WELCOME TO ESTES PARK!

The YMCA of the Rockies campus-the site of the wedding and where guests may be staying- is

a self-contained village. Amongst other offerings, it has a small grocery store, places to eat, and

a schedule of daily activities. It also has an indoor swimming pool, crafts center, library, post

office, massage cabin, mini-golf, tennis courts, roller rink and a horseback riding stable.

The link below posts the weekly schedule of events a week or two ahead of time. Check it to

see what is being offered and whether any of the activities require advance reservations.

Estes Park Center weekly schedule

GETTING AROUND:

The YMCA campus is located west of town, just southeast of Rocky Mountain National Park’s

main (Beaver Meadows) entrance. With distance and altitude considerations, the most

reasonable way to get into Estes Park proper is via driving or the free shuttle.

Shuttle:

The Brown Line stops in front of the YMCA main building (where you will check in).

Shuttle map

Parking:

Most of the parking lots in town are fee lots and charge $2/hour during business hours. There

are also a few private lots, so be sure and check the signage in whatever lot you pull into. If you

scroll to the bottom of the page linked below, you can download a parking app to help find a

spot (this can be helpful if you are totally unfamiliar with Estes: if you have been here before it is

not too hard to find a spot).

parking map and details

FOOD:

1. YMCA options (links below contain descriptions, hours, and prices)

❖ Aspen Dining Room (large buffet with fixed pricing for breakfast, lunch, dinner)

❖ Pine Room (ala carte restaurant next door to the Aspen dining room).

❖ Rustic Cafe (snack bar in the main administration building)

❖ The main administration building also has a small grocery store.

2. Eating/Coffee off campus (by distance from the Y)

❖ The Spice Rack (upscale): the option closest to the Y, you’ll pass this bright yellow

building on your way up Rt 66 to the Y. It offers excellent pastries, biscuits and gravy,

and coffee as well as a substantial spice section.

❖ Bird’s Nest (upscale): at the intersection of 36 and Mary’s Lake Road: pastries, coffee

➢ Note: Bird and Jims, across the road from the Bird’s Nest, is owned by the same

people and is an upscale option for lunch, dinner, and bar

❖ The Wrap: at the intersection of 36 and Mary’s Lake Road: a variety of breakfast wraps

and sandwiches

❖ Country Market: at the intersection of 36 and Mary’s Lake Road: full-service locally

owned grocery store, also offers made-to-order sandwiches, soups, ice cream

❖ Doughnut Haus: formerly a stand-alone shop, located now in the Shell Station on 36 just

east of Mary’s Lake Road (note to addicts: get there early).

❖ Fresh Burger Stop: some of us locals think these are the best burgers in town. Drive-thru

at the Shell Station, on 36 just east of Mary’s Lake Road.

❖ Coffee on the Rocks: on 36 east of the Shell Station: coffee with an outside pond for

seating and duck-feeding

3. Breweries (by distance from the Y)

Estes Park has several breweries with inside/outside seating, live music, and food trucks. On

Labor Day weekend, all will be in full swing.

❖ Estes Park Brewery (includes in-house food at The Hive)

❖ Rock Cut Brewery

❖ The Barrel

❖ Snowy Peaks Winery

❖ Full Throttle Distillery and Grill (includes in-house food)

THINGS TO DO:

West side of town:

❖ Activities at the Y (note: if you are not staying at the Y, day passes are available)

❖ Rocky Mountain National Park (see separate section below)

❖ Fun City (go-karts, giant rainbow slide, figure 8 spinning coaster, bumper boats, bungee

trampoline, mini golf, water walking balls)

❖ Open Air Adventure Park (outdoor aerial challenge course, ax throwing)

In-Town

❖ Stanley Chocolate Factory (new!) Make a chocolate bar, BBQ, drinks

❖ Birches Ruins (walk behind library leads to overlook of Estes Park and mountains)

❖ Stanley Hotel tour

East side of town:

❖ Estes Park 9 and 18 hole golf (thru Estes Park Park District)

❖ Lake Estes trail: 3.75 mile paved walking/biking trail around the lake

❖ Estes Park Marina: peddle boat, canoe, kayak, bike, and pedal cart rentals marina

❖ Estes Park Ride a Kart

❖ Cascade Creek Mini Golf

❖ Mountain Coaster

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

Visiting RMNP without a timed entry pass:

❖ With a $30 day vehicle pass, you do not need a timed entry pass to do the following;

➢ Drive on Bear Lake Road before 5am or after 6pm

➢ Drive to all other areas in the park, including up Trail Ridge Road, before 9am or

after 2pm.

❖ Otherwise, in addition to your day vehicle pass you will need a timed entry pass. The

pass allows you to enter (1) the park or (2) the park plus Bear Lake Road within a 2 hour

entry window.

Note: park entry gates are cashless. You can buy an entry pass with cash at the visitors’ center

just east of the park entrance.

Timed Entry Pass: available via Recreation.gov website or app. The pass costs $2.00.

❖ Timed Entry (this page is VERY helpful in understanding how this system works)

❖ Timed Entry for the month of August:

➢ goes on sale July 1 at 8am Mountain Time. So if you feel strongly about visiting

the park on a certain date and time, plan ahead!

➢ They hold back a percentage of available passes. These are available at 7pm

each evening for the following day.

Hiker Shuttles (advance tickets required via recreation.gov): shuttle info

Cell Phone Coverage: spotty or non-existent within the park

B&E

Wedding Day