What is an Estes Park Snow Day? Here it means that we have a foot of snow on the ground, it’s still snowing and quite possibly the weatherman is going to be wrong, but we aren’t sure which way. Last Wednesday was our first day of canceled school for the year. You can check your calendars again, yes it was October. I can never get my kids up in the morning, but at 7:30 am they were outside with me shoveling snow and for the rest of the day sledding and building forts. Fortunately it stopped snowing that evening so we missed the 3 feet that was forecast. Across the rest of the state it continued to snow that night and the next day with up to 2.5+ feet in some areas.
In Estes, we have our own little micro-climate. We are completely surrounded by mountains and usually that works in our favor. When big storms come through we almost always get less snow than the Front Range. It was a regular work day for me so I headed to the office, later at the grocery store it was a social occasion I saw so many people I knew. The snow didn’t keep most folks home. There was school on Thursday, all the roads and paths were cleared. The park department is so great usually the walking paths are cleared before the roads are.
walking path
I could have gone snowshoeing or hiking, but decided since it was so pleasant on Thursday I was going to take Haley for a run and we ended up at the dog park. She loves the dog park and pulled me the last quarter mile. When we got there she was so sad, there were no other dogs there. She really didn’t know what to do with no dogs to chase.
She loves the snow and dove into a snowbank on our way back.
snowbank
Mt. Olympus
Elk on 18 hole golf course
Well now as I write this almost a week later it was 60 degrees and breezy with beautiful blue skies. Other than the January winds there is not much that keeps us inside. Please visit us in the winter, you will be not be disappointed!
We are reaping the rewards of a very wet Rocky Mountain Spring in Estes Park. I recently hiked to the Big Pool on the North Inlet trail leaving from Grand Lake. It was 10 miles or so round trip and the wild flowers were the best I have ever seen. The first mile or so of the trail is a jeep road because there is a private cabin along the trail. Once the trail narrows we saw fields of columbine in varying colors of rich periwinkle and light blues. On the East side I have seen clumps of columbine, but these fields were amazing. I also saw my first Calypso Orchid in a top secret location. Along the trail further in we saw red columbine. The vegetation was lush and we had to keep moving to ward off the mosquitoes. We stopped at Cascade Falls on our way to The Pool and took a break on the huge boulders and listened to the roar of the water.
Blue Columbine
Calypso Orchid
Red Columbine
Lush vegetation along the trails
Cascade Falls
I know many visitors to our area in Estes Park choose to remain on the East side of the park, but I would highly recommend exploring the trails in the West section of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Here is an older trip report that I forgot to post. For a big hiking payoff with a short time commitment Emerald Mountain is the hike for you. This mountain located West of Ramshorn Mtn off of hwy 66 has fantastic views of the entire Rocky Mountain National Park. You can park in the cul-de-sac at the end of the hwy and start at the trailhead. We hiked this the first week of March on a sunny day.
sign post on the trail-go left
It’s maybe a mile and a half hike to the summit, but very steep. I was huffing and puffing the entire way. I just can’t stand hiking slow so I was pretty miserable trying to catch my breath, but the reward at the summit is spectacular.
Continental Divide
Mummy Range
You pretty much have wrap around views from Twin Sisters West to the Longs Peak around to the Continental Divide and finishing with the Mummy Range. Absolutely gorgeous. It was pretty windy that day on the summit, but the high altitude sun warms you. I still had several layers on, but my husband just wore a t-shirt. Snowshoes were not needed as it was windswept except for one drift near the summit. See you on the trails!
I have said this once and I will say it again, one of the best advantages of living in Estes Park is access to Rocky Mountain National Park. The second weekend in March my family headed out with our snowshoes to RMNP. We hiked up a back country winter trail to Lake Haiyaha to stomp, sled and play on the ice. Watch the video our our silly antics and the amazing igloo we warmed up in between sled runs (Many thanks to our forum friends who built it the weekend before). We brought our heavy duty Thermos with hot herbal tea. We bought a light weight roll up sled at the hardware store, but ended up sliding on our snowpants instead.
If you are wondering what those shiny rolls are in my husband’s backpack are they are reflective windshield shades. They work fantastic to keep your seat warm while sitting on the ice or snow and the best part is they are cheap. I picked them up at a garage sale. The snow has all melted from the April storm and it looks like Spring here. The golf course is greening up and we are starting to see some Spring flowers. Bye for now!
I think the weatherman is right on, school was canceled here today. My kids are delighted and ready to break out the sleds.
This is the forecast from weather underground:
Today
Snow. Snow accumulation of 6 to 12 inches. Highs 30 to 36. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight
Snow. Snow accumulation of 6 to 12 inches. Lows 22 to 30. North winds 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday
Snow. Accumulations of 3 to 7 inches. Storm total snowfall 18 to 36 inches…with locally higher amounts. Highs in the upper 30s. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
It’s time get out the snow gear and go shoveling. I have an appt at 9:30 am across town.
Join me for tea and scones this Saturday from 1-3 p.m at this Charming historic home with Longs, Divide and Lumpy Ridge views. Open living spaces, 10 ‘ ceilings, original wood floors, two moss rock fireplaces and sun porch. 3 BR/2 BA and partially finished basement. Great potential-attic could be finished for an artist’s retreat. Take in the views from the fenced in flower garden, deck or patio. Picturesque .55 acre lot with rock outcroppings and huge ponderosa pines. Own a piece of Estes Park history with this turn of the century beauty. See you there!
What to do with kids in EstesPark? I saw this question posted recently and it is a concern for many who visit here with children too young to hike long distances. You don’t need to climb Longs Peak or back country camp in RMNP to fully appreciate the area. There is art, history, nature, food, shopping, entertainment and much more.There are too many activities to list so I will just mention of few.
