Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park | COME TO LIFE Estes Park Close to Paradise: Moraine Park area of Rocky Mountain National Park Morning Despite being one of the most popular parks in the country, Rocky Mountain National Park still offers countless moments of solitude and awe. Spend time exploring Estes Park’s main street and the natural glories of the Colorado Rockies. From late May to early Oct., timed-entry permits are required at recreation.gov. A new seasonal Bustang route will take you to Estes Park and the national park from downtown Denver. And seasonal shuttles in town can help with parking and getting around. Take a drive on Trail Ridge Road, a roller coaster route that crosses the Continental Divide and offers photo ops as you climb past subalpine forests and wind-swept tundra. Or enjoy a family wildflower hike to Gem Lake. For more challenge, try the Mills Lake trek for Longs Peak views. Stop at Moraine Park for prime wildlife watching. More than 3,000 elk and 800 bighorn sheep live here. Estes Park and the national park are also superior birding spots, with more than 315 species — grab your binoculars for a self-guided exploration of Matthews-Reeser Bird Sanctuary right in town. At the Open Air Adventure Park, rope bridges, aerial tightropes and swinging logs challenge folks, and the new Mountain Mustang alpine COLORADO . COM JONATHAN PHILLIPS. 107
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2023: Page 107
