Estes Park is located in a high valley 45miles West of Loveland on highway 34. From the South you enter the valley via the Peak-to-Peak Highway, highway 7. You can also enter from the East on highway 36 from Lyons and Longmont Colorado. Denver is 70 miles to the East of the park.

Having spent time in Estes Park and it's surrounding area since I was a child, Estes is one of my favorite places. Considering how much Colorado has changed Estes Park has not, probably on purpose, kept up with the rush. Yes it's bigger and some say to big but from my perspective the size of the Village is still small. It is primarily about 8 blocks long moving east to west along Elkhorn Ave the parks main street. There is also a three block section that stretches along Moraine Ave. Elkhorn Ave is the home of the unique shops and merchants, some I will say have been there over 50 years selling keepsakes and souvenirs so one can remember their trip.

Lake Estes is on the East side of the village and can be seen as one enters the town. As in most mountain and tourist towns like Estes there are horse stables so the visitors can experience at least a small sample of the western atmosphere.

Fall River runs directly through the center of town and intersects with the Big Thompson River about in the center of town at confluence park. On occasion Fall River has flooded and caused much damage to the downtown area. You can read the history and see the pictures in a small shopping mall just off Elkhorn Ave.

Around June of each year the elk virtually disappear from the low areas around Estes and  go up and beyond tree line. They don't like the heat and insects either.  During the spring, fall and winter Estes Park Village is the home to many hundreds of elk who stay nearby. The golf course is a favorite resting spot to these animals. You can sometimes see them actually in town on the sidewalks with the visitors. They pretty much have the run of the village.

Estes Park is the home of the Stanly Hotel built by the inventor of the Stanley Steamer Motorcar. The hotel has been an elegant fixture for a long, long time. It's most recent claim to fame is tit was the movie location for the "Shining". There are many ghost stories about this old hotel and many locals who believe fervently that they are there on a daily basis.

Spending time in Estes any time of year is fun but in the spring through the fall it has a special charm. There is plenty of lodging and restaurants to satisfy most ever taste. There is always something for the kids to do too.