Estates Park

Rate this place

Parks

Colorado

Nearby: Golden Heights Park Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Estes Park is a popular tourist destination in the state of Colorado, known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreational activities.

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

Located at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, the town provides visitors with access to hiking trails, scenic drives, and a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities.

One of the main attractions in Estes Park is the Rocky Mountain National Park, which contains over 415 square miles of protected wilderness. Visitors can take advantage of the park's numerous hiking and biking trails, or go fishing, camping, or horseback riding.

Other points of interest in Estes Park include the famous Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King's novel "The Shining," as well as the Estes Park Aerial Tramway, which takes visitors on a scenic ride to the top of Prospect Mountain.

Interesting facts about Estes Park include the fact that it was a favorite vacation spot of President Theodore Roosevelt, and that it is home to the highest continuous highway in the United States. The town is also known for its annual Elk Fest, which celebrates the migration of elk through the area each fall.

The best time of year to visit Estes Park depends on visitors' interests. Summer is the most popular time to visit, with warm weather and plenty of outdoor activities available. However, fall offers stunning foliage and the opportunity to see elk during their annual migration, while winter provides opportunities for skiing and snowshoeing.

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

Related References