Estes Park Photos

Estes Park is a nice place to stop before entering Rocky Mountain National Park. Actually, it is good destination trip, even if you don't plan on going into the park.



Estes Park is a quaint little mountain town consisting of mostly locally owned shops. Even people like me who hate shopping can enjoy these shops. I enjoy the rock and fossil shops and the antique and collectibles stores. My wife and daughter like the clothing and home accessory shops.

My wife has a thing for alpacas. She has dropped a couple hints a few times over the last few years about buying a couple of them. Once she found out that one in its prime of life can cost $20,000 - $30,000, she decided that she would settle for an alpaca rug. She found a good one reasonably priced at Estes Park.

I like history. I found a collectibles store and bought a Confederate note. My daughter loves glass, so she was pleased when she found a shop that sells art glass - hand blown on the premises.

My wife can't pass a candy shop without buying a pound of fudge. It seems like there is a candy shop on every corner in Estes Park, so if you like chocolate too much like I do, you might just want to drive by Estes without stopping. But I'm going to stop every time and get some fudge.

Or you could get some ice cream, like my daughter is enjoying here.

We always have breakfast or lunch in Estes Park, depending on the time of day. We have never had any wait time before being seated, regardless of the season. The quality of food, service, and price has generally been been good, each time.

During the cold weather months, herds of elk roam in the parks and lawns within the city limits of Estes Park. Once we watched mule deer fawns play on the mountainside outside our window while we were dining. Road traffic on the edges of Estes Park often comes to a halt while bighorn sheep are crossing.

These elk are grazing at the golf course.

Two rivers converge in Estes Park ... the Big Thompson River ...

... and Fall River ...

When the two rivers join they both become the Big Thompson River. This river flows down the canyon into Loveland.

Along the riverbanks are walkways, benches, fountains, and statuary. Many of the shops on main street can be entered from the riverside, as well as main street.

More Estes Park photos might be snapped here than any other place in town.

The Estes Park Aerial Tramway is a good way to get some Estes Park photos. The tram takes passengers to the top of Prospect Mountain.

At the top of the mountain, you can get get out, walk the trails, and take in the panoramic views of the Continental Divide, Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Village.

If you are going into Rocky Mountain National Park, before you leave Estes Park make sure that you have a full tank of gas. There are no gas stations in the park and running out of gas would be time consuming and costly, maybe even dangerous during cold weather.

Estes Park on eBay