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Your insider’s guide to the best of Estes Park—brought to you by the Estes Park Resort Guide.
February in Estes brings bluebird skies, fresh powder, and the kind of quiet that fills the soul. Here's what not to miss this week.
🌟 Warming Huts, Fireside Views & the Best Places to Thaw Out
Even the hardiest winter hikers need a moment to warm up—and Estes Park has some wonderfully cozy spots to do just that.
This week, we’re highlighting a few favorite places around town where you can peel off your gloves, wrap your hands around something hot, and watch the snow fall outside.
🔥 Where to Thaw Out:
Estes Valley Library — A stone fireplace, quiet corners, and big windows that invite you to slow down. Free, peaceful, and perfectly cozy.
The Barrel — Patio heaters, hot drinks, and après-hike vibes (21+). A favorite stop after a cold day outside.
Estes Park Visitor Center Lounge — Often overlooked, but reliably warm and welcoming. A great reset spot between adventures.
YMCA of the Rockies — Multiple lobby fireplaces, soaring windows, and plenty of space to sit and soak it all in. Open to the public.
Winter in Estes isn’t just about braving the cold—it’s about finding warmth in between.
Sometimes the best part of the hike isn’t the trail itself… it’s the recovery afterward. 🔥❄️
Stay warm out there, and don’t forget to build in time to thaw out.
📰 This Week’s Top 5 Picks
🥾 1. Under-the-Radar Winter Trails
Hollowell Park
Looking to escape the crowds and experience winter the way locals do?
These quieter trails trade popularity for peace—offering snowy solitude, big views, and that hushed mountain magic February does best.
✅ Try These This Week:
East Portal Trail — Gentle elevation, solid tree cover, and a calm, steady walk that feels especially peaceful after fresh snowfall.
Aspen Brook Trail — A scenic favorite that often flies under the radar, with long stretches of quiet and beautiful winter light.
Hollowell Park to Mill Creek Basin — One of those routes that feels like stepping inside a snow globe, especially in mid-winter.
🧊 Winter Tip: Pack microspikes, dress in layers, and plan for cold starts—early mornings can dip near 10°F. The payoff? Empty trails and unforgettable stillness.
This is winter hiking at its best: slower, quieter, and deeply rewarding.
🧩 Trail Notes Riddle of the Week
Q: I vanish every time you mention me.
What am I?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)
☕ 2. Best Spots for a Late-Winter Brunch
Claire’s on the Park
Cold air outside. Warm plates on the table. And best of all—no waitlists.
Late-winter brunch in Estes Park is one of the season’s best-kept secrets.
When the town slows down, these local favorites shine.
🍳 Local Favorites:
Claire’s on the Park — Cozy fireplace seating and cinnamon apple pancakes that feel like a hug after a cold morning.
Big Horn Restaurant — Classic country breakfasts, strong coffee, and the kind of local conversation that makes you linger.
Notchtop Bakery & Café — Fresh pastries, solid vegetarian options, and a relaxed, unhurried vibe.
🪟 Local Tip: Ask for a window seat. The February light in Estes Park is soft, golden, and quietly beautiful—perfect for easing into the day.
Winter brunch here isn’t rushed. It’s meant to be savored.
🐾 3. Wildlife in the Snow
Cub Lake Trailhead
Winter doesn’t quiet the park—it reveals it.
With fewer crowds and wide-open landscapes, this season is one of the best times to spot wildlife moving through snowy meadows and along frozen waterways.
Elk, coyotes, and winter birds are especially active during the warmer daylight hours.
🦌 Wildlife Watch Spots:
Fall River Corridor — Elk often feed near open water, especially after fresh snowfall.
Lake Estes Loop — A reliable winter route for birdwatchers, with bald eagle sightings common this time of year.
Cub Lake Trailhead — Early mornings can reward patient observers with coyotes moving quietly across the snow.
📸 Wildlife Tip: Bring binoculars or a zoom lens, move slowly, and give animals plenty of space. Winter sightings are about stillness, timing, and letting the landscape reveal what’s already there.
In winter, the mountains feel quieter—but the wild is very much alive.
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🎨 4. Estes Park’s Winter Art Scene
Cabin fever happens—but Estes Park has a cure. Winter is one of the best times to step inside the town’s galleries and studios, where creativity is warm, personal, and deeply inspired by the surrounding landscape.
With fewer crowds, you can actually linger, talk with artists, and take it all in.
🖼️ This Week’s Creative Highlights:
Earthwood Artisans — Nature-inspired pottery, stonework, and winter jewelry that feels rooted in the Rockies.
The Studio Fine Art & Framing — Striking local winter landscapes in oil, capturing the quiet drama of the season.
The Village Gallery — Handmade woodwork and detailed wildlife carvings that reflect mountain life.
👩🎨 Insider Tip: Several artists offer live demonstrations on Saturdays. Just ask when you arrive—those moments often become the highlight of the visit.
Winter in Estes isn’t just about the outdoors. It’s also about slowing down and letting art tell the story of the season.
