Loved it! Better than most of the hikes in RMNP! Cool cliff formations & good elevation. Lake was…read morenot exciting...but the views were amazing!!

8.12.2025 I arrived at 7am on the dot to hike gem lake. I'm so thankful that I arrived early to…read moreavoid the crowds, and when I arrived to the lake I had the place to myself, the water was like glass and the sun was still not high in the sky which provided the most beautiful reflections off the lake which made for some wonderful photos. In all I enjoyed this hike very much, everything about it was very enjoyable. On the hike down I encountered a lot of people headed up at the 8 o'clock hour. So I feel I timed my hike perfectly.

This park is so heavily visited, so there are multiple visitor centers to help spread the load of…read moreaddressing all of the questions that tourists may have. Seriously, millions of visitors enjoy the park every year. I stayed in the gateway town of Estes Park, which is literally minutes away from the park entrance. I did the Nymph, Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha Lakes via Nymph Lake Trail, as well as Bear Lake. The trails were in great condition, and even though the trails were heavily trafficked, everyone was pretty courteous. The views were simply amazing. Do note that you might need to be acclimated to the higher atmosphere (=thinner air) and so hiking may be more difficult than your usual if you're coming from lower elevations. I visited during elk mating season, and while I did see elk in the park, I saw even more in the parks of Estes Park!

Lived in denver for 17 years, traveled all over the world and this is my first trip to RMNP. Wow,…read morewhat was I thinking waiting so long. One of the Crown Jewels of the National Park Service, RMNP sits just outside of Estes Park and 90 minutes from Denver. We camped at Moraine Park and with that came a guaranteed timed entry and all access to the park. It was the perfect way to avoid booking entry to the park and separate booking for Bear Lake area. Our campsite had a phenomenal view on Long's Peak and was walking distance to Elk meadow. Every morning and evening we were front row to the bull elk bugling and enjoyed a great camping experience. We saw so much wildlife but the stand outs were, Moose. Elk. Deer. Coyotes. Fox. Marmot. Pika. Blue Jay. The park is a spectacular spotlight on the Rocky Mountains. We hiked from meadows to mountain tops and enjoyed many epic views and endless fresh air. Got caught in a big rain storm and watched a hiker find his missing keys!! Please note, elk meadow is restricted a bit during this time to let the elk mate. We watched a coupled disregard that and wander down to get wedding photos near the elk herd, wedding dress and all. Park security did not find that amusing. I'm sure those were very expensive wedding photos lol. So much to see and experience. Now I understand why every tourist coming to Colorado needs to see this park.

We've been to Estes Park several times and I can't believe that I have not reviewed the Riverwalk…read morebefore because it is one of my favorite aspects of Estes. You pick up the walking path at the Visitors Center and it will take you along the river to downtown. Aling the way there are restaurants and lots of stores. The best part for me are the benches where I like to sit and listen to the river as I meditate. Along the walking path there are chimes for kids (and adults) to play. To me this is a must-do if you are in Estes. It is an about one mile walk that is thoroughly enjoyable. The beauty of the river makes the walk peaceful and serene.

Beautiful shady walk! Lots of pretty bridges to cross. Lots of benches next to creek for stopping…read moreto take in the view. I was able to breastfeed my son at one of the benches which was nice.

We had so much fun strolling about the lake looking for moose and yay saw two. It made our day. We…read morespotted a lizard in the water which was also very special.

I enjoyed visiting Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Not only is it a pretty lake, it is a…read moregreat spot for bird watching and to see wildlife up close. The ground squirrels were fun and entertaining to watch. Because they are used to people feeding them, they come right up to you and beg. The short trail around the lake is easy and level. It is about 0.8 miles round trip and offers great views of Longs Peak, Mount Meeker and Twin Sisters. If you want something more challenging, you can jump on the Storm Pass Trail from here. Rocky Mountain Park requires a online timed entry reservation made in advance during peak season.

The last of the lakes on this trail, this is definitely not the least. Actually, I'm not sure I…read morecould even identify the lake that would be considered the "least" since they're all so beautiful. All of the lakes (Emerald, Dream, Nymph, and Bear) have their own unique charm, which is what makes this trail so amazing! I think basically everyone rests here when they make it since it's essentially all the way uphill to get to this point. There's not a lot of room at the lakeshore as it's full of boulders, but everyone settled in their spots no issues. As always, make sure that you have appropriate hiking footwear, a hat, plenty of water, and some snacks. There are no toilets at this lake, so also make sure you use the washroom at the trailhead. Pace yourself on this hike since the air is thinner due to elevation.

Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

Nice walking area around a babbling brook. Lots of trees and shade…read more Pedestrian bridges connect free parking conveniently located near downtown to the opposite bank. Trash and recycling bins. Good place to sit and relax on the benches after a long drive.

Given the large group sizes, the last members to clip in after training lose up to 15 minutes while…read morewaiting on other participants getting onto the platforms ahead of them. The environment would also benefit from providing more observation seating and from mounting tarps above the course to provide shade. The obstacles themselves were mostly engaging and varied.

Professional and safety driven operation - Tim, Cindy, and Nicole were all awesome! My daughter (8)…read moreand I had an fantastic experience clearing the obstacles, there's plenty of variation and skill levels for all to enjoy. I liked that you can navigate the course as you wish, as there's no set path, and taking a bathroom or water break is easy. Staff are very friendly, encouraging, and obviously having fun themselves. Bravo!

Nice place to fish, get cooled down and for me hammock and read! My husband caught a handful of…read morefish near the power plant.

Beautiful lake in Estes park! There are lots of outdoor tables making this a great picnic spot…read more Also a great place for water sports on a warm day. It's even nice just to drive by and see the wildlife.

Leaf peepin season in Colorado! Always the perfect drive this time of year. Beginning in Netherland…read moreand drove all the way to Estes Park. There wasn't quite as many aspens as I thought there would be along the scenic drive. When we did come across patches aspens, it was beautiful. For being a weekend, the drive was not overcrowded at all. And it's always great to stop in Netherland and Estes Park for a quick walk and a quick bite.

Lovely , beautiful drive. Not busy in midday. Glorious views. Worth our time, we felt. Experience…read moremountains and small towns Very sweet.

This a beautiful small town located at the foot of the Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a…read morefree trolly that will take you around town and stop at various places to let you off to tour around and then you can get back on when you want to. There are small stops everywhere that are fun to shop around in at your leisure.

While visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, I spent some time in Estes Park after each day in the…read morepark. You have to go through this town to get to a couple of the park entrances. I grabbed dinner at a few restaurants and spent some time in Stanley Park. The view of Lake Estes from the park is stunning. The downtown area in Estes Park has a number of restaurants and retail stores. For activities, there is an Aerial Tramway to Prospect Mountain's summit or you can jump on a jeep tour. If you love outdoor activities, this is a great place to visit. Sadly, there was a huge wildfire going on when I was here that caused a lot of smoke. But overall, Estes Park is a great town to visit and has lots to do.