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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.
The snow is retreating, the trails are changing, and Estes Park is waking up one thaw at a time.
🌟 Mud Season Is Here (And That’s a Good Thing)
Locals know this season well.
It’s not postcard-perfect. It’s not polished.
It’s real.
March in Estes Park is the quiet transition between winter and spring. Snowbanks begin to soften, the ground slowly reappears beneath the melt, and rivers start running stronger with fresh mountain runoff.
Trails turn a little muddy. Boots get a little dirtier.
But something important is happening.
The mountains are resetting.
Water is moving again. The forest floor is waking up.
And the valley begins preparing for the green season ahead.
If you slow down and look around, this in-between time has its own kind of beauty.
Here are a few places where you can feel the shift happening:
📍MacGregor Ranch area — Wide open meadows where winter grasses and early spring textures start to reappear across the valley floor.
📍 Riverwalk after a warm afternoon — The Big Thompson runs a little higher, the sound of moving water fills the valley, and the air carries that unmistakable early-spring freshness.
📍Lower Fall River Road — As the forest floor emerges, you can start to see the first hints of the season turning.
Mud season isn’t glamorous.
But it’s alive.
And in Estes Park, that’s part of what makes it beautiful.
📰 This Week’s Top 5 Picks
🌾 1. Wide-Open Meadow Walks
It’s been a lighter winter around Estes Park this year, and many of the lower valley meadows are already open and easy to explore.
Instead of deep snow, you’ll find open grasslands, big sky views, and the quiet feeling of the mountains beginning to shift toward spring.
These meadow areas are perfect for a relaxed walk, wildlife watching, or simply stretching your legs without committing to a full trail hike.
Great meadow walks right now:
Homestead Meadows (Hermit Park area) — Quiet rolling meadows with peaceful views and plenty of room to wander.
Stanley Park open field loop — An easy stroll through one of Estes Park’s broadest open spaces with beautiful mountain backdrops.
Upper Beaver Meadows — One of the best sunny valley spots, where elk and deer are often seen moving across the open grasslands.
Expect dry sections, occasional damp patches in low areas, and those expansive valley views that make meadow walks around Estes Park feel so peaceful this time of year.
🧩 Trail Notes Riddle of the Week
Q: I have branches, but no fruit, trunk, or leaves.
What am I?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)
🐦 2. Migratory Birds Are Returning
By mid-March, something subtle begins to change around Estes Park.
The air gets a little livelier.
If you slow down and listen, you’ll start hearing new sounds in the trees and along the water — the early signs of spring migration returning to the valley.
A few species to watch and listen for:
Mountain bluebirds — often spotted around open meadows and fence lines, their bright blue color standing out against the lingering winter landscape.
Red-winged blackbirds — gathering near marshy areas and ponds, their unmistakable call one of the classic sounds of early spring.
Canada geese — arriving in larger numbers around Lake Estes, where the open water becomes a resting spot during migration.
Early mornings tend to be the most active time for bird movement, when the valley is still quiet and the light is soft.
Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them — spotting the small flashes of movement in the trees becomes much easier once you slow down and start looking.
🚲 3. Shoulder-Season Biking Begins
As the days grow longer and the roads begin to dry out, cyclists start returning to the Estes Valley.
It’s not quite peak biking season yet, but the first signs of it are here — a few riders on the roads, quiet stretches of pavement, and that familiar rhythm of wheels rolling again after winter.
Early spring riding can be especially enjoyable this time of year. Traffic is lighter, the air is crisp, and the surrounding mountains still hold the last touches of winter.
Good routes to ease back into the season:
Lake Estes Trail loop — A smooth, scenic ride around Lake Estes, perfect for a relaxed spin with beautiful mountain views.
Highway 7 (southbound) — A popular route for experienced cyclists heading out of town. Ride single file and stay alert for vehicles.
Marys Lake Road — A quieter option during low-traffic hours with gentle elevation changes and wide views of the valley.
Early-season conditions can still bring sand and gravel along the road shoulders, so take corners slowly and ride cautiously.
March isn’t peak biking season.
But around Estes Park, it’s the beginning of the comeback. 🚴♂️
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🏔 4. Snow Still Up High — View It from the Valley
It’s been a drier winter in Estes Park this year, and around town the landscape is already showing more brown grass than snow.
But look up toward the peaks and you’ll see a different story.
Higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park are still holding onto snow, creating dramatic mountain views even while the valley floor begins shifting toward spring.
Even though Trail Ridge Road remains closed for the season, you don’t need to hike through snow to enjoy the alpine scenery.
A few easy places to take in the high-country views:
Many Parks Curve — One of the park’s most famous overlooks with sweeping views across multiple valleys and snow-dusted peaks.
