magic/illusion shows.
Tipps für Reisende
Nicht verpassen
Additional Hiking Opportunities
Maybe you've hiked many of the trails in RMNP or it's a busy time of year. The National Forest just to the east of Estes Park, Roosevelt NF, offers additional, less crowded hiking options. We've hiked most of them and recommend Lion Gulch, Crosier Mountain, Sullivan Gulch, North Fork Trail and Lily Mountain.
Additionally, Hermit Park, a county-owned park just east of Estes has additional trails. Kruger Rock is the most popular and takes you to a high point with incredible views of the Estes Valley and continental divide.
All these trails can be searched online for more information.
Was einpacken?
Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
Mountain air is thinner and the sun more intense. You will need sunscreen year-round. Don't forget lip balm with SPF, too.
Was einpacken?
Avoid the Nose Bleed
If you're susceptible to dry weather and get nose bleeds after a few days in low humidity, pack or pick-up saline nasal spray.
Buche vor der Abreise
Estes is High and it can make you Feel Low
Be prepared for the altitude and understand how it can make you feel so you don't panic and think something is seriously wrong with you when you get here, because chances are nothing is but the few thousand feet in elevation you're not used to.
When you get to the mountains, you may experience shortness or breath, a headache, a little nausea and maybe not sleep as well the first few nights. Another side effect most don't associate with altitude is bloating. This happens because of the decreased air pressure.
Generally, symptoms caused by the higher elevation are mild and easily managed.
Buche vor der Abreise
Have a Plan to Acclimate
We talked about how you might feel because of the altitude. If you are sensitive to the change, we recommend not doing too much, too soon. The first couple days plan hikes or walks that aren't too intense or at high elevation to see how you do. The four-mile walk around Lake Estes is a good choice. The walks around Sprague and Lily Lakes in nearby RMNP are shorter, flat hikes but can be combined with hikes in Wild Basin, Beaver Meadows and Moraine Park for a day of exploring without getting too crazy. Plan your bigger, more challenging hikes later in your trip.
Buche vor der Abreise
What about Bears?
Surprisingly, there are few bears in the Estes area, including RMNP. Your chances of spotting one are just as likely in town as out in the wilderness. That said, every year cars do get broken into in town so a best practice is to not leave any food items in your vehicle overnight. Gum, toothpaste, mints, etc. included.
When hiking, bear spray & bear bells really aren't necessary here. Your chances are very low of running into a bear on the trail. We have logged over 300 mi. of hiking in the park and the surrounding national forest and have yet to see one. Bears hibernate November thru March.