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Estes Park, CO.

Posted on 11/1/16 at 2:43 pm
Posted by Slippy
Across the rivah
Member since Aug 2005
7464 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 2:43 pm
I like the Rockies in the summertime. Have done vacations in resorty-type places like Breckenridge. Really want to see the RMNP and do some hiking.

Thinking about Estes next summer with the wife and kids. Any recommendations? Any rafting nearby? Good restaurants?
Posted by AmeriKop45
Coach, Wing Tip Seat
Member since Jan 2016
2102 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 3:04 pm to
We came back from RMNP last weekend.

This is what we used to decide: LINK

You absolutely HAVE to do the hike to Dream Lake and to Loch Vale if you are fit enough. Magnificent!
Posted by Golfer
Member since Nov 2005
75052 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 3:16 pm to
quote:

You absolutely HAVE to do the hike to Dream Lake and to Loch Vale if you are fit enough. Magnificent!



I wouldn't exactly describe either of those hikes as difficult. Dream Lake from the trailhead is nearly flat.
Posted by thompy
Memphis,TN
Member since Jun 2012
98 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 3:48 pm to
RMNP has hikes for all ages and degree of difficulty. If you want a tough hike, go for Chasm Lake/Long's Peak.

Twin Owls is a good steakhouse like restaurant.

Great fly fishing too.
This post was edited on 11/1/16 at 3:53 pm
Posted by HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Member since Jul 2011
32754 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 3:52 pm to
quote:

We came back from RMNP last weekend

You absolutely HAVE to do the hike to Dream Lake and to Loch Vale if you are fit enough. Magnificent!


Pics?

Posted by AmeriKop45
Coach, Wing Tip Seat
Member since Jan 2016
2102 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 4:13 pm to
Haha Dream lake was a breeze. The Loch was a little harder. Neither was difficult though.
Posted by AmeriKop45
Coach, Wing Tip Seat
Member since Jan 2016
2102 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 4:16 pm to
quote:

Pics


I'll upload a couple when I'm back home tonight if I remember
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109737 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 4:17 pm to
quote:

Haha Dream lake was a breeze.


I've gone past Dream to Emerald Lake with a 4 and 8 year old.

It's a nice hike, though. Go at least that far.
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
109737 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 4:21 pm to
quote:

Twin Owls is a good steakhouse like restaurant.


When I went, I got a place on VRBO on the same property as that. It was a nice rental and good location, but we didn't eat at the restaurant. I'd go the VRBO route for lodging if you're a family.
Posted by AmeriKop45
Coach, Wing Tip Seat
Member since Jan 2016
2102 posts
Posted on 11/1/16 at 5:30 pm to
quote:


I've gone past Dream to Emerald Lake with a 4 and 8 year old.


Is dream where the hike ends or emerald? We went all the way to the one where it ends. If that is emerald, then I urge the OP to go all the way to emerald (still very easy)
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
54114 posts
Posted on 11/2/16 at 9:40 am to
During summer we stayed night in Estes Park, they have a marina you can rent boats and kayaks during day, drove through RMNP next day and then stayed at Vail for a couple of nights. Vail has a pretty cool Adventure ridge for kids. You can also drive to other resorts, to the east is Mt Evans and some whitewater. To the west you can explore some more. My kid said it was the best vacation ever.
Posted by HippieTiger
Boulder, CO
Member since Oct 2015
2151 posts
Posted on 11/2/16 at 12:29 pm to
I'd suggest using this guide and choose a Bear Lake and Longs Peak general location hike within your range

Ed's is my favorite restaurant/hangout around town

The climbing at Lumpy Ridge is world class, and even if you don't climb the hike into that area is stunning and relatively flat.

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park Brewery, off road vehicle tours, and the marina for touristy stuff

If you have a 4x4 vehicle I can give you coordinates to a bad arse camping spot we use to watch the fireworks on the 4th every year. The town gets too crowded for me during peak season, so I like to find a camping spot away from the masses
Posted by hogfly
Fayetteville, AR
Member since May 2014
5088 posts
Posted on 11/3/16 at 10:33 am to
It's a great place. I"m not sure if there's something (like with Disney) that sort of charts peak weeks/weekends during the summer, but it's a really busy park. I lived in Colorado for years, and we usually went there in the offseason because it was so nutty during the summer.
Posted by ColoradoAg03
Denver, CO
Member since Oct 2012
6547 posts
Posted on 11/3/16 at 2:07 pm to
Not much rafting up in that part of the state around RMNP. There's Poudre Canyon, but it's kinda lame. The next closest is Clear Creek, which follows I-70 down into the city. The best rafting is on the Arkansas or Colorado Rivers. The Yampa and Roaring Fork get respectable mentions.
This post was edited on 11/3/16 at 2:08 pm
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
54114 posts
Posted on 11/3/16 at 4:15 pm to
I agree, the best whitewater is not around RMNP
You need to go past Colorado Springs to Arkansas or Colorado rivers.
The rafting trip that goes under the Royal Gorge bridge is the best one I've done.
Posted by LSUfanatic60
ocean springs ms
Member since Feb 2009
1969 posts
Posted on 11/4/16 at 3:36 pm to
Been there several times (lived in Cheyenne for 3 yrs) Beautiful town, elk everywhere, great food but kind of a tourist trap things are pricey. If you like the shining that's where the hotel is at The Stanley Hotel
Posted by Dawgholio
Bugtussle
Member since Oct 2015
13047 posts
Posted on 11/6/16 at 8:40 am to
Great area
Posted by TGFN57
Telluride
Member since Jan 2010
6975 posts
Posted on 11/7/16 at 4:13 pm to
Can't go wrong. Estes Park is great to access the park.
Posted by AmeriKop45
Coach, Wing Tip Seat
Member since Jan 2016
2102 posts
Posted on 11/7/16 at 6:23 pm to
Dream Lake

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I'll post some from Emerald Lake. Loch, Alberta Falls and a couple peak hikes when I pull them out of my GoPro
This post was edited on 11/7/16 at 6:27 pm
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