It is going to be hard for me not to emphasize JUST going into the park.It is by far the best attraction we have.You don’t have to hike for miles to experience its beauty though. There are lots of places to hike just a block or two and explore rocks, streams, and see great views.Visit the Alluvial Fan near the North Entrance for hours of rock hopping, playing in the water or looking for wildflowers or wild raspberries.Also LilyLake has a very short walking loop with plenty of opportunity for adventure.Stop in to the BeaverMeadowsVisitorCenter and talk to the staff for ideas.They have ranger led walks just for young children. Make your own GORP, have a picnic in Moraine Park. Drive up Old Fall River Road and find a patch of snow to play in.Let’s back up for a minute before you come into the park, stop by the Estes Park Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and get one of their calendars of events to find out what is going on around town.There might be a festival going on at Bond Park or the Stanley Park Fairground.We have the Rooftop Rodeo, Arabian horse shows, car shows, art shows, Highlands Scottish Irish Festival, Quilt Shows, Film Festivals and our course Elk Fest.You could go to a festival every weekend all summer.We do have some fun touristy kinds of attraction like go-carts and miniature golf, but I would encourage you to also check out some of the unique attractions EstesPark offers like the EstesParkMuseum or MacGregorRanchMuseum.Our ArtCenter and Library offer programs for hands-on activities throughout the summer months.Did you bring Fido?Take him to the DogPark to burn up some energy.If you are downtown, check out some of our kid friendly stores that sell toys or have rocks and artifacts.Watch the glass blowers at several glass shops too.Grab an ice cream cone and head over to RiversidePlaza or PerformancePark to enjoy an outdoor concert.Visit the flower garden on West Elkhorn Ave. and see how many flowers you can name. Rent a bike cart and ride around LakeEstes or play at one of the many playgrounds around town.Ride the Aerial Tram to the top of ProspectMountain.Maybe the weather is turning off bad? Head over to the AquaticCenter for a swim or to the Historic Park Theater for a movie.How about the EstesParkMountain shop for a rock climbing lesson? And I almost forgot the YMCA of the Rockies, horseback riding and chuck wagon dinners too.Soon we will have a Planetarium for star gazing.How about an old time portrait?Are you tired yet?You don’t need to leave Estes to keep the family entertained.#1 Rule-don’t forget to take lots of water, sunscreen and snacks!
I am hoping to catch up on my blogging this week, but until then I wanted to bring your attention to a wonderful holiday event in Estes Park. Here is a link to an article in one of our papers. This is a fantastic fund-raiser for Quota Club and they do so many things for the Estes Park Community. Please come out and see some gorgeous homes. Later, Lori
Dining in Estes Park is always an interesting experience. Anyone recognize this wall? It is at the Dunraven Inn on Spur 66 on your way to the YMCA. This restaurant is a piece of Estes Park history. Approximately $13,000 line the walls at this cozy Italian eatery.
We didn’t know it was Homecoming until we got to the restaurant so it was a busy night for them. The hostess informed us of a 45 minute wait, but we went ahead and reserved a table anyway. We drove around for half an hour and returned to wait for our table. We read the walls while we waited and watched the fish in their aquarium. I don’t know how long ago it started, but there are dollars bill stapled to every available surface. The walls, and ceilings are completely covered with money that has been personalized with names, dates and personal messages about celebrations held in this restaurant. It was fun to read about birthdays, anniversary and vacations through the years from visitors to Estes Park. We were seated in a nook of four seating areas on the SW corner of the building. I felt I needed to get the flashlight from my purse to read the menu. Our waitress was friendly and very attentive. Once you are given the menu and the wine list there is no doubt that the food is going to wonderful. Honestly, the wine list is larger than the menu. Alan had the Prime Rib and I had Fettucini Alfredo with chicken. We had these great house salads that were Italian style with black olives, Parmesan cheese and tomatoes. The salad dressing was homemade. I think we had Creamy Garlic. I was stuffed after only my salad and some bread. Alan ordered an appetizer of potato skins, which is like a meal in itself. They are served with a cheese sauce on half and then a meat sauce on the others. He was so full, he had his salad boxed up for him. We had more fun reading the dollar bills on the walls while we waited on our food. When the waitress brought out our food I couldn’t believe the size of the portions. My entree was served on a bed of spinach fettuccine on a plate at least 12″ in diameter. Alan’s was just the same. Our food was fresh and prepared with great care. It tasted wonderful. I insisted on getting half of mine in a to-go box because I wanted to still have room to sample something off their dessert menu. A woman at the table next to us ordered a Mudslide, so I had to try one too instead of a dessert. Our waitress gave us just the right amount of service, not too much & not too little. At some point, she found out we were locals and it was our first time in the restaurant. Next thing you know we had a set of drinks from the owner. I can’t remember what they were called, but it was a chilled lemon-flavored liquor-YUM!. Our experience was just top-notch all the way around. The food, service and atmosphere were remarkable. When you are visiting here or if you live here full-time this is a must try dining experience. We forgot to leave a dollar, so I guess we have to eat there again soon.
There is nothing more beautiful than newly fallen snow!Nothing!! Here is the view off my deck on Monday.
Unfortunately, I had to cover floor time that morning so I couldn’t enjoy our first snow of the year.I just grabbed my camera on my way out and drove to work with my windows open and heated seat on (of course). Here are some pics from my drive. The views were terrible.
After work yesterday I had to drive by a house and saw a huge herd of elk.This guy was digging or something with his antlers and grass was flying everywhere.He finally plopped down in the hole as I drove away.The next elk I saw had rolled in mud and he was totally covered.That will surely attract the ladies.