🎿 5. Try a New Winter Skill This Weekend
February is a sweet spot in Estes Park—fewer crowds, steady snow, and just enough winter left to try something new without the pressure of peak season.
Winter here isn’t about rushing. It’s about leaning in.
🌨️ New Skills to Try Locally:
Cross-country skiing — Glide through quiet forests at the YMCA of the Rockies or Hidden Valley, where the pace is calm and the scenery does most of the work.
Intro to ice climbing — Offered by Estes Park Mountain Shop (weather dependent), this is a chance to safely test your limits and see winter from a whole new angle.
Nature journaling along the Big Thompson — Bundle up, find a quiet stretch near the frozen river, and sketch or write what you notice. Winter reveals details summer hides.
👟 Winter Reminder: This season isn’t idle—it’s intentional. Slower. Quieter. And perfect for learning something new.
Sometimes the best adventures begin when you decide to try instead of waiting for spring.
💡 Trail Notes Pro Tip of the Week
Don’t wait for perfect conditions—dress for the ones you’ve got.
February in the mountains is a masterclass in unpredictability. Snow at sunrise. Sun by midday. Slush by afternoon. The key isn’t perfect timing—it’s smart layering.
Pack for range: windproof gloves, a warm fleece layer, a water-resistant shell, and a dry backup pair of socks. Those small choices can turn a cold, uncomfortable outing into a surprisingly great one.
And don’t forget fuel. 🥜🍫
Winter hikes quietly burn more energy than you expect—cold temps, heavier gear, and uneven footing all add up. Snacks aren’t optional; they’re strategy.
Prepared hikers enjoy winter more. Simple as that.
📸 Featured Photo of the Week
Moonlit Stillness at Camp St. Malo — Captured by Kristina Joy
Captured by: Kristina Joy
Some scenes feel less like a photograph and more like a quiet invitation to pause.
Under a winter moon, the stone chapel at Camp St. Malo glows softly against the darkness, its warm light standing in gentle contrast to the shadowed peaks rising behind it.
The mountains loom large and silent, while the chapel rests below—steady, grounded, and timeless.
Nothing here is rushed. Nothing is asking for attention.
The light falls just enough to guide your eyes. The night holds everything else.
It’s the kind of moment that slows your breathing without you realizing it. A reminder that winter isn’t empty—it’s intentional. Still. Centering.
Scenes like this are why the Rockies feel so deeply grounding in the colder months.
Not loud. Not dramatic. Just quietly powerful.
📍 Location: Camp St. Malo, Allenspark, Colorado
❄️ Conditions: Clear winter night, moonlit skies
📷 Photographer: Kristina Joy
Thank you, Kristina, for this beautiful reminder that sometimes the quiet is the whole point.
Have a winter moment you’ve captured that deserves a pause like this? We’d love to feature the stillness you’re noticing out there.
🎵 A Little Note About My Music
Over time, I’ve been creating simple instrumental music inspired by Estes Park—the seasons, the quiet moments, and the calm that lives between the mountains. It started as something pers
onal, just for those peaceful pauses in the day.
I never expected anyone else to want it… but people kept asking.
So I gathered it all in one place, for anyone who wants to bring a little of Estes Park’s stillness with them. 🎧 estesparkresortguide.bandcamp.com
Thank you for listening, sharing, and supporting these quiet pieces. It truly means more than you know. ❤️
📸 Want to Be Featured in Trail Notes?
Did you capture a magical holiday moment in Estes Park? We’d love to see it—and share it with our community of mountain lovers.
✨ Maybe it was:
🎄 A snow-covered porch glowing with holiday lights
🥾 A quiet, peaceful moment on the trail
🦌 Wildlife caught in soft winter light
❄️ Or a scene that simply felt like Estes
📬 Submit your photo here: Estes Park Resort Guide – Photo & Video Submission Form
📅 Deadline: Friday, February 6 at 5 PM MT
Selected photos may be featured in an upcoming Trail Notes newsletter and on Estes Park Resort Guide—with credit to you.
📷 Have a story behind the shot? We’d love that too.
📣 Shine This February in Trail Notes
New month. New stories. New chances to be seen.
We’re now booking February feature spots for:
🏪 Local businesses doing something cool
🛍️ Downtown shops with seasonal finds
🎨 Artists, makers & musicians with winter magic
📅 Community events that deserve the spotlight
Whether you're hosting a workshop, launching something new, or just want people to know your story—we’re here to help share it.
📧 Send us a note: [email protected]
📱 Or message us on Facebook: facebook.com/EstesParkResortGuide
Let’s make February about more than cold days—let’s make it about connection.
We’d love to feature you. ✨
Winter isn’t the off-season here—it’s an invitation.
An invitation to pause.
To notice. To feel smaller… and somehow more complete.
This season rewards those who lean into it. The quiet trails. The low winter light. The moments that don’t demand your attention—they simply offer peace.
So go a little slower this week.
Notice your breath in the cold air.
Watch the shadows stretch across the snow.
Let the in-between moments show you how beautiful they can be.
Winter in Estes doesn’t rush.
And neither should you.
✅ Riddle Answer:
A: A secret.