Estes Park Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States
About Estes Park
"Park" in this case is a term that means a valley or meadow. Estes Park is named after an early settler, Joel Estes, who attempted to make a living by farming. Because of the short growing season it never really worked out. Since the mid-1800s the main business of Estes Park has been tourism. The clientele ranges from hard-core backcountry types to tour-buses full of drive through sightseers. The main draw is the scenery, which is awesome. Year-round population is approximately 6,000 people, adding the surroundings it may be 10,000. In the peak of tourist season that probably triples. The best time to visit for outdoor activities is July through September. Everyone else thinks so too, so it can get kind of crowded. The heaviest traffic is probably in August. The family/kids crowd
Top Attractions in Estes Park
Explore the best things to see and do in Estes Park:
- ★Christmas "Catch the Glow" parade
- ★Elk Fest
- ★Open Air Adventure Park
- ★Park Theatre
- ★Reel Mountain Theatre
- ★Riverspointe Spa
- ★Rooftop Rodeo
- ★Scottish festival
Where to Eat in Estes Park
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Big Horn Restaurant
- 🍴Bob & Tony's Pizza
- 🍴Dunraven at The Estes Park Resort
- 🍴Ed's Cantina
- 🍴Estes Park Pie Company
- 🍴Grumpy Gringo
Where to Stay in Estes Park
- 🏨Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
- 🏨Amberwood
- 🏨Aspen Lodge Ranch Resort & Conference Center
- 🏨Best Western Silver Saddle
- 🏨Brynwood on the River
- 🏨Estes Park Campground
Estes Park Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: