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Thumbnail Photo Credit: Captured by Brian Stanley
Your insider’s guide to the best of Estes Park—brought to you by the Estes Park Resort Guide.
Daylight stretches, rivers rise, and Estes Park starts feeling the shift toward spring.
🌟 Daylight Is Winning
This week marks one of the quiet turning points of the season.
The sun lingers a little longer each evening.
Shadows stretch farther across the valley.
And the light itself feels stronger.
With Daylight Saving Time beginning March 8, evenings in Estes Park suddenly open up. Walks that once felt rushed now unfold beneath softer skies and longer golden hours.
And you can feel it.
The season is slowly shifting.
Where to enjoy the extra evening light this week:
📍 Lake Estes Trail (west side): Sunset light spreads across the water while the mountains catch the last golden glow.
📍 Stanley Hotel hillside overlook: Golden hour spills across the valley with Longs Peak standing quietly above town.
📍 Knoll-Willows Open Space: Wide skies, open fields, and calm evening air that makes it easy to linger a little longer.
March mornings still carry winter’s bite.
But the evenings?
They’re beginning to soften.
And in the mountains, a little extra daylight changes everything.
📰 This Week’s Top 5 Picks
🌬 1. Windy Season Is Here — Best Wind-Sheltered Walks
March is one of the windiest months in Estes Park. Gusts can arrive quickly, especially in open valleys and above tree line.
But a few places stay naturally protected thanks to terrain and forest cover — perfect for a peaceful walk when the wind starts to pick up.
Sprague Lake Loop: This easy loop is surrounded by dense forest, helping block much of the wind while still offering beautiful views across the lake.
Endovalley Road (walk-in section): The canyon walls here create a natural wind barrier, making it one of the calmer places to walk when conditions are blustery elsewhere.
Lower Fall River Road: Tall pines and the winding road corridor help reduce exposure, creating a surprisingly sheltered stretch inside Rocky Mountain National Park.
Trail Tip: Before heading above tree line or onto exposed ridges, take a quick look at current wind speeds. Conditions can change quickly in the mountains.
Sometimes the best adventure is simply choosing the trail that lets you enjoy the day comfortably.
🧩 Trail Notes Riddle of the Week
Q: What can run all day… but never gets tired?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)
🌱 2. First Signs of Green (Yes, Already)
Wildflowers are still weeks away.
But if you slow down and look closely, the first quiet signs of spring are already beginning to appear.
On south-facing slopes — where the sun lingers a little longer each day — small patches of green are starting to push through the dormant grass.
A few places where this subtle shift is easiest to notice:
Upper Beaver Meadows: Open meadows that catch early sunlight often show the first hints of fresh growth.
Lily Lake perimeter: South-facing sections of the trail begin to soften as winter slowly loosens its grip.
Lake Estes east bank: Sheltered edges of the shoreline sometimes reveal tiny grasses and early buds testing the air.
You won’t see fields of color yet.
But these early greens are the mountains’ quiet way of saying:
Spring is on its way.
🦅 3. Raptors Are Active
As the snow begins to recede across the valley floor, small animals become easier to spot — and the birds of prey know it.
This is one of the most active times of year to watch raptors in Estes Park.
Look up over open meadows and lakeshores and you may notice:
Red-tailed hawks: Often circling slowly above open fields, riding the rising air currents as they search for movement below.
Bald eagles: Frequently seen near Lake Estes, where open water and shoreline activity attract hunting birds.
American kestrels: Watch for them hovering above roadside fields, wings fluttering as they hold perfectly still in the wind before dropping toward prey.
Wildlife Tip: Early morning is often the best time to watch. As the sun warms the ground, rising thermals help lift these birds effortlessly into the sky.
And once you start looking up…
You’ll notice them everywhere.
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🌄 4. The Return of Golden Hour
One of the quiet gifts of March is the return of longer evening light.
Sunsets are beginning to stretch later into the evening, and that extra daylight creates some of the most beautiful golden-hour moments of the season.
Snow still clings to higher peaks while the lower valleys begin to soften — a contrast that makes the evening light especially dramatic.
A few places where the light tends to shine this time of year:
Many Parks Curve: Late-day sun spills across Moraine Park while Longs Peak glows in the distance.
Upper Beaver Meadows Road: Wide open views allow the evening light to spread across the valley floor.
Lake Estes shoreline: As the sun drops behind the mountains, the water often catches soft reflections of the changing sky.
March sunsets arrive quietly.
But if you pause long enough to watch them, you’ll notice the season slowly shifting toward spring.
🧭 5. Planning Ahead: Timed Entry Returns Soon
Summer will be here before you know it.
And with it comes one of the most important things to plan for when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park — timed entry permits.
RMNP typically reinstates the Timed Entry Reservation System in late May, which means access to some areas of the park will require advance planning.
That’s why March is the perfect time to get ahead of the crowds.
Use these quieter weeks to start mapping out your summer adventures:
Identify the hikes you’ve been wanting to do
Research trail difficulty and elevation gain
Decide which areas of the park you want to prioritize
Check which corridors may require timed entry access
A little planning now can make a big difference later.
Because once summer arrives, parking fills early, permits go quickly, and last-minute plans become harder to pull off.
Think of March as the strategy month for your Rocky Mountain adventures.
Plan ahead now… and when summer arrives, you’ll be ready to hit the trail instead of scrambling for a reservation. 🌲🏔️
💡 Trail Notes Pro Tip of the Week
Start Later. Stay Longer.
March days in the mountains have their own rhythm.
Early mornings are often icy and quiet.
By late morning, the sun begins to soften the trails.
And by evening, the light turns golden across the peaks.
Instead of chasing sunrise this time of year, consider shifting your timing.
Try this approach:
Late-morning trail starts — after the sun has had time to loosen frozen ground
Afternoon scenic drives — when the light opens up the valleys and ridgelines
Early evening lake walks — when the water reflects the last color of the day
March rewards patience.
Let the sun warm the landscape first.
Then step out and enjoy the mountains when they’re at their most comfortable.
Sometimes the best strategy is simple:
Start a little later… and stay a little longer. 🌲
📸 Featured Photo of the Week
Bierstadt Lake in August — Captured by Joe Kohls
Captured by: Joe Kohls
📍 Location: Bierstadt Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park
📅 Conditions: August 12, 2025, timeless beauty that rewards those who slow down and simply take it in.
📷 Photographer: Joe Kohls
Some places don’t just invite you in. They stay with you.
This week’s featured photo was taken along the east banks of Bierstadt Lake, looking west across the water toward the Continental Divide. The sky stretches wide. The shoreline grasses glow in late-summer green. And the peaks rise steady beyond the reflection.
There’s something about Bierstadt Lake that feels timeless.
Maybe it’s the way the water mirrors the mountains so cleanly you can’t tell where earth ends and sky begins.
Maybe it’s the quiet perimeter trail that lets you walk the entire shoreline, never rushing, never crowded like some of the park’s more famous stops.
Or maybe it’s simply this — Bierstadt rewards those who linger.
Joe and his family return to Rocky Mountain National Park year after year, often parking at the Bierstadt Trailhead (when construction allows) or hiking in from Bear Lake. It’s their favorite hike in the park — and you can see why.
This isn’t a dramatic alpine summit shot. It’s something better.
It’s calm. Balanced. Grounded.
A late-summer evening where the mountains reflect perfectly, the water rests still, and the moment asks nothing of you except that you notice it.
Thank you, Joe, for sharing this beautiful perspective and for being part of the RMNP community that keeps coming back.
📩 Have a powerful moment from Estes Park or RMNP to share? Email your photo to [email protected] — I’d love to feature it in an upcoming post or newsletter!
📸 Local Spotlight: Photosbybrian — Guided Photography in RMNP
If you’ve ever looked at a wildlife shot from Rocky Mountain National Park and thought, “How do you even get that?”
This is the guy you want to talk to.
Brian Stanley of Photosbybrian isn’t offering a casual sightseeing tour. His guided sessions are built for photographers who genuinely want to improve — the ones asking about settings, light direction, positioning, animal behavior, and timing.
🦌 What Makes His Tours Different
Brian keeps his groups intentionally small.
Maximum of 6 people
Prefers 4 or fewer
Private sessions available
Each session runs 4–5 hours, scheduled during the most powerful light of the day:
🌅 Early morning at sunrise
🌄 Late afternoon into sunset
These are not “ride around and point” tours. They’re hands-on learning experiences focused on:
Wildlife photography (all species)
Landscape composition
Reading light in the mountains
Anticipating animal movement
As a licensed guide in Rocky Mountain National Park, Brian works primarily on both the east and west sides of the park. He grew up spending summers on the west side and knows that terrain intimately — not just where to go, but when and why.
🎓 Beyond the Park
Brian is also a Photography Mentor through The Camera School, offering deeper training for photographers looking to sharpen skills in:
Wildlife
Sports
Portraits
If you’re serious about improving — not just collecting snapshots — this is mentorship-level guidance.
🌐 Connect with Brian
Website: www.photosbybrian.net
Facebook: Photosbybrian
Instagram: @photosbybrianstanley
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-827-5272
Brian will be in Estes next week and would love to introduce himself in person if you're around.
If you've been asking yourself how to elevate your photography in RMNP — this might be the sign to step out at sunrise and find out.
🎵 A Little Note About My Music
The changing seasons are where most of my melodies begin.
That quiet stretch between winter and spring — it has its own rhythm.
If you’ve been listening, thank you.
If you’re curious, you can find everything here: 🎧 www.soundsofestes.com
These mountain-inspired pieces continue to surprise me with how far they travel.
And I’m grateful.
📸 Want to Be Featured in Trail Notes?
Did you capture a magical moment in Estes Park?
✨ Maybe it was:
🌬 Wind-swept ridgelines
🌊 Snowmelt carving through rock
🦅 A hawk mid-flight
🌅 Or that first longer sunset
📬 Submit your photo here: Estes Park Resort Guide – Photo & Video Submission Form
📅 Deadline: Friday, March 13 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 March in Trail Notes
Spring is coming. Visibility matters.
We’re booking March feature spots for:
🏪 Local businesses preparing for summer
🎨 Artists launching new collections
🛍️ Shops transitioning inventory
📅 Events returning for warmer months
Let’s help people discover what you’re building.
The Stretch
There’s something quietly powerful about this time of year.
The light is returning.
March doesn’t burst into color the way spring eventually will.
It doesn’t rush in with dramatic change.
It stretches.
The day grows a little longer.
The sky lingers a little later.
Shadows soften across the landscape.
You start to notice it in small ways — a warmer glow at sunset, a trail that holds light just a few minutes more than it did last week.
It’s subtle.
But meaningful.
Because sometimes all it takes is a little more light to remind you that something new is on the way. 🌲
✅ Riddle Answer:
A: A river.