Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Car -- The most direct route is U.S. 36 from Denver and Boulder. At Estes Park, U.S. 36 joins U.S. 34, which runs up the Big Thompson Canyon from I-25 and Loveland, and continues through Rocky Mountain National Park to Grand Lake and Granby. An alternative scenic route to Estes Park is Colo. 7, the "Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway" that traverses Central City (Colo. 119), Nederland (Colo. 72), and Allenspark (Colo. 7) under different designations.

By Plane -- The closest airport is Denver International Airport, 80 miles away. The Estes Park Shuttle (tel. 970/586-5151; www.estesparkshuttle.com) connects DIA with Estes Park. Rates are $45 one-way and $85 round-trip.

Visitor Information

The Estes Park Convention & Visitors Bureau, 500 Big Thompson Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517 (tel. 800/443-7837 or 970/577-9900; www.estesparkcvb.com), has a visitor center on U.S. 34, just east of its junction with U.S. 36. In summer, it's open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm; winter hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Getting Around

Shuttle buses began operating in 2006 throughout the business district of Estes Park and from Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park. The buses run daily from July through Labor Day; schedules are available at the Estes Park Visitor Center.

Local taxi service is provided by Stanley Brothers Taxi Company (tel. 970/577-7433).

Fast Facts

The hospital, Estes Park Medical Center, with a 24-hour emergency room, is at 555 Prospect Ave. (tel. 970/586-2317). The post office is at 215 W. Riverside Dr. Call the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777; www.usps.com) for hours and locations of other post offices. For statewide road conditions, call tel. 303/639-1111 or check www.cotrip.org. For a current weather report, call tel. 970/586-5555.

Special Events

Jazz Fest and Art Walk, mid-May; the Wool Market, mid-June; the Scandinavian Mid-Summer Festival, on a weekend near summer solstice; the Rooftop Rodeo, mid-July; Longs Peak Scottish Irish Festival, the weekend after Labor Day; Autumn Gold -- A Festival of Brats and Bands, late September; Elk Fest, early October.