Just minutes from town, Rocky Mountain National Park is absolutely worth setting aside a few hours to explore. Enter through the Beaver Meadows Entrance on Highway 36, then turn left onto Bear Lake Road. A 1-day vehicle pass is $30.

PLEASE NOTE: Most areas of the park require a timed-entry reservation. Some areas do not require a timed-entry ticket before 9:00 AM or after 2:00 PM, but we strongly encourage you to check the current requirements before visiting.

Timed-entry reservations can be made on/after July 1, 2027 through https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910 The reservation itself has a non-refundable $2 processing fee.

Hike Options: several you can hit at one time, we recommend downloading All Trails as there is little service in the park!

BEAR LAKE TRAILHEAD:

Bear Lake Loop (~25 minutes)

An easy, 0.6-mile loop with beautiful mountain and Continental Divide views.

Dream & Emerald Lakes (~25 minutes, same trailhead)

A 3.6-mile round-trip hike that passes three gorgeous alpine lakes. Allow approximately 2–3 hours.

- sunrise at dream lake is a highly photographed spot

Sprague Lake (~15–20 minutes)

A flat, wheelchair-accessible 0.5-mile loop with beautiful mountain views and benches along the way.

Wildlife & Safety: Please never approach or feed wildlife and always give animals plenty of space. If you're planning to hike in the park, familiarize yourself with bear safety and consider carrying bear spray.

Please reach out to us if you have questions or are looking for recommendations on other hikes!

Inspiration for The Shining, tour the beautiful and historic hotel! Grab food and a cocktail!

Enjoy a 3.7 mile walk that takes you around all of Lake Estes, this trail is also walkable to the riverwalk in Downtown Estes ( ~ 1 mile) where you can grab all sorts of food and enjoy the scnenery!

Ember Restaurant at Lake Estes Resort and Spa is an elevated favorite for happy hour!

Wandering down the Riverwalk is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. With shops, restaurants, bars, and more all along, it is the perfect way to experience the serenity of the river and all Estes Park has to offer.

Parking: there is a free parking lot but it fills up very quickly. There is paid parking available downtown as well or you may be able to snag a side street parking!