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.

What to do with kids in Estes Park? 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 Lily Lake has a very short walking loop with plenty of opportunity for adventure. Stop in to the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center 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 Estes Park offers like the Estes Park Museum or MacGregor Ranch Museum. Our Art Center and Library offer programs for hands-on activities throughout the summer months. Did you bring Fido? Take him to the Dog Park 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 Riverside Plaza or Performance Park 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 Lake Estes or play at one of the many playgrounds around town. Ride the Aerial Tram to the top of Prospect Mountain. Maybe the weather is turning off bad? Head over to the Aquatic Center for a swim or to the Historic Park Theater for a movie. How about the Estes Park Mountain 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!