Estes Park CO this Summer

[2rocky]

My Brother in law (Wife's Brother) is getting married in July in Estes Park. Over the 4th of July Weekend (groan)

Any suggestions on things to do with the Family there. Kids are 8,14, and 16 y/o girls.

Heck even attractions on the way to and from (California Via Hwy 80) would be appreciated.

In 2009 the kids drove around RMNP. Any recommendations on places off the beaten path appreciated.

The younger two are Horse girls so I was considering a trail ride one day. Sombrero or another outfit?

 

[Colorado T]

The obvious thing would be to drive through RMNP over trail ridge road. Tour the Stanley Hotel, where the movie The Shining is based.

If driving I-80 stop at Park City Utah and visit the Olympic Training facility, neat to see them practicing ski jumping and they have an Alpine slide and zip lines. Its right off I-80 about 5 minutes.

 

[sodaksooner]

They have fireworks on the golf course on the 4th. You can fish in the park, local streams and the lake in town. There are two roads over the pass, one is gravel and one paved. do them both. Lots of shopping downtown and touristy stuff too. We usually just go into the park and fish and hang out.

Lots of hiking in the park too. Good opportunity to train at altitude some. I usually take the road bike and ride in the park as well. Some good climbs for sure.

We have also booked rock climbing lessons and done some of that too. They have a decent climbing gym too.

 

[Ridn9high]

I was in the park back in August for a day. Lots of good deer and elk in the park. If you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road, there are usually animals feeding or bedded. There are some good areas to fly fish in the valley. The town has some neat shops and is fun to walk around.

Here are a few photos from the trip

 

[Ridn9high]

 

[hoshour]

Swimming in Great Salt Lake west of Salt Lake City is kind of fun and the highway goes right by it.

I assume you are going to switch to either Hwy 40 or I-70 in Utah and come in the west entrance to Rocky Mountain Ntl Park. If you go Hwy 40 you go by Dinosaur National Monument in the NW corner of Colorado and they have digs and a museum there. If you go I-70 instead you'll go by Vail and a bunch of extremely picturesque ski areas, then turn N on Hwy 9 in Dillon to get to the park. You can ride the ski lifts up for some great views.

There are usually a lot of elk in the grassy areas on the west side of the park and sometimes you can get very close to mature bulls because they have no fear in the park. Then, drive well above timberine over the Ridge Rd. to get to Estes Park.

RMNP has loads of great hikes to small alpine lakes. Ask the rangers. You can also ask the rangers where to see bighorn sheep in the park, go the ranger programs, etc.

Estes Park itself has a lot for kids and family like fishing in stocked ponds, renting canoes, an aerial tram, horse rides, jeep tours, etc. Visit Trip Advisor for details.