June Estes Park, what to see, where to go

[jorswift]

Coming to Estes Park at the ladder part of June. Wife, teenage kid and dog. Looking for good hikes, maybe a spot to fish. Just somethings to get away from the tourist garbage and see the beauty.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

It's been a few years but I always liked hiking Mt. Meeker and Longs peak when I was out that way.

 

[cnelk]

FYI - There will be a timed entry in 2026 similar to 2025
Read more here

Rocky Mountain National Park Announces 2026 Timed Entry Reservation System

Rocky Mountain National Park will implement its 2026 timed-entry reservation system, beginning May 22, 2026. This reservation system provides day use visitor access in a way that creates opportunities for

www.estesparknews.com

 

[270-300]

Im not sure if by estes park you mean your staying in the small town full of candy shops and tourist attractions or if your using that as the common colorado slang for going to rocky mountain national park. If your going to the park, be aware it is very difficult to just show up and get in. That time of year more people than the limit show up everyday. Often times the line to get in is dependant on people leaving, and can be waiting several hours more than one day before you get in. DEFFINITELY RESERVE A PARK ENTRY. And june first is early for high altitude. Old falls road might not be open for the season. Sometimes 130 in wyoming is not open. Most of the dirt roads off of 130 in wyoming have snow drifts well into july.

With the disclaimers out of the way, if you dont mind some driving you can go see hot springs in saratoga wy, fish the north platte. If you dont mind driving another day, the gates of lodore, the dinosaur national monument, flaming gorge, green river, all of the roosevelt national forest around rocky mountain national park.

 

[intunegp]

Going to be hard to get away from people if you're talking about Rocky Mountain National Park and/or the town of Estes Park specifically. Estes Park is a tourist trap with not much more than restaurants and junk shops and is always crowded. Don't get me wrong, it can be fun to see and walk around, but it isn't a quiet mountain town.

RMNP will be on timed entry...reserve as far ahead as possible and make it for as early in the morning as possible unless you want to sit in line in your car for, and I'm not exaggerating, hours. I have seen those lines stretch miles down the road.

All of the stuff @270-300 mentioned is far enough away that they aren't day trips from Estes so if you have lodging in Estes I wouldn't plan on any of those unless you can plan to stay the night at the destination.

If you are staying in Estes and want to avoid the larger crowds to hike and fish I would head towards Glen Haven/Drake out of Estes and find some trails. If you head east out of Estes on 34 there's plenty of holes to fish along the Big Thompson river.