Sheep Lakes — A wide open area where the mountains rise sharply above the meadow, often with wildlife nearby.
Lumpy Ridge — Easily admired from several spots around downtown Estes Park, where the granite cliffs catch beautiful morning and evening light.
You don’t have to hike high into the backcountry to enjoy the snow this time of year.
Sometimes the best view of winter… is simply looking up at the mountains from the valley below.
🧘 5. Quiet Reset Spots Before Tourist Season
There’s a brief window in Estes Park each year when the town feels especially calm.
Winter is fading.
Spring visitors haven’t fully arrived.
It’s one of the last chances to enjoy the valley at a slower pace before spring break and summer travel begin to pick up.
If you’re looking for a peaceful moment, these spots are perfect for slowing down and taking it all in:
Lake Estes Marina overlook benches — A quiet place to watch the lake, the surrounding peaks, and the morning light moving across the water.
Estes Park Riverwalk before 9 AM — Early mornings along the river are calm and reflective, with the sound of flowing water replacing the usual daytime bustle.
Knoll-Willows Open Space overlook at sunset — One of the best spots in town for wide valley views as the evening light softens across the mountains.
Bring a cup of coffee. Sit a little longer than you planned.
These quiet moments are part of what makes early spring in Estes Park so special.
And they won’t last forever.
💡 Trail Notes Pro Tip of the Week
Respect the Melt
March afternoons bring a quiet but important change across the Estes Valley.
As the sun warms the ground, trails begin to soften. What looks firm in the morning can quickly turn muddy by afternoon, especially in shaded areas and along lower elevation paths.
This early thaw is part of the mountains waking up—but it’s also one of the most fragile times of year for local trails.
A few simple habits make a big difference:
Stay centered on the trail — even if it’s muddy. Walking around soft spots widens the trail and causes long-term damage.
Avoid stepping onto thawing ground beside the trail, where plants and soil are especially vulnerable.
Clean your boots before leaving trailheads to help prevent spreading seeds and debris between areas.
Mud season may not look dramatic, but it’s an important transition for the landscape.
How we walk now helps protect the trails we’ll all enjoy this summer.
📸 Featured Photo of the Week
A Quiet Moment After the Storm — Captured by Cindy True
Captured by: Cindy True
📍 Location: Estes Park Riverwalk
📅 Conditions: Last week’s snowstorm
📷 Photographer: Cindy True
Some winter scenes in Estes Park arrive quietly.
Not with dramatic mountain views or sweeping landscapes — but in the small details you notice when you slow down.
This week’s featured photo captures one of those moments along the Riverwalk after last week’s snowstorm. Branch after branch is layered in fresh snow, turning an ordinary riverside tree into a delicate pattern of white and dark lines against the soft winter sky.
For a brief time, the Riverwalk felt especially still.
The kind of calm that settles in after snowfall, when the town grows quieter and even familiar places feel new again.
Moments like this don’t last long. A little sunshine, a few warmer afternoons, and the snow slips away as quickly as it arrived.
But for a morning or two, Estes Park holds that quiet winter beauty — simple, peaceful, and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
Thank you to Cindy True for sharing this beautiful reminder of how a single snowfall can transform an everyday scene along the Riverwalk.
📩 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
Mud season has a sound.
Drips from rooftops.
Wind through bare branches.
Water cutting through thawing banks.
That rhythm shows up in the music.
If you’ve been listening — thank you.
📸 Want to Be Featured in Trail Notes?
Did you capture a muddy trail moment? A returning bird? A thawing lake?
✨ Maybe it was:
🐦 First migratory bird sighting
🌾 Snow receding from open meadow
🚲 A quiet bike ride comeback
🌤 Or golden light on patchy snow
📬 Submit your photo here: Estes Park Resort Guide – Photo & Video Submission Form
📅 Deadline: Friday, March 20 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 momentum is building.
If you’re:
🏪 Launching something new
🎨 Preparing seasonal inventory
🛍 Transitioning shop displays
📅 Hosting an event
Let’s spotlight it before the busy season hits.
Let’s help people discover what you’re building.
Not Pretty. Still Powerful.
March in the mountains doesn’t try to impress anyone.
It isn’t the season of wildflowers or golden aspens.
It isn’t deep winter snow or postcard-perfect views.
Instead, it’s something quieter.
The season of change.
Snow recedes from the valley floor.
Rivers begin to run stronger.
The landscape slowly prepares itself for what comes next.
It may not look dramatic.
But it’s powerful in its own way.
This is the stretch of the year when the mountains reset — when the landscape breathes out winter and quietly prepares for spring.
And if you slow down long enough to notice it…
You might find yourself resetting too.
✅ Riddle Answer:
A: A bank.