Top reasons why spending time in Estes Park in the fall should be on your bucket list
Estes Park is a small mountain town in northern Colorado, surrounded on all sides by the majestic Rocky Mountain peaks. While there is much to see and do here year-round, the town really comes to life in the fall. From the brilliant golds on the abundant Aspen trees, to elk and other wildlife making their way down from the mountains and the arrival of crisp cooler weather, see why Estes Park in the fall is the perfect time to visit!
Where is Estes Park?
Estes Park is not technically part of Rocky Mountain National Park, but is known as the “Gateway to the Rockies”. Because it is the closest town to three of the park entrances, Estes becomes a base camp of sorts for those visiting the park. Located in northern Colorado about 90 minutes from Denver, Estes Park offers lodging, shopping, and dining options just outside the national park.
Experience Elk Fest in Estes Park
Held in the beginning of “Elktober” every year, the Estes Park Elk Fest is just one of many fall festivals that the town celebrates collectively. Elk Fest features Native American storytelling and traditional music, kids games and educational areas, a beer garden, food trucks and street vendors, and live music. Timed to coincide with the annual elk rut (keep reading for info on this), Elk Fest is a well-known cultural celebration and is one of the busiest weekends to visit the town.
In the fall Estes Park also hosts an Autumn Gold Festival with beer, brats, and bands, a family-friendly “Pumpkins and Pilsners” festival, and the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival. No matter when you visit Estes Park in the fall, you are bound to experience some sort of festivities!
See the fall colors in the Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains surrounding Estes Park range from 8,000 to 14,000 feet high. In this span of peaks lie huge evergreen pine and fir trees, bright gold Aspens, and brilliant red maple trees that really show off in the fall. September and October are prime leaf-peeping months to visit the Rockies to see the dazzling colors on display. Take a drive through town, stopping at Lake Estes, to spot the changing leaves and get that autumn vibe.
Witness the Elk Rut in the Rockies
Estes Park is a prime location to see large wildlife like deer, elk, and even moose just about any time you visit, but during the fall it’s practically a guarantee. Starting in September bull elk begin to lose the velvet coating on their antlers, and so begins rutting (aka mating) season.
The elk herds travel down from the mountains and head right into town, the males bugling loudly and boldly for all to hear. Most of the time they can be seen in large groups laying in grassy areas, either in parks or even medians right in the middle of the road. It is a traffic jam you won’t be upset about!
Visitors to Estes Park in the fall witness bull elk sparring with other bulls to test their dominance in order to attract a large harem of cows. The clashing of antlers and high-pitched bugling can be heard during the day and all hours of the night during the elk rut. Over 3,000 elk reside in Rocky Mountain National Park, and Estes Park provides one of the best viewing opportunities hands down.
When you do see larger animals such as elk and moose, be sure to keep your distance. They might be used to people being around, but it is mating season, and elk are still very wild animals. The rule of thumb is to stay at least 75 feet (or two bus-lengths) away from elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.
Stroll through downtown Estes Park
Estes Park was founded in 1917 and the downtown area still maintains that small mountain town feel to this day. In the fall the shops, windows, and streets are lined with pumpkins, hay bales, and corn stalks. Vendors sell the usual taffy and fudge but also caramel apples and hot apple cider. Stroll through the town with your hot beverage in hand, and check out the boutique shops, art galleries, homemade ice cream stores and various mountain outfitters that line downtown.
Estes is also home to several breweries and wineries. Snowy Peaks Winery is just outside of downtown and offers handcrafted wines, cheese boards, wine tastings, and has a kid play area while the adults shop. Rock Cut Brewing Company is a family-friendly establishment that has a rotating food truck or you can bring in outside food, and dogs are allowed in the outside patio seating area.
Visit the Stanley Hotel
The historic Stanley Hotel was built in 1909 by Freelan Oscar Stanley as a place to recover from tuberculosis, the altitude high in the Rocky Mountains offering fresh and dry mountain air. Located on a peak overlooking Estes Park, the hotel was quite an architectural feat with 48 rooms, a concert hall, a carriage house, gate house, and a smaller bed and breakfast called The Lodge. The current hotel has much of the original details, and is a great place to grab a drink from the bar and sit out on the balconies overlooking downtown Estes Park.
