Rocky Mountain National Park.

1982 was when I first visited the Rockies, coming into and on through Estes Park. The majestic Rocky Mountains are a mecca of breathtaking scenery, which I had never seen the like before. After arriving into Denver we picked up our car and headed for Loveland, for our stay in our Motel so we could get an early start the next morning for our first fabulous trip into the Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Myself, Bernie and Scona loved every minute of it and have returned on numerous occasions visiting this beautiful part of the world.

The Rocky Mountains.

Within approximately 415 square miles, Rocky Mountain National Park unveils a stunning array of mountain peaks, 76 of which reach elevations of 12,000 feet or more. Longs Peak, at 14,255 feet, is the highest. Forests of spruce and fir tower over wide valleys, where aspen and willow line meandering streams. At the highest elevations, above the tree line, is the fascinating arctic like environment of the alpine tundra, fraught with blizzards in winter and filled with flowered meadows in summer.

Amid the rich scenery, the park teems with an interesting mix of wildlife. It's not unusual to spot elk and mule deer grazing in the meadows, and you may even glimpse a coyote, bear, or bighorn sheep. There are more than 250 species of birds in the park and more than 900 different types of wildflowers. All of this is just 65 miles northwest of Denver! The longer you linger and explore, the more magical your adventure will be, but even a brief encounter with the scenery and animals of the "park in the sky" will be enriching.

You can see many of Rocky's highlights by driving along Trail Ridge Road, which follows the trail once used by the Ute and other Native American tribes. It traverses ridgetops from Deer Ridge Junction near the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station in the east to Grand Lake at the western entrance. At elevations of 8,000 feet to more than 12,000 feet, it is the highest continuous highway in the U.S. The trip (48 miles one way) features extraordinary vistas on both sides of the Continental Divide, the mountain spine that dictates whether a stream is destined for the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean. Views overlook fantastic rock formations on craggy mountain slopes, wooded valleys, and silver streams. It's not unusual to see mule deer and elk by the roadway. Take a one-hour trail hike on the Toll Memorial Trail (from Rock Cut, six miles east of the Alpine Visitor Center). It is in the center of tundra meadows. There's nowhere else quite like it south of the Arctic Circle.

Old Fall River Road, open only in summer, is an alternate route to Trail Ridge Road. From Horseshoe Park junction, the old gravel road leads one way (up) through a steep, narrow canyon. No trailers and no vehicles more than 25 feet long are allowed. The pace (15 mph) is perfect for taking pictures. Waterfalls, streams, and lakes are reached by short trails leading off the road. For several miles the road travels high above the trees in the alpine tundra. After nine miles, it joins the Trail Ridge Road at Fall River Pass.

At Milner Pass, southwest of Fall River Pass, the road crosses the Continental Divide. Going south from Kawuneeche Valley, the road follows the Colorado River to Grand Lake.

Bear Lake Road leads into the most magnificent scenery on the east side of the park. During the summer, park your car at the Glacier Basin parking area and take the Bear Lake Shuttle.

The park's rich scenery typifies the massive grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. Trail Ridge Road crosses the Continental Divide and looks out over peaks that tower more than 14,000 feet high. Wildlife and wildflowers call these 415.2 square miles (265,727 acres) of Colorado's front range, home.

The Rockies.

Protecting the Rockies In 1903, F. O. Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile, came to Estes Park for his health. Impressed by the beauty of the valley and grateful for the improvement in his health, he decided to invest his money and his future there. In 1909, he opened the elegant Stanley Hotel, a classic hostelry exemplifying the golden age of touring.
Largely due to Stanley's efforts, the Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association was established to protect local wildflowers and wildlife and to improve roads and trails. "Those who pull flowers up by the roots will be condemned by all worthy people, and also by the Estes Park Protective and Improvement Association," they warned. It was the start of a conservation ethic that has become increasingly important and complex.

Even more important to the future of the area was Enos Mills, who came to the Longs Peak area in 1884 when he was 14 years old. A dedicated naturalist, he wrote eloquent books about the area's natural history. Not long after his arrival, Mills bought the Longs Peak Inn and began conducting local nature trips.

In 1909, Mills first proposed that the area become the nation's tenth national park to preserve the wildlands from inappropriate use. It was his vision that you would arrive here years later to experience the wonderful Rocky Mountain wilderness he knew. "In years to come when I am asleep beneath the pines, thousands of families will find rest and hope in this park," he proclaimed.

The Grand Lake.

