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Your insider’s guide to the best of Estes Park—brought to you by the Estes Park Resort Guide.
The space between holidays feels softer in Estes Park—perfect for reflection, fresh starts, and winter wonder.
✨ The Glow After Christmas: Estes Park Between the Holidays
The crowds have thinned. The lights still shine. And Estes Park settles into one of its most peaceful weeks of the year.
Though Christmas Day has passed, downtown Elkhorn Avenue continues to glow with soft lights, winter décor, and that unmistakable small-town charm.
It’s a gentler kind of magic now — slower, quieter, and perfect for reflection as the New Year approaches.
🕯️ Best Ways to Enjoy It:
Take an evening walk along the Riverwalk and watch the lights reflect on the water
Grab a warm drink and stroll downtown just after sunset
Pause on a bridge, look up at the stars, and let the year wind down naturally
This is Estes Park in the in-between — calm, glowing, and ready to welcome what’s next.
📰 This Week’s Top 5 Picks
🎿 1. Snowshoe Trails for the Quiet Week
Cub Lake Trail
Trade the bustle for fresh powder. Snowshoeing in RMNP is at its best this week—especially early mornings after snowfall.
🥾 Top Picks:
Bear Lake Loop (family friendly & scenic)
Cub Lake Trail (more solitude)
Bierstadt Moraine (best for sunrise glow)
📷 Tip: Bring a thermos and microspikes—some trails are mixed with packed ice.
🧩 Trail Notes Riddle of the Week
Q: I hang in silence, disappear by noon, and sparkle when the moonlight hits me.
What am I?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)
🛍️ 2. Post-Holiday Finds & Cozy Local Favorites
Hyk Mountain Lifestyle
The Trading Post
The rush is over — and this is one of the best weeks to explore Estes Park shops at a slower pace.
Whether you’re exchanging gifts, using holiday gift cards, or picking up something just for you, downtown is full of warm, winter-ready finds.
🛒 Worth a Stop This Week:
Hyk Mountain Lifestyle – sustainable layers and everyday mountain wear
The Trading Post – flannels, fleece, and cozy cold-weather style
Estes Park Sugar Shack – sweet treats and comfort snacks for winter days
🎁 Many shops still offer gift wrap and helpful exchanges, making this a relaxed and friendly time to browse, chat, and discover something new.
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you choose after the holidays — when the town is quieter and the season feels more personal.
🦌 3. Where to Spot Elk on Snowy Mornings
Captured by: John Hog
Even in deep winter, the elk haven’t vanished. In fact, they’re more often seen in townnow—especially during quiet mornings.
Hotspots This Week:
Lake Estes Trail – near the east dam around 8–9 AM
Golf Course edges – elk often lounge mid-morning
Fall River Entrance – just before sunrise
💡 Reminder: Keep dogs leashed and stay at least 75–100 ft away.
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☕ 4. Where to Warm Up After a Cold Walk
Coffee on the Rocks
Kind Coffee
Cold air, warm drinks—that’s the Estes way. Here’s where locals are heading to thaw out this week:
🔥 Warm-Up Spots:
Coffee on the Rocks – peppermint cocoa & lakeside views
Inkwell & Brew – maple cinnamon latte + live music corner
Kind Coffee – comfy couches + cinnamon tea
🎧 Tip: Bring headphones or a journal—it’s a great week for reflection.
🎶 5. Winter Soundtrack: Music Made in the Mountains
🎵 A Little Note About My Music
You’ve heard it in some of our recent posts—original mountain-inspired instrumentals made right here in Estes Park.
People kept asking where to find them… so now you can.
🎧 Listen here: estesparkresortguide.bandcamp.com
Thank you for all the love you’ve shown this little creative side project. ❄️❤️
📸 Featured Photo of the Week
Quiet Company — Captured by Jessica Payne
Captured by: Jessica Payne
A moose cow and her calf stand together in the soft light, surrounded by green forest and still water — a gentle reminder of how closely life in Estes Park stays connected to the land.
There’s no rush in this moment. Just awareness. Protection. Presence.
The kind of quiet that speaks without needing words.
Scenes like this remind us that even as the year winds down, the rhythms of nature continue — steady, watchful, and deeply grounding.
📍 Location: Rocky Mountain National Park
🕯️ Conditions: Clear, mid-day light
📷 Photographer: Jessica Payne
Thank you, Jessica, for sharing this serene and stunning moment with the Trail Notes community.
🎵 A Little Note About My Music
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.
📣 Want to Be Featured in Our Holiday Editions?
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 19 at 5 PM MT
📧 Email us: [email protected]
📱 Message us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EstesParkResortGuide
💡 Trail Notes Pro Tip of the Week
“Snow reveals what feet forget.”
Fresh powder turns the ground into a living map. Elk paths crossing meadows. Fox prints stitching the edges of the trail. Rabbit tracks looping back on themselves. Even the quiet possibility of a mountain lion passing through unseen.
Slow your pace this week. Look down before you move on. Notice where others traveled, paused, or turned back.
Every track is a story — and once your boots pass through, it’s gone.
Let the trail speak first.
Winter hasn’t reached its deepest point yet, but this quiet stretch before the New Year carries a rhythm all its own. The lights have dimmed. The crowds have eased. What remains is space — to breathe, to notice, to reset.
This is your moment.
Take the trail just after sunrise, when the world feels untouched. Sip your coffee outdoors, even if it means gloves and a cold nose.
Listen to how the snow softens everything — footsteps, voices, and the thoughts you’ve been carrying a little too tightly.
Winter isn’t only about cold. It’s about clarity.
We hope Estes Park gives you the pause you’ve been looking for — and the calm to step into what comes next.
✅ Riddle Answer:
A: Frost