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Your insider’s guide to the best of Estes Park—brought to you by the Estes Park Resort Guide.
President’s Day weekend brings fresh snow, fresh events, and new ways to fall in love with Estes Park winter.
🌟 President’s Day Weekend in Estes Park
This three-day weekend is your invitation to experience Estes Park at its quiet, snow-dusted best. Fewer crowds. Crisp mornings. Big winter light on the peaks. It’s the kind of mini-getaway that actually lets you exhale.
🗓️ What’s Happening This Weekend
Free Park Entry – Monday (Feb 16): In honor of Presidents’ Day, Rocky Mountain National Park waives entrance fees. Arrive early, layer up, and enjoy the stillness before the day warms.
Indoor Family Fun: Warm up with programs at the Estes Valley Library or catch a cozy matinee at the historic Park Theatre.
Cabin Cozying: Winter rates are still in play. Think fireplaces, falling snow, and a hot tub under the stars.
📍 Local Tip: While Trail Ridge Road remains closed, the drive to Many Parks Curve is open—and it delivers one of the best winter photo ops in the park.
✨ Why Go Now? Because winter in Estes is quieter, slower, and surprisingly magical. If you’ve ever wanted the mountains mostly to yourself—this is your window.
📰 This Week’s Top 5 Picks
❄️ 1. Best “Snow Day” Trails for the Long Weekend
Want a winter walk that feels peaceful—not punishing?
These routes offer big scenery with gentler grades, making them ideal for a long weekend stroll (snowshoes optional, vibes guaranteed):
Cub Lake Trailhead – A favorite for good reason: quiet forest stretches that open into wide, snowy meadows. Flat, scenic, and serene.
Moraine Park Loop – Expansive views, frequent wildlife sightings, and wide paths that feel forgiving even after fresh snow.
Lily Ridge Trail – Short, slightly crunchy in spots, but the payoff views over Estes make every careful step worth it.
🧊 Trail Notes Pro Tip: Snowshoes aren’t always necessary right now, but microspikes are a must. Hit the trail early for firmer footing—and quieter moments before the crowds wake up.
🧩 Trail Notes Riddle of the Week
Q: I can be cracked, made, told, and played.
What am I?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)
🧣 2. Where to Gear Up for Winter Adventures
No winter gear? No worries. Estes Park has you covered with trusted local outfitters who know the trails and the conditions better than anyone:
Estes Park Mountain Shop – The go-to for value and variety. Huge inventory, fair prices, and everything from microspikes to insulated boots.
HYK – Premium brands, serious mountain knowledge, and staff who actually use the gear they sell.
Kirks Flyshop – Not just for fishing. They rent snowshoes and are a goldmine for real-time winter trail recommendations.
🧤 Local Pro Tip: Always ask about current trail conditions when you’re in the shop. Their intel is often more up to date than anything you’ll find online—and can make or break your winter hike.
🌌 3. Winter Stargazing: Clear Skies, No Bugs
February nights in Estes Park are made for stargazing—cold, quiet, and wonderfully dark. With thinner crowds and crystal-clear air, the stars feel closer this time of year.
🌠 Best Spots for a Night Lookout:
Lake Estes Trail (east end) – Easy access, open sky, and far enough from town lights for solid views.
Upper Beaver Meadows – Roads closed to cars in winter, but open to foot traffic—extra quiet and extra dark.
Endovalley Road turnaround – Wide horizons and minimal light pollution make this a favorite for Milky Way watchers.
🥶 Stargazer Pro Tip: Dress warmer than you think you need. Bring a thermos, move slowly, and use a red-light headlamp to protect your night vision. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adjust—and let the sky do the rest.
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🖼️ 4. Winter Art That Warms the Soul
When the temperatures dip, Estes Park’s art scene turns up the warmth. Winter is one of the best times to explore local galleries—quiet, cozy, and full of seasonal inspiration pulled straight from the mountains.
🎨 Don’t Miss These Stops:
Earthwood Collections – Striking woodwork, sculptural pieces, and nature-inspired art that feels grounded and timeless—perfect for winter moods.
The Art Center of Estes – Their current “Winter Color” group show proves that cold seasons don’t mean muted palettes. Expect bold, surprising takes on winter landscapes.
