Trail Notes Newsletter: Candlelight, Carols & Cozy Corners

The YMCA of the Rockies has transformed into a snowy retreat this December. 

Whether you're staying in a lodge or visiting for the day, the property offers winter fun for all ages:

📍 Bonus: Their Craft & Design Center is offering handmade ornament workshops all week long.

There’s something unforgettable about winter nights in Estes Park, especially when the town slows down and the lights begin to glow.

The Historic Park Theatre is bringing that magic to life with their Candlelight Walk and Holiday Music Evenings — a soft, acoustic experience that feels less like a show and more like stepping into an old Colorado postcard.

🕯️ Local Tip: Arrive early and take a slow stroll through Bond Park before the show.

The entire square is lit up for the season — trees glowing, lampposts wrapped in lights, and the mountains standing tall behind it all. It’s one of the best places in town to start the night with a little wonder.

This is one of those simple December traditions that hits the heart in a quiet way — perfect for families, date nights, or anyone who wants to feel the season instead of just rushing through it.

Q: I’m sometimes white, sometimes clear. I fall, I melt, I disappear. What am I?

(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)

📍 December 13 • 10 AM–4 PM

Where creativity meets Christmas magic in Estes Park.

When winter settles into the valley and the mountains go quiet, Estes Park artists come alive. 

The Bird’s Nest is hosting a one-day Holiday Art Market, and it’s the perfect place to find gifts you can’t get online — the kind made by real hands, real stories, and real Colorado talent.

Step inside and you’ll find the smell of pine, warm lighting, and a room full of color and craft. This market is all about supporting the makers who keep Estes creative year-round.

What You’ll Find:

Every piece comes with a story — and often with the artist right there to share it.

🎨 Local highlight: Stained-glass ornaments by Estes artist Emma Kaelin.

When the air gets sharp and the mountains go quiet, Estes Park slips into one of its best seasons: soup season.

This is the time of year when a warm bowl feels like medicine, comfort, and nostalgia all at once.

Here’s where locals head when they want something hearty, homemade, and unmistakably Estes.

Notchtop Bakery — Loaded Baked Potato Soup + Cheddar Biscuit
This one feels like a hug in a bowl. Creamy potatoes, smoky bacon, and melty cheese come together the way only a true diner classic can.

The real magic?

Pair it with their warm cheddar biscuit. Tear off little pieces, let the steam hit your face, and dip until the bowl is gone. It’s pure winter comfort tucked into a corner booth.

Bird & Jim — Smoked Pheasant Chowder

A cozy, comforting mountain-town classic reimagined with local flair.

This rich, creamy chowder melds tender, smoky pheasant meat with hearty potatoes and sweet corn, simmered to savory perfection.

Claire’s on the Park — Elk Stew with Rosemary + Root Veggies

Hearty enough to warm you after an icy stroll around Bond Park.

Tender elk, slow-simmered vegetables, and a rosemary aroma that hits you before the spoon does.

This stew feels like old-Colorado cooking — the kind you talk about all winter long and recommend to every friend visiting town.

Coffee on the Rocks — Turkey Chili + Pond Views

There’s something special about eating chili while watching the ducks shuffle across the frozen pond.

Coffee on the Rocks serves a turkey chili that’s both hearty and surprisingly light — the kind you can enjoy for lunch without needing a nap.

Grab a window seat, breathe in that crisp mountain air, and let the scenery do half the work.

Last weekend, downtown Estes Park lit up in every way that matters — with 40+ floats, marching bands, dancers, fire trucks, horses, and a whole lot of heart. 

The Catch the Glow Parade was a joyful kickoff to the holiday season, drawing families, photographers, and holiday lovers from all over.

✨ From the handcrafted floats to Santa’s big wave at the end, the crowd felt electric. Local businesses stayed open late, the cocoa flowed freely, and the kids lit up like the trees.

📍 Where it Happened: Elkhorn Avenue

📸 Favorite Moments:
– The Grinch dancing near Bond Park
– Horse-drawn wagons decked in lights
– High school bands playing holiday classics
– Snowflake confetti showers

👏 Huge thanks to all the volunteers and community groups who made this magic possible. If you missed it? Don’t worry — December in Estes has just begun.

Fresh snow changes everything in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Sounds get softer. Views sharpen. The whole landscape feels brand new.

These trails stay open, manageable, and magical in December — especially with the right boots and traction.