Situated at the western border of Rocky Mountain National Park , near the headwaters of the Colorado River, Grand Lake is Colorado's largest natural lake. The village of Grand Lake is the western gateway to the park and provides numerous services for the visitor's vacation needs.

Surrounded by Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Arapaho National Recreation Area, the village of Grand Lake offers a varied combination of mountain and water pleasures.
You can literally walk out of your cabin and be on a trail in the park within 15 minutes from anywhere in town.

Summer visitors enjoy diverse recreational opportunities: fishing, mountain biking, boating, horseback riding, water skiing, hiking, camping, bird watching, and rafting. The Grand Lake golf course ranks as one of Colorado's 10 best.

In winter, you can snowmobile straight from your room, through town, and out onto more than 150 miles of groomed trails in the adjacent National Forest. Alpine skiing is available at three major ski areas in the county, all within 50 minutes of town. There are unlimited cross-country skiing opportunities in the neighboring Rockies, and also a maintained cross-country ski trail system at the Grand Lake ski touring center. The town has an ice skating rink, as well as plenty of good sledding and ice fishing sites.

A travel destination point for more than 100 years, Grand Lake has carefully preserved its heritage as one of Colorado's oldest resort communities. The unique architectural style of a split lodgepole pine facade is one that is found throughout town. Wooden boardwalks and a rustic Victorian appearance further enhance the setting. The museum in the historic Kauffman House, a former stage stop and hotel built in 1892, provides a glimpse into life in the early days of Grand Lake.

Longs Peak. Estes Park.

Estes Park is the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. Formed in 1915, RMNP has a breathtaking landscape, world renowned. The Park is noted for its spectacular scenery, cascading rivers and waterfalls and herds of elk, deer and bighorn sheep. The Continental Divide provides a stunning backdrop to the village of Estes Park. T rail Ridge Road within the park crosses the Divide at 12,183 ft. elevation, making it the highest continuous paved road in the Continental United States.

The Crags. Estes Park.

Estes Park, Colorado is a unique and beautiful mountain resort community in the heart of the Northern Colorado Rocky Mountains. With its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park, it is a longtime favorite vacation destination for people from around the world.

Estes Park is a great place for locals and visitors alike. With beautiful scenery and weather, excellent shopping, dining and lodging, a rich history and excellent people, this area is truly special!

A short history of Estes Park: Estes Park is a resort community about 70 miles northwest of Denver. William Byers, the editor of the Rocky Mountain News, named the area after Joel Estes, who is credited with "discovering" this area in 1859. According to legend, he sold his claim for a yoke of oxen and left in 1866.

Other ranchers began arriving in the 1870s. Isabella Bird, an English traveler, came to this area in 1873 on horseback. Her letters to her sister in England were published in "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains." She was one of the earliest visitors to promote the scenic beauty of this area.

The Irish earl Lord Dunraven came to this area in 1872 while on a hunting trip. He built a hunting lodge, cabin and hotel for his guests and illegally homesteaded up to 6000 acres in an unsuccessful attempt to create a private hunting preserve.

The Dunraven holdings were purchased by J.D. Sanborn of Greeley and F.O. Stanley, the wealthy inventor who co developed the Stanley steam car with his twin brother. Stanley had come to Estes Park in 1902 from Newton, Massachusetts. He opened his majestic Stanley Hotel in 1909. A fleet of Stanley mountain wagons brought visitors from Front Range railheads up to Estes Park.

The village of Estes Park was platted in 1905 and incorporated in 1917 with 317 residents. Rocky Mountain National Park, which borders the village on the west, was established in 1915 and is the biggest tourist attraction in Colorado.

Fishing On The Big Thompson River.

There was a devastating flood on July 31, 1976, the famed Big Thompson Flood, that destroyed over 50 businesses, 400 homes, and killed 145 people in the Big Thompson Canyon between Estes Park and Loveland. This sad event was the worst disaster in Colorado history in terms of lives lost! Estes Park was spared from any direct damage from this flood, however. This flood was east of town. This was not the case on July 15, 1982 when the Lawn Lake Dam broke high in Rocky Mountain National Park. This caused a flood that flowed directly through downtown Estes Park. Three people were killed in this flood. All dams have since been destroyed and removed from within the Park. This effort has returned these areas back to their original state before any dams were ever built.

As the eastern gateway city to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park hosts more than 2.6 million travelers from around the world each year. Because the national park is preserved in its natural state, almost all commercial activity takes place in Estes Park.

Surrounded by snowcapped peaks ranging from 8,500 to more than 14,000 feet high, the town complements the alpine views with downtown mountain gardens and grassy picnic glades, aspen groves, wildflowers, and river walks.