Estes Park, Colorado
Looking for the best chillin in Estes Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Estes Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Chillin Spots in and near Estes Park
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Estes Park, Colorado
Photograph at The Estes Park Sign
This sign is on the mountainous decline just before you reach town. There's a small parking lot that fills up quick in peak season, but most people only spend a few minutes here on their way in to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. It is easy enough to have people take your picture, jus...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Photograph Elk in Moraine Park
The perspective here is vastly different from other areas in Rocky Mountain National Park as Moraine Park is essentially a large, very flat valley surrounded by tall mountains. You'll want to come during the elks' rutting season, which is between mid-September and mid-October. Park at the lot on ...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Winter Camp at Moraine Park
5.0For the extra-adventurous (my friends call me crazy for this), I recommend experiencing Rocky Mountain National Park in the off-season, when nobody else is there. Dead winter.Of course, you'll want to be uber prepared if you choose to take on this adventure, as the mountains are very unforgiving,...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Camp at Moraine Park
4.7Moraine Park Campground is the only year-round campground at Rocky Mountain National Park. During the summer there are 244 reservable campsites and 77 first come first serve during the winter. Large numbers of elk gather in Moraine Park during the rut (September-October) and it's a popular wildli...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Paddle Lily Lake
Lily Lake allows boating in non-motorized watercraft and is only a short carry from your parking area by 7. Parking can be limited so get there in the morning early so that you can enjoy the morning wildlife and decreased crowds. You can spend an hour or so here kayaking slowly around enjoying th...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Drive Old Fall River Road
4.6This amazing drive starts after entering at the Fall River Entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park (although any entrance will work this is just the fastest route). Follow Fall River Road just past Sheep Lakes and take your first right onto Endo Valley Rd. From here travel to the Endovalley picn...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Drive through Rocky Mountain NP to Moraine Park
In this specific case, the adventure is focused on the sounds. At night in September and October you can expect to hear the eerie bugling from Elk reverberating around the mountains. Even after an hour or two I was still getting goose-bumps listening to them. Start your adventure at the Fall Ri...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Sprague Lake Loop
5.00.81 mi / 26 ft gainLocated in Rocky Mountain National Park at an elevation of almost 8,700 feet, Sprague Lake offers visitors great views with very little effort required. It's a short 15 minute drive from Estes Park and hikers can take the short trail around the circumference of the lake. You'll find bathrooms and...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Hike from Bear Lake to Fern Lake Trailhead
5.09.02 mi / 1224 ft gainOn this Rocky Mountain hike you’ll explore 4 picturesque mountain lakes and a 60 foot waterfall. Completing this hike requires familiarizing yourself with Rocky Mountain National Park’s free shuttle system. Hikes along Bear Lake Road are some of the busiest in the park. Trailhead parking lots fi...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Nymph Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead
4.81.13 mi / 276 ft gainWhile not as popular as Dream Lake, Nymph Lake is just as beautiful. The hike to Nymph Lake is an easy hike just over 1 mile. You start from the Bear Lake Trail head and can go further on to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake if you want to. Both Dream and Emerald Lakes are also stunning and very photog...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Photograph the Night Sky Over Trail Ridge Road
4.0The highest continuous paved road in North America, Trail Ridge Road takes you above 12,000 ft to an alpine tundra. Being above treeline means you have unclogged panoramic views of the night sky and any possible meteors. You can start your trip from Grand Lake in the west or Estes Park in the ea...Read more -
Lyons, Colorado
Winter Camp Near Coulson Gulch
4.0County Road 47 is between Lyons and Estes Park. It's an easy drive from Denver and is a great place to get away for the weekend. I have camped here in the summer, fall, and winter. I have to say that snow camping was my favorite. I didn't see anyone the whole weekend and had the entire area to ex...Read more -
Lyons, Colorado
Camp at Coulson Gulch
4.09 miCoulson Gulch is a lightly used area of the Roosevelt National Forest which makes it perfect for a weekend getaway without the crowds. This is a great place to camp out under the stars!To get to Coulson Gulch From Lyons, head west on U.S. Highway 36 for about 9 miles. Turn southwest onto Larimer ...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Backpack the Gorge Lakes
11.5 mi / 3200 ft gainStart at the Rock Cut Parking Area. Head east on Trail Ridge Road 0.25 miles to a more gradual and bald western slope leading down into Forest Canyon. This bald is located between two creeks which merge before joining the Big Thompson River (a small creek in mid September). Use the creeks to navi...Read more -
Allenspark, Colorado
Hike to Ouzel Falls
4.05.22 mi / 1004 ft gainLocated right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, this hike is perfect for anyone looking to do a little exploring without the cost of a park fee. The drive through the Rocky Mountains to the trailhead is an added bonus. This hike is great because it has multiple attractions all along the wa...Read more -
Bellvue, Colorado
Hike to Comanche Lake in Pingree Park
3.58 mi / 700 ft gainYou start out hiking through the average Colorado forest for the first 4 miles of the 7-8 mile trip at about 6,500 feet. The trail is largely downhill for the first couple miles until it levels out and you are headed North. A little more than halfway, you come to Comanche Reservoir and hike up al...Read more