Images of Rocky Mountain National Park – Photographer Erik Stensland’s newest glacier-focused series is a must-see—powerful, quiet, and deeply connected to RMNP.
📸 Gallery Pro Tip: Go midweek. You’ll often have the space to yourself, time to talk with gallery staff, and the chance to really feel the art without distractions.
Perfect for a slow afternoon, a warm-up break, or a reminder that winter here inspires more than just snow.
🛷 5. Family-Friendly Snow Fun (No Skis Required)
Not everyone wants to strap on skis—and in Estes Park, you don’t have to. Winter fun here is simple, accessible, and perfect for kids (and kids at heart).
🏂 Where to Play:
YMCA of the Rockies – A guest favorite. The tubing hill is free for overnight guests and day-pass holders, making it an easy win for families.
Hidden Valley Picnic Area – Old-school winter fun: bring your own sled, build snowmen, and let the kids burn off energy in wide-open space.
Stanley Park – Open hills, room to roam, and perfect for casual sledding when conditions are right.
🍫 Sweet Finish: Wrap up the day with hot cocoa and fresh cinnamon rolls from Cinnamon’s Bakery (hours vary in winter—worth checking ahead).
Low effort. Big smiles. Exactly how winter family days should feel in Estes.
💡 Trail Notes Pro Tip of the Week
Chase the sun—but respect the shade.
February’s longer days are a gift, but winter still plays by its own rules. Just because the sun is out doesn’t mean the trail is thawed—especially in canyon corridors and forested stretches.
Here’s how to hike smarter this week:
☀️ Follow the sun. West-facing trails warm up faster and often offer better footing by late morning.
❄️ Watch the shadows. North-facing routes and shaded sections can stay icy well into the afternoon—even on bluebird days.
🥾 Know your timing. A trail that feels fine at noon can refreeze fast once the sun dips.
Plan your route with sunlight in mind—it can be the difference between an easy stroll and a slick surprise.
📅 Bonus: Sunset times are creeping later this week. Bring one extra layer, slow your pace, and enjoy those lingering golden minutes before heading back.
📸 Featured Photo of the Week
Moraine Park at Sunrise — Captured by Christy Marie
Captured by: Christy Marie
Some moments don’t rush in with noise or grandeur.
They simply arrive — glowing, quiet, and full of presence.
In this week’s featured photo, the golden grasses of Moraine Park catch first light as the sky ignites in fiery orange. A winding stream mirrors the sunrise, glowing like molten glass as it cuts gently through the valley. The mountains wait in shadow, still and strong — letting the light speak first.
Nothing here feels urgent.
The stream flows at its own pace.
The landscape breathes in slow time.
And the rising sun does what it always does — paints the day into being.
This is Rocky Mountain National Park at its most poetic — not frozen in winter, not yet fully spring. Just suspended in a moment of deep balance.
📍 Location: Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park
🌄 Conditions: Sunrise, early spring light, dry grasses, glowing sky
📷 Photographer: Christy Marie
Thank you, Christy, for this beautiful reminder that sometimes the quiet is the whole point.
📩 Have a stunning moment from Estes Park or RMNP to share? Email your photo to me at [email protected]— I’d love to feature it in an upcoming post or newsletter!
🎵 A Little Note About My Music
Over the last few years, I’ve been creating simple instrumental music inspired by Estes Park?
RMNP—the seasons, the quiet moments, and the calm that lives between the mountains. It started as something personal, 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. 🎧www.soundsofestes.com
Thank you for listening. It truly means a lot. ❤️
📸 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 19 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, Wide Open
February in Estes doesn’t shout — it whispers.
It’s not just the views that take your breath away. It’s the space.
Fewer cars.
Fewer footsteps.
More sky. More stillness.
This is the season made for noticing:
🦌 Elk moving like shadows across frozen fields.
☁️ Steam curling off the river as sunlight breaks the cold.
🌄 One golden window glowing in a sea of blue dawn.
Let it hush the noise.
Let it stretch the silence.
Let it remind you how beautiful it is to simply be.
This is winter — wide open, and waiting.
✅ Riddle Answer:
A: A joke