Day Trips

Enjoying Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains doesn't require careful planning or a fat wallet. There are too many beautiful places and fun activities for us to provide a complete list, but here are a few easy and inexpensive day trips within the area. You can make them as long or short as you please.

Grand Lake Day Trip

This Grand Lake destination experience via Old Fall River Road and Trail Ridge Road (closed seasonally) has many interesting stops along the way. It begins with a visit to The Alluvial Fan. You will see a large scarred area of huge rocks. This is called The Alluvial Fan and is the result of The Lawn Lake Flood of 1982. Park your car and walk the area to experience the power and damage from massive amounts of water flowing from The Roaring River as a result of the earthen dam break at Lawn Lake.

Continue your way down Old Fall River Road, which was completed in 1920 and presents many twists and turns, some wildlife viewing and hiking trails as you move towards The Alpine Visitor's Center at approximately 12,000 ft. You will join Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved road in the United States. It is a spectacular scenic drive. As you travel down towards the Village of Grand Lake, you will go by Milner Pass, which is the continental divide where mountain summits divide the flow of water either to the east or to the west. Take time to park and walk across the pretty meadow to visit the restored Holzworth's Trout Lodge and rustic dude ranch built in the 1920's. You can take a self-guided or free-guided tour of some of the original buildings which include a workshop, icehouse and a taxidermy building.

As you drive further on the road watch for signs that will take you into the Village of Grand Lake. This small western type town with interesting shops and restaurants is vibrant in the winter as well as the summer months.

Bear Lake Day Trip

You can approach Bear Lake in RMNP from Highway 34 through The Fall River Entrance or from Hwy 36, The Beaver Meadow Entrance. After getting on the Bear Lake Road you will wind around until you reach the Moraine Park area, which looks like a big meadow. On the hillside to the east is The Moraine Park Museum. The museum building was at one time part of the former Moraine Lodge of 1910. The museum's displays emphasize natural science and the geology of the area.

Continue to drive along the road until you reach the Bear Lake parking area. During the summer you may have to take the shuttle to the Bear Lake parking lot. It is a short walk to Bear Lake. This area is the premier starting point for many popular hikes in the park. You can snowshoe here in the winter. This is a beautiful clear lake with Hallet's Peak in the background and is an easy walk around as it is a handicapped trail. The lake has been a success story in the propagation of the native Greenback Trout, which at one time was an endangered fish species.

Allenspark Day Trip

Allenspark is a 17-mile drive from Estes on a section of the Scenic Peak to Peak Highway (Hwy 7) with suggested stops at:
• Lily Lake- an easy 3/4 mile walk around the lake.
• The Baldpate Inn which houses a collection of 30,000 keys.
• Allenspark Lodge, a Bed & Breakfast built in 1933 from old Ponderosa Pine Logs.
• Eagle Plum's Trading Post which offers a collection of American art, rugs and silver jewelry.
• Aspen Lodge which boasts a large log conference area and great horseback riding.
• Twin Sisters Trailhead, a favorite moderate hike with panoramic views.

Whichever trip you choose, you're bound to find an adventure awaiting you.