Your vacation in Estes Park is going to be filled with adventures of all types, including, if you are so inclined, road trips just waiting to be taken. This part of Colorado is known for its stunning landscape, its wonderful attractions, and for the charm of the small towns that are in the area and the locals here (and yes, that includes us at Voyago Vacation Rentals) love to take little voyages to all the most wonderful places. This guide to the top Estes Park day trips you can take—trips that begin in Estes Park and end right back where you started—has been curated from tips and hints that we received from staff, friends, and other Estes Park locals!
Wildlife Watching in Sheep Lakes
Located inside Horseshoe Park, Sheep Lakes is a beautiful part of the park, offering the water that attracts all the wildlife, and although it is technically still within city limits and it really won’t take all day to enjoy all this area has to offer, it’s has many benefits, including a short drive and the opportunity to see the wildlife in the area. We like to take our families to the parking lot that overlooks the lakes, packing a picnic, and for those of us who have smaller children, games to play. And we just sit and wait for the animals to come to us. Over the years we have spotted and photographed moose, coyotes, elk, and of course, the bighorn sheep that are the lake’s namesake. Sunrise and sunset are when the wildlife really get active, so consider scheduling your visit during those times and be prepared to be amazed at the wildlife you will spot.
A Scenic Drive Along the Trail Ridge Road
The Trail Ridge Road is a popular one, noted as the highest continuous paved highway and offering stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, practically around every turn. Open for cars May through October, in the off months, bicyclists love to ride this road and pedestrians love to walk along it, but in the height of summer, it is all about the drive. Offering multiple scenic overlooks, we advise our guests to stop, take pictures, and soak in the natural beauty that makes this area one of the top tourist destinations in the world. The Alpine Visitor’s Center is one such overlook, located above the tree line so you will feel as if you are on top of the world!
Journey to Nederland
The town of Nederland boasts a population of less than 2000 people and a lifestyle that is serene, calm, and happy, especially as it home to what they call the Carousel of Happiness, a 1910 carousel that has been fully restored to its original glory. 57 hand-carved and hand-painted animals continue their circuit thousands of times in a day, “dancing” to the tunes played by a restored 1913 Wurlitzer band organ, and as you ride your chosen “steed” (an ostrich, a pig, a giraffe, and a panda are amongst some of your choices), you will learn why it is named what it is named. It’s impossible not to be happy on this bright, colorful, and cheerful carousel!
Discover the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway
The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is a 55-mile stretch of road offering views of the Front Range (a mountain range that is a part of the Southern Rocky Mountains) and the Continental Divide, while also providing peeks into the lives of the wildlife that inhabits the area. This byway is Colorado’s oldest scenic byway, having been established in 1918, and is beautiful year-round, making a summer drive a wonderful one, but if you truly want to see it at its most colorful, we suggest a return trip in the fall! Or, as this article will be “hitting the stands” sometime in August, it is quite possible your visit will fall during prime leaf viewing season, late September through early October, and if that is case, you have timed it perfectly!
All Roads Lead Home to Voyago Vacation Rentals
Whether you decide to take short Estes Park day trips to any of the parks in the area or decide you really want to take a road trip and hit the road for a two-hour drive to Sulphur Hot Springs (that’s an experience you will never forget!) realizing that all roads lead back home to our Voyago Vacation Rentals Colorado sanctuaries will bring you joy! Soothe your aching muscles by soaking in hot tubs, wind down by sitting near the fireplace and quietly watching the flames flicker, even in the summer months. And when sleep wins and you crawl into the most comfortable beds in the state, you will feel at ease, at home, and ready for happy dreams. Reserve your favorite Estes Park cabin rental today!