Since October is considered “spooky season”, visiting the Stanley takes on a whole new level during the fall. Back in the 1970’s horror author Steven King and his wife spent one night at the Stanley, and as it was the end of the season they ended up being the only guests in the entire hotel that evening. Rumors are King wrote most of his book The Shining based on this one eerie isolated night.
The Stanley has gained notoriety as of late for the paranormal activity observed by guests. Guided ghost tours are led by the hotel staff, and shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters have filmed spirits and supernatural activity here. If you dare, spend a night here and see what strange things you may observe!
Drive on Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park
Trail Ridge Road is a designated national scenic byway and the highest continuous paved highway in the United States. This road connects Estes Park to Grand Lake, Colorado, running through the entirety of the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is 48 miles long and takes about two hours to drive without stopping, climbing over the Continental Divide and Milner Pass. Allow extra time though, you will definitely want to pull over at some of the overlooks to see the breathtaking views from upwards of 12,000 feet in elevation.
From May until mid-October, visitors to the national park wishing to drive on Trail Ridge Road will need an entry permit. There are ways around this though! How to drive on Trail Ridge Road without acquiring a permit:
- Arrive at the park entrance booth before 9AM or after 3PM
- Show proof of reservation at either a park campsite, commercial tour, or guided trip
- Visit after October 10th and before permit season reopens, which was on May 27th in 2022.
Note: The entry fee to RMNP still applies with or without a permit. We suggest purchasing the America the Beautiful National Park pass. If you are planning on visiting more than two parks a year, the pass is definitely worth the investment. Plus it can even save you time waiting in lines to enter the parks.
Because of the altitude and location throughout the Rocky Mountain range, Trail Ridge Road does close for the winter and on occasional days during the rest of the year due to storms, ice, and strong winds. The pictures below were taken on the same day, just a few hours apart. Be aware of the weather before you decide to travel through the park and check this NPS website or call the Trail Ridge Road Status Line at 970 586-1222 if you have any questions.
Where to stay in Estes Park
Other than five park campgrounds there are no lodging options inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park and Grand Lake are the best towns to stay in with close proximity to the park. Both offer lodging options ranging from rustic inns and family-friendly hotels to luxurious and secluded resorts.
If you are traveling with family we recommend renting a cabin at the YMCA of the Rockies for the fully immersive “fall in Estes Park” experience. Located just outside the entrance to RMNP and tucked away from the downtown crowds, the YMCA lodge and cabins offer plenty of activities such as mini-golf, meals in the dining hall, expansive views of the Rockies, and shuttles to downtown.
For couples visiting the area, the StoneBrook Resort is an adults-only tranquil refuge along with river, with private hot tubs, balconies, and in-room fireplaces.
Our favorite time to visit Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park is in the fall. Estes Park is a spot not to be missed, whether you spend a day or an entire week exploring the town and surrounding area. But the highlight for sure are the regal elk spread out in every nook and cranny of Estes Park in the autumn season.
If you are in love with Colorado like we are, check out this list of 21 captivating mountain towns in Colorado! Other great places to visit in the fall:
Happy Travels!
I absolutely love this area during the fall and need to make another trip back here soon. We saw a lot of elk during our visit, which was such a neat experience! Great post! Xx Sara
This looks amazing! I’d love to visit some day! Thank you for the inspiration!
I have never heard of Estes Park before but it looks amazing to visit in the fall and see all the yellow leaves and the elk. It looks like a great Rocky Mountain destination! Very cool that the hotel there may be the inspiration behind The Shining.
I had never heard of Estes Park but this is so helpful as I want to plan a trip to the Rockies. Thanks for sharing, I’ll save it now 🙂
It would be so interesting to visit Elk Fest in Estes Park. It looks like one of those unforgettable experiences for the whole family, especially for my children!
Our kids were younger and they are still talking about all the elk, years later!
This looks amazing! Definitely added to my bucket list
I never even knew this was here! This is immediately added to my bucket list for when I return to Colorado!