The Best Hiking Trails & Food in Estes Park, Colorado

Any time someone tells me that they’ve never been to Colorado, the first place I recommend is Estes Park. It is such a beautiful area! It is right next to Rocky Mountain National Park which means a ton of great hiking trails.

And my favorite part.. we always see a herd of elk roaming throughout the town when we visit. Listening to the elk bugle through the night is also pretty cool.

We traveled here mid-October so it was a little chilly. We just wore layers so we could remove a layer if we got warm from hiking. I think this was great hiking weather.

Below are some basics if you are new to hiking followed by my favorite hikes and food spots in the area.

If you are hiking with young kids, check out this post for tips on hiking with littles.

Free itinerary at the bottom of this post!

Hiking Tips

The ‘AllTrails’ App

If you plan on going hiking, I highly recommend downloading the ‘AllTrails’ app. This is super helpful in finding trails that fit what you are looking for.

In the app, you can search the area you are headed to and then it will show a list of different trails. When you click into a trail, you can see length of hike, elevation gain, pictures, map, reviews and much more! If you find a trail you like in the app, you can save it as your favorite and create a list to easily reference when you are on your trip.

Altitude

If you are adjusting to the altitude I recommend doing some easier trails the first couple days and staying very hydrated. I will defer to the CDC website for guidance on traveling to high altitudes.

The AllTrails app mentioned above is a great resource that gives details on elevation of hikes.

Visit the Park’s Website

If you plan to go into Rocky Mountain National Park, make sure to check out the Park’s website to see info on fees, passes, and more. We went in early to avoid a long line of cars getting into the park later in the day but this was before reservations were required. Based on their website, starting May 28th – October 11th 2021, they will be doing timed entry into the park. So be certain to make a reservation if needed.

Have a Backup Plan

Have a couple trails on your list for each area you plan to visit in case you can’t find parking at a trailhead. I just kept my list on the AllTrails app. There is an option to view your list in map view (see picture below) which is helpful!

Hiking Gear

Plan for the Length of Hike

Hiking Bag – I like to hike with my hiking backpack or a small backpack. In here I keep a small first aid kit and the items listed below.

Water – Of course, always bring water on your hikes no matter how long. But bring extra water for longer hikes.

Snacks – Some trails make take longer to hike than you expect. You can never have too many snacks, especially when hiking with kids.

Toilet Paper – Keep some in your hiking bag! Most trailheads will have restrooms, but depending on the length of your hike you may need to find a nice tree to go behind on the trail.

Plan for the Weather

Be sure to plan for the weather (sunscreen, waterproof jacket, hat, etc.)

Child Carrier

We brought our 1 year old on this trip, so we used a child carrier. If you plan on doing multiple hiking trips, I would recommend investing in a nice child carrier (you could always sell it after they out grow it?). We bought a cheaper one for this trip, and it worked but would have been more comfortable for both adult and child with a nicer one.

My Top 5 Favorite Trails

1. Gem Lake Trail

Gem Lake Trail is my favorite hike near Estes so far. A nice 3.1 mile moderate out and back hike with a pretty lake at the top. This is a great hike to have a picnic halfway (next to the lake). It is a heavily trafficked trail which I don’t mind as it gives me some comfort in thinking maybe chances of us running into a bear are slim!

2. Kruger Rock Trail

I was so happy we did the Kruger Rock Trail. The view was amazing as it overlooks Estes Park. This is a 4 mile moderate out and back hike (All Trails says heavily trafficked but it was very quiet the day we went).

This trail is inside Hermit Park so you have to pay a few bucks to get into the park, but I would say worth it for this view. And there are a couple other trailheads in the park as well.

3. Alberta Falls

Alberta Falls trail is inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The parking lot at this trailhead is usually full, so plan on parking at the shuttle lot off of Bear Lake Road and take the shuttle to the trailhead. This is an easy 1.6 mile very heavily trafficked out and back trail.

The waterfall was spectacular!! I just didn’t snap a great picture without any other people in it!

4. Bierstadt Lake

Bierstadt Lake trailhead starts at the shuttle parking lot inside Rocky Mountain National Park off of Bear Lake Road (the same parking lot you would be at if you are trying to shuttle to Bear Lake). We didn’t feel like taking the shuttle to Bear Lake that day with our 1 year old, so we decided to try this hike instead.

This is a 3.2 mile (if you go all the way around the lake) moderate hike. We made it to the lake, but did not have time to loop all the way around it since there was a storm rolling in. I wish we could have as it offered some great views!

5. Twin Sisters Peak

Twin Sisters Peak Trail is a difficult 7.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail. We only hiked a small chunk of it because we had our little one with us. But the part we did hike was great (lots of trees, quiet, peaceful hike)!

The Food Scene

Honestly, I feel like there isn’t a vast selection of great places to eat in Estes Park. However, there are a few really good ones. Be sure to download the Yelp app as this is a great resource in finding good food spots!

• Donut Haus – Very popular, great donuts!
• Scratch Deli & Bakery – So soooo good! My favorite spot for lunch! The veggie wrap is my favorite (and I am not a vegetarian). They have a ton of great sandwiches. Pick one up and pack it for your hike. Nothing beats a picnic on top of a mountain!
• Kind Coffee – Grab a coffee and sit out back along the river.. so pretty!
• Rock Inn Mountain Tavern – For drinks only! I can’t say that I have ever had great food here. But on a cold day, this would be my go-to for a warm alcoholic beverage (like their Hot Buttered Rum drink)! Very cozy mountain vibe inside!
• Antonio’s Pizza – Yummy New York style pizza!
• Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ – If you are in the mood for BBQ, this is the place!
• Restaurants that I did not visit, but are on my list for next time: Bird & Jim (seasonal menu & local ingredients), Dunraven (Italian food), Twin Owls Steakhouse (pricey but awesome view)

Other Things To Do

• Shops Downtown – Estes Park has a cute downtown area with lots of shops. Fun to walk around even if you don’t plan to buy anything.
• Visit the Estes Park Visitor Center
• Walk around Lake Estes
• Visit a Brewery

Free Itinerary

Other Posts You Might Like:

• Hiking Trails & Food in Dillon/Frisco/Breckenridge, Colorado

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