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Before you go
Your trip to Estes Park.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Estes Park – Colorado Destination Denver and Rocky Mountain (United States) — Denver; Boulder; Estes Park about 105 km from Denver
How to get there
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Denver International Airport (DEN) 122 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
From Denver, about 105 km via Boulder and Lyons, in roughly an hour and a half. Denver Airport (DEN) is about 120 km away. There are shuttle vans from the airport.
How many days
Two or three days: one for Trail Ridge Road and one for the Bear Lake trails; the third for longer hikes.
When to go
From June to September, when Trail Ridge Road is open and trails are snow-free. September and early October feature yellow aspens and the elk rut, with males bugling in the fields.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Yes, in practice, to get around the park. In summer, park shuttle buses link the visitor center to Bear Lake, and the town has local buses.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Estes Park
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Morning
Bear Lake
Enter the park early and hike from Bear Lake to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes, at the foot of the peaks.
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Afternoon
Moraine Park
On the return, stop at the meadows of Moraine Park, where elk often graze in the late afternoon.
2 days in Estes Park
Day 2
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All day
Trail Ridge Road
Cross the park on Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine visitor center, above the treeline, with stops at the viewpoints.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Estes Park far from Denver?
About 105 km, roughly an hour and a half by car via Boulder and Lyons.
Where to see elk in Estes Park?
On the town lawns and in park meadows like Moraine Park, especially early morning and late afternoon, from September to October.
Is Estes Park worth visiting in winter?
The town stays open, and parts of the park can be visited with snowshoes or cross‑country skis, but Trail Ridge Road closes from mid‑October until the end of May.
What time zone is Estes Park in?
UTC−7 in standard time (Mountain Time) and UTC−6 from March to November, with daylight saving time.