Trail Notes Newsletter: First Flakes, Lit Trails & Mountain Quiet

December marks the beginning of a magical transformation downtown. Twinkle lights now line Elkhorn Avenue, store windows glow with festive displays, and the Riverwalk shimmers beneath winter stars.

📍Where to Stroll:

🌲 Estes Park doesn’t just decorate—it enchants.

The town's official holiday season began Thanksgiving weekend, but the real magic continues with nightly lighting displays, carolers on select dates, and local shops dressed for the season.

🕯️ Best View: Corner of Elkhorn & Moraine by 6 PM

Q: I go up but never come down. What am I?

(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)

Yes, you can still hike! Lower elevation trails like Lily Lake, Fish Creek, and Lake Estes are beautiful and usually manageable with microspikes.

🧊 Trail Tip: Stick to midday hikes (11–2) when temps are highest.

The herds haven’t wandered far! In early December, expect elk along:

Hot from the oven and made to make your day:

 Live music is alive and well this month—indoors, cozy, and festive.

Still Waters, Mountain Majesty – Captured by Ed Greenwell

This week's image is a perfect portrait of Rocky Mountain calm.

Captured at Sprague Lake, the glassy surface reflects the towering peaks with such clarity it feels like a painting.

No wind, no rush—just morning stillness and mountain silence.

📍 Location: Sprague Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
🕯️ Conditions: Crystal-clear skies, early light
📷 Photographer: Ed Greenwell

Thank you, Ed, for sharing this breathtakingly peaceful 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 an amazing shot of fall in Estes Park?

🍁 A golden aspen trail?
🦌 A perfectly timed elk photo?
🎃 A festival moment you captured?

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, November 28 at 5 PM MT

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

“Microspikes, not snowshoes.”

Early December is that in-between season—deceptively beautiful but full of surprises underfoot. Trails may look clear at the trailhead, only to turn icy just a mile in. That’s why microspikes are a must this time of year. They're small, lightweight, and perfect for packed snow and hidden ice in shady sections of the canyon.

Save the snowshoes for deeper winter. Right now, grip matters more than flotation.

And don’t forget a thermos. There’s something about sipping hot cider at mile two, with frosted pines around you and your breath hanging in the air. It’s not just a trail snack—it’s a moment.

Estes Park in December whispers where October shouted.

Gone are the crowds. What’s left is crisp air, golden firelight, and snow beginning to settle like punctuation on the season.

This is the part most visitors miss—the quiet.

The sound of boots on the frozen trail. The steam rising from your coffee. The herd of elk moving like ghosts in the mist.

So take the long walk. Write the postcard. Savor the small things.

Because sometimes the magic of winter isn’t in what you do—it’s in how still you're willing to be.

A: Your age. 🎂