Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are both spectacular for so many reasons. The mountains
show different personalities when the clouds blanket them. Elk stroll around like they own the place. Well, they kinda do.

Nature dominates here. Studies show that spending time in nature is beneficial for so many reasons. Nature benefits our mental and physical health. Taking in a deep breath here fills our lungs with wonderful, clean mountain air. Our senses become more aware in nature leading to heightened awareness and a deeper connection with our surroundings.

After a fun day full of activity, taking a few minutes to sit and be still, soaking in what’s all around us helps calm the nerves and our bodies’
rhythms.

Some people are not used to the quiet, and it can be unnerving not to hear much of anything. It may take some time to be comfortable with the quiet and its benefits. Embrace being uncomfortable and take some time to soak in the quiet.

Studies also show that unplugging from our devices is incredibly beneficial to our mental health as well. We live in such a busy world with often non-stop chatter: swipes, rings, and pop-ups. A digital detox is so good to do, especially on vacation! Find stimulation in an activity here rather than scrolling.

The night sky can be unreal. The dry mountain air and lack of light pollution allows for up to 2,500 more stars to be seen than are visible in a larger city. We are looking at the same sky that Indigenous Peoples
looked at thousands of years ago. That can cause one to be reflective.

We were restocking books at one of the state visitor centers, and we were met with such excitement when they said to me“ We just love your book. It’s better than Google!”

I work with all of the groups, Rocky Mountain National Park, and advertisers in this guide when putting each new edition together. I have built solid relationships with them and have earned their trust to present information that is accurate and up-to-date.

This guide has some great tips from digging into what is needed for a great visit to this area to being respectful of the land and wildlife.

I hope you take the time to enjoy the wonderful surroundings here and really dive into this guide. You don’t need cell service to read it (and cell service in the mountains is often spotty). I hope as the reader, you too will find this guide better than Google.

Use Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov is used for reserving most campsites and permits. You can also use this site to pay for national park and monument entrance fees. Some are now cashless. This makes a great option for paying.

The website and accompanying mobile app are easy to use. You must have an account to make reservations. Find out more at Recreation.gov. You may also call 1-877-444-6777 to make reservations.

This website has more than 103,000 reservable sites all across the United States. Having an account with them and using the mobile app will make it easy to reserve sites in all the places the system is used.

Some first-come, first-served locations also allow for payment through the app using the scan and pay option. The app needs cell service to work.

First, ahead of your trip (don't wait until the day you want to make a reservation), set up an account on their website with your information and credit card and get familiar with how it works. 

For popular reservations, being logged in and ready to go a few minutes before permits open will give you a better chance of success.

If you are able to secure a reservation, don’t delay! Once you “book,” you only have 15 minutes to complete the reservation. If you don’t complete the reservation in that time, the reservation is released back into the system.

Keep this in mind, and if you didn’t succeed at first, try about 15 minutes later. Someone may not have completed their transaction in those 15 minutes.

If you want to camp at Moraine Park during the winter season, have the Recreation.gov app set up. Then you can use the "Scan and Pay" feature to pay for sites at Moraine Park Campground

Be Bear Aware

Look the Part

We cannot express enough the importance of staying hydrated. 

Drink water! Drink at least four quarts (a gallon) of water a day, especially when it’s hot.

It’s the “in” thing to carry a water bottle. Buy one that is at least 32oz and show your personality by covering it up with your favorite stickers. Carry your water bottle with you and remember to drink. Restaurants will happily fill it for you.

Only 5% of plastic water bottles are recycled, and the water in Estes Park tastes really good. Carrying your own water bottle is smart.

And, you will look cool