Lily Lake Loop — Flat, Scenic, and Peaceful

Lily Lake becomes a postcard after the snow.

The entire loop stays mostly flat, making it a great choice for winter walkers who want beauty without the climb. You get big views of Mt. Meeker, frosty trees along the shoreline, and that quiet winter stillness that feels good for the soul.

Bring a warm drink and do the loop twice — it’s that relaxing.

Cub Lake Trail (Lower Section) — Wildlife + Snowy Meadows

The lower half of Cub Lake is one of the best spots for winter wildlife watching.

Elk wander the meadows. Magpies flash their wings. Every step crunches under fresh flakes.

You don’t have to go far to enjoy it — even a short out-and-back gives you snow-covered grasslands and wide-open views that look completely different than they do in summer.

Gem Lake — A Steeper Climb With Frozen Magic Up Top

If you’re up for a little more elevation, Gem Lake pays you back fast.

The sandstone steps are usually packed with snow this time of year, but with good traction it’s very doable.

Once you reach the top, the frozen lake sits tucked between cliffs like a hidden bowl of ice.

The views out toward Estes? Unreal. It’s one of the best winter rewards in the park.

🥾 Winter Trail Reminder:

Mornings can be icy — even on flat trails. Microspikes or traction cleats make a huge difference. Bring gloves you can actually hike in, keep a warm layer in your pack, and start earlier than you think. Winter hiking is peaceful, but it’s still mountain hiking.

Moose & Rainbow at Sprague Lake – Captured by Robert Jones

This week’s image feels like something out of a dream.

A lone moose wades through Sprague Lake, perfectly framed by a full rainbow rising out of the forest.

It’s one of those rare, hushed moments when nature pulls back the curtain and shows you magic. No planning. No filter. Just being in the right place at the right time.

📍 Location: Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
🕯️ Conditions: Post-storm sunlight with partial skies and light drizzle
📷 Photographer: Robert Jones

Thank you, Robert, for capturing and sharing this extraordinary moment with the Trail Notes community.

If you’ve noticed original music in some of my recent posts — you're not imagining it.

Over the past year, I started writing and recording songs when I couldn’t find the right sound to match the mood of Estes Park. What began as a quiet creative outlet has turned into something unexpectedly meaningful.

Now, folks are asking where they can hear more… and believe it or not, about 10 songs a day are being downloaded.

So, I’ve made them available on Bandcamp for anyone who wants to listen, share, or support: 👉 estesparkresortguide.bandcamp.com

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. It’s a gift to know these mountain-inspired songs are finding their way into your lives.

Do you have a special Estes Park moment?

❄️ A snow-covered porch?
☕ A fireside meal?
🌲 A quiet trail at dusk?

Send it our way! We’ll pick one reader-submitted photo to feature in next week’s Trail Notes Newsletter, along with your name and photo credit.

📧 Submit your photo using this link: Estes Park Resort Guide – Photo & Video Submission Form

📅 Deadline: Friday, December 12 at 5 PM MT

📧 Email us: [email protected]
📱 Message us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstesParkResortGuide

“Never underestimate a warm bench and a thermos.”

December hiking isn't about miles—it's about moments.

The sun sits lower, the trails get quieter, and the best parts of the day are often found sitting still, not moving fast.

Pack a thermos of hot tea, cider, or mulled wine, and tuck it into your bag next to your gloves. Then find a bench—maybe one tucked along the Riverwalk, or overlooking frozen ponds near Knoll-Willows Open Space. Let the steam rise. Let your breath slow.

There’s a kind of stillness here that feels rare in the rest of the world.

And sometimes, the most memorable part of your hike… is the break.

The Way December Was Meant to Feel

Winter settles slowly in Estes Park. Not with a storm, but with stillness.

First comes the frost — quietly brushing rooftops and trail edges.

Then the quiet — a deeper silence that seems to rise from the mountains themselves.
And then… the glow.

The glow of porch lights flickering on before dinner. Of snow catching amber tones beneath old lampposts. Of windows lit from within, each one a story of warmth and stillness.

It’s the hush that comes after the wind. The pause before snowfall. The soft reminder that not everything has to move fast to matter.

This season doesn’t rush you. It invites you.

To walk slower. To breathe deeper. To pay attention to the beauty that usually passes us by.

Estes in December isn’t just a place to visit. It’s a feeling you carry long after you leave.

A way to remember what peace actually feels like — not as an escape, but as something you can return to.

Over and over again.

A: Snow.