Trail Notes Newsletter: When Spring Starts Showing Up

Everyone plans for Easter weekend.

But this?

This is the better week.

The visitors thin out just enough.
The town relaxes again.
And spring keeps moving forward.

If you want to experience Estes Park without pressure — this is your window.

Here’s a simple way to spend a day this week:

☕ Morning: Start at Coffee on the Rocks — quiet water, birds returning, slower energy.

🥾 Mid-Morning: Walk Lake Estes Trail (east side) — more wildlife movement, less foot traffic.

🍽 Lunch: Scratch Deli & Bakery — quick, solid, no wait.

🛍 Afternoon: Explore downtown at your own pace:

🌄 Evening: Drive toward Marys Lake or find a quiet pull-off along Highway 7.

No rush.
No crowd.
Just Estes being Estes.

We’ve crossed a threshold.

Runoff isn’t subtle anymore.
It’s alive.

Water levels are rising by the day, and that constant rush?
It’s becoming the soundtrack of the season.

Here’s where to feel it most:

Do this: Pause for a minute. Don’t move.

Just listen.

You can literally hear winter letting go.

Q: The more you have of me, the less you see.

What am I?

(Scroll to the bottom for the answer 👇)

As snow melts out at lower elevations, the story is changing.

Fewer tracks.
More actual sightings.

This is where things get interesting.

Here’s what to watch for right now:

What this means: We’re shifting from reading signs…to watching movement in real time.

Less guessing. More seeing.

Keep your head up—you’re more likely to spot something than track it.

This week? Early mornings are overrated.

If you want the best trail experience, give the day time to work its magic.

Here’s why afternoons are winning right now:

Best window: 2 PM → sunset

Let things thaw. Let the light improve.

Then head out.

You’ll feel the difference.

More access. More options. And finally… some real progress.

Here’s where things stand right now:

The bottom line?

Conditions are still mixed. You’ll hit some patchy spots.

But compared to last week… it’s noticeably better.

And that’s a big shift.

This might be the most underrated “activity” in Estes Park.

Sit.

No agenda. No destination. No rush.

Just be.

Spring here doesn’t ask you to do more— it invites you to slow down before everything speeds up again.

The rivers are running high.
The air is crisp.
The crowds haven’t arrived yet.

It’s the perfect moment to pause.

Best places to do nothing:

Let yourself linger a little longer than usual.

Because before the season fills up… this is your chance to simply be in it.

Watch the ground, not just the view.

Spring hiking isn’t about how far you go—it’s about how aware you are.

Conditions change fast this time of year:

It’s easy to get distracted by the scenery—but your footing matters just as much.

Slow your pace.
Pick your steps carefully.

Because this season isn’t about rushing to the destination…
it’s about moving safely through a landscape that’s constantly changing.

Into the Heart of Glacier Gorge

📍 Location: Black Lake – Rocky Mountain National Park
📅 Season: Summer alpine conditions
📷 Photographer: Rachel Stills

Some places in Rocky Mountain National Park feel earned.

Black Lake is one of them.

This week’s featured photo captures the rugged beauty of Black Lake, tucked deep within Glacier Gorge beneath towering, jagged peaks. Snow lingers along the rock walls, alpine water winds its way through the valley, and the landscape feels raw, untouched, and far removed from the crowds below.

There’s a quiet intensity here.

The kind that doesn’t rely on color or motion—just scale, silence, and the feeling of being surrounded by something much bigger than you.

The journey to Black Lake isn’t easy.
But that’s exactly what makes moments like this so powerful.

Because when you finally arrive…
it doesn’t feel like just another stop.

It feels like you’ve stepped into the wild heart of the park.

🙏 Thank you to Rachel Stills for capturing this incredible alpine scene.

📩 Have a moment like this to share?

Send your best Estes Park or Rocky Mountain National Park photos to
[email protected] — your image could be featured in an upcoming post or newsletter.

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.

Each session runs 4–5 hours, scheduled during the most powerful light of the day:

These are not “ride around and point” tours. They’re hands-on learning experiences focused on:

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:

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.

Spring has movement.

Water. Wind. Change.

That’s where the music shifts too.

🎧 https://estesparkresortguide.bandcamp.com

Appreciate you being part of it.

Have you captured the shift into spring?

✨ Maybe it was:
🌊 Moving water
🦌 Wildlife in transition
🥾 A trail coming back to life
🌤 Or that perfect late-afternoon light

📬 Submit your photo: Estes Park Resort Guide – Photo & Video Submission Form
📅 Deadline: Friday, April 17 at 5 PM MT

Selected photos may be featured in Trail Notes and Estes Park Resort Guide — with credit.

Tell us the story behind it. That’s what people remember.

Spring traffic is building.

Now is the time to be seen.

We’re featuring:

🏪 Local businesses
🎨 Artists & makers
🛍 Shops preparing for summer
📅 Events people should plan for now

📧 [email protected]
📱 facebook.com/EstesParkResortGuide

Let’s make sure people find you early.

After the Pause

Easter passes.
But the quiet doesn’t leave right away.

It lingers—just long enough to notice something shifting.

Not all at once.
Not dramatically.

But in small, steady ways.

The town feels a little lighter.
The trails a little more open.
The days begin to move again.

There’s a subtle return of energy—
a sense that the season is waking up.

This is the moment most people miss.
Caught between the holiday and the rush of summer.

But it might be the best part.

Because everything is still calm…
yet quietly coming back to life.

A: Darkness.