Estes Park

1. Rocky Mountain National Park

At 415 square miles, Rocky Mountain National Park contains some of the nation's most stunning mountain scenery. Hikers will feel right at home since the park includes more than 300 miles of trails. One of its most well-known areas, Trail Ridge Road, gives visitors a glimpse of the Rocky Mountains from 12,000 feet above sea level.

With its spacious campgrounds, Rocky Mountain National Park is a great destination for solo travelers and families alike. Aside from hiking and scenic drives, visitors enjoy wildlife watching, fishing, horseback riding, and learning about Rocky Mountain National Park at the visitor's center.

1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, Colorado, 80517, Phone: 970-586-1206

2. Peak to Peak Scenic Byway

This 55-mile scenic drive treats travelers to spectacular views of the Continental Divide. Accessible from Boulder, Denver, and Fort Collins, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway is lined with popular tourist attractions.

Rocky Mountain National Park, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area (Youtube) are just a few of the spots visitors can see during the drive. For travelers who have extra time, there are plenty of opportunities along the highway for hiking and camping. There are also isolated lakes and old ghost towns that make for intriguing road trip stops.

3. Lake Estes Marina

Lake Estes Marina is the place to be for aquatic fun on Lake Estes. The marina offers a variety of boat rentals, including kayaks and canoes and fishing, paddle, and pontoon boats. Fuel and life jackets are included with each boat rental.

The marina also has a store that sells fishing licenses, fishing supplies, and snacks. Boat rentals are available from approximately the beginning of May through October. Access to the Estes Lake Trail can be found by the marina. The trail circles the lake and can be accessed on foot or by bicycle. Bicycle rentals are available at the marina.

1770 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado 80517, Phone: 970-586-2011

4. Open Air Adventure Park

Open Air Adventure Park is a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience in Estes Park. The park offers guests the chance to make their own adventure by participating in up to 32 different challenges in various levels of difficulty from easy to hard.

Tightrope walking, crossing rope bridges, swinging above ground, and crossing moving platforms are just some of the obstacles guests will tackle. Safety gear is always used, and staff members are always nearby to assist.

490 Prospect Village Drive, Estes Park, Colorado 80517, Phone: 970-586-3066

5. The Stanley Steamcar Museum

The magnificent Stanley Hotel is known world-wide for its outstanding architecture and for its supposed haunting. The hotel was instrumental in developing the tourist industry in Estes Park. Adjacent to the hotel is the Stanley Steamcar Museum. The museum features exhibits of historic Stanley steam cars, including 2-passenger models and an 8-passenger wagon.

There are even steam powered fire engines on display and fire engine rides for both children and adults. Guests can view the beautiful hotel grounds and town of Estes Park from aboard one of these historic red fire trucks. Regular hotel tours and ghost tours are also available.

The Stanley Steamcar Museum, 333 Wonderview Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, Phone: 800-976-1377

6. Sombrero Ranch

At Sombrero Ranch visitors can choose from a variety of specialty horseback riding tours. The ranch currently offers trail rides, breakfast rides, steak dinner rides, sleigh rides, and wagon rides. Pack trips, fishing trips, and hunting trips are also available.

The tours depart from several areas in Colorado, including Estes Park. People with riding experience can rent horses from the ranch on a daily or monthly basis, and the ranch even allows renters to take the horses out-of-state for an additional fee. More information about horseback riding tours and horse rentals is available on the Sombrero Ranch website.

7. Estes Park Outfitters

Estes Park Outfitters is a local outdoor outfitter that offers seasonal adventure tours near Rocky Mountain National Park. The company dedicates summer months to horseback tours, which are either half-day cross-country rides or four-hour homestead rides. They also have a multi-day riding package that includes a delicious meal and an overnight stay in a backcountry cabin.

In the fall, the company takes guests on guided hunts for elk and mule deer. Winter tours include snowcat rides, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, and snowshoeing in Colorado's beautiful Rocky Mountain region.

8. Jackson Stables

Jackson Stables , tucked away in the idyllic Rocky Mountains, ispart of the Estes Park Center YMCA and provides visitors with fun and safe horseback riding experiences. The stable offers trail rides that last anywhere from one hour to all day longon their historic piece of property.

Jackson Stables also runs pony rides, hay rides, and wagon rides for visitors who aren't interested in hitting the trails. Guests can reserve all trail rides and other activities on the Jackson Stables website or by phone. Reservations are recommended since the tours tend to fill up fast.