Estes Park is one of the best family destinations in Colorado, and I love seeing kids light up here. Whether your crew is toddlers or teens, here are the things I recommend most to families who stay with me.
Wildlife watching (always the best activity for kids!)
If you ask me, nothing beats watching wildlife with kids. Elk wander right through town and graze on the golf course, along Lake Estes and in the meadows. In Rocky Mountain National Park, Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park are classic elk spots, and Sheep Lakes in Horseshoe Park is famous for bighorn sheep. The best times are dusk and dawn. Pack binoculars and turn it into a game: who can spot the first elk?
Play Bluebell I Spy!: Every family that stays at Bluebell Mountain House gets our Bluebell I Spy! Estes Park & RMNP game at the house. There are 50 things to find, from a bull elk, an elk calf and bighorn sheep to the Stanley Hotel, a Laura's caramel apple, Alberta Falls and the Milky Way, plus a bonus round. Can your family find all 50? (Spotting counts from a safe distance!)
Teach kids the safe-distance rules: stay at least 75 feet (two school buses) from elk, deer and bighorn sheep, and 120 feet (three buses) from bears, moose and mountain lions. A fun trick is the "rule of thumb": hold your arm out with a thumbs-up, and if your thumb doesn't cover the whole animal, step back. Watch from pullouts or the car, and never feed wildlife.
Before you go, read my guide on how to safely enjoy wildlife: Estes Park Wildlife Safety Guide
Coffee on the Rocks (pond, ducks and an outdoor setting)
My favorite coffee shop, Coffee on the Rocks (510 Moraine Ave.), is a hit with kids. Grown-ups get coffee, kids get a treat, and everyone sits outside by the pond watching the ducks, with mountain views and sometimes elk or deer nearby.
Trout Haven Fishing Pond
At Trout Haven Fishing Pond (810 Moraine Ave.), kids have a great chance of catching a trout. It's a stocked pond: no license, gear or experience needed. You rent a pole and they hand you bait. Every fish is catch-and-keep, so you can't release it. Be ready to take your catch with you, but they'll clean it for you for a small fee. Check their days and hours; it's seasonal.
Ride the Estes Park Aerial Tram
The Aerial Tram (420 E. Riverside Dr.) carries you up Prospect Mountain in an enclosed car for huge views of the park and the Continental Divide. Kids 5 and under ride free. It's seasonal (May 9 to Nov. 1 in 2026) and pauses for lightning or high winds, so reserve a time and check the weather.
Easy, sweet hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park
These short trails are perfect for little legs:
- Bear Lake loop: about 0.6–0.7 miles, nearly flat.
- Sprague Lake loop: about 0.7–0.8 miles, flat, with mountain reflections.
- Alberta Falls: about 1.6 miles round trip, with around 160 feet of climbing, to a rushing waterfall.
All three are in the Bear Lake Road corridor, so during timed-entry season (late May to mid-October) you need a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation to drive in between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Book on Recreation.gov, or take the park shuttle. Pets aren't allowed on park trails.
★★ Jeff & René's top pick: Alberta Falls is the perfect intro hike for families: easy, gorgeous and stunning in every season. You may hear about Sky Pond, our all-time #1 hike, which starts from the same trailhead. It's a strenuous summer-and-fall hike for experienced, acclimated adults, not a kids' hike, so stick with Alberta Falls when the little ones are along.
Walk around Lake Estes
The paved Lake Estes Trail (about 3.75 miles) is stroller-friendly and great for bikes. You can do just a piece of it. Keep an eye out for elk, and give them plenty of room.
Sweet treats: Laura's and The Taffy Shop
- Laura's Fine Candies (129 E. Elkhorn Ave.): caramel apples, fudge and ice cream. A caramel apple is a must!
- The Taffy Shop (121 W. Elkhorn Ave.): the original Estes Park saltwater taffy, made with the same recipe since 1935. In the morning, kids may get to watch the old wrapping machine at work.
Cool toy stores downtown
- Colorado Games Company (440 E. Elkhorn Ave.): a family-owned game and puzzle shop where kids can try games before you buy. Pick up a wildlife puzzle for a cozy night in.
- Toy Mountain (160 W. Elkhorn Ave.): a fun little toy shop with kites, puppets, stuffed animals, craft sets and games.
Bowling at The Bull Pin
The Bull Pin (555 S. Saint Vrain Ave.) has bowling, an arcade and pool tables, and its scratch kitchen makes great burgers. It's perfect for a rainy afternoon or a family night out.
Stanley Chocolate Factory
At the Stanley Chocolate Factory (157 W. Elkhorn Ave.), kids 5 and up can make their own chocolate bar (book ahead). There's also a brand-new carousel (riders 42 inches and taller; check carousel hours before you go) and lots of handmade chocolates to browse.
YMCA of the Rockies: sledding, roller skating and more
YMCA of the Rockies' Estes Park Center is a family playground. In winter, the sledding hill near the entrance is open dawn to dusk when there's snow (bring a sled or borrow one with a waiver). Year-round, there's an indoor roller-skating rink with free skate rentals, plus mini golf, a game room, a pool and family programs. If you're not staying at the YMCA, you need a day pass: in 2026, \$29 for ages 13+ and \$14 for ages 6–12 (kids 5 and under are free). Horseback rides through Jackson Stables at the YMCA don't need a day pass, and they offer pony rides for kids 5 and under.
Host tip from Jeff & René: staying with us? We keep sleds, snowshoes and poles in a variety of sizes for all ages right at the house, free for guests to use.
S'mores night at Bluebell: after a big day, end it the Bluebell way. Every stay comes with a s'mores kit, and the propane fire pit out back is perfect for toasting marshmallows under the stars, with a grown-up at the controls.
Just for the grown-ups: golf with the elk
I love the beautiful Estes Park 18-Hole Golf Course (1480 Golf Course Rd.), run by the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. The mountain views are amazing. Fair warning: you may have to play through a few elk! They love the fairways, especially in fall. Give them their space (at least 75 feet), and never try to shoo them off the green.
FAQ
What is there to do in Estes Park with kids?
Wildlife watching, fishing at Trout Haven, the Aerial Tram, easy lake hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, bowling at The Bull Pin, chocolate making, the YMCA's sledding and roller rink, and treats at Laura's and The Taffy Shop.
What are the best easy hikes for kids in Rocky Mountain National Park?
The Bear Lake and Sprague Lake loops (under a mile each) and Alberta Falls (about 1.6 miles round trip). In season, you need a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation. Lily Lake is another good one, an easy loop off Hwy 7. It's part of Rocky Mountain National Park, so park rules apply: bring your park pass, and in timed-entry season you need a Timed Entry reservation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There's no entrance station, so passes are rarely checked there in practice, but they're still required.
Can non-guests go sledding at YMCA of the Rockies?
Yes, with a day pass (\$29 for ages 13+, \$14 for ages 6–12, free for 5 and under in 2026).
Do you need a fishing license at Trout Haven?
No. Gear and bait are provided, and all fish are catch-and-keep.
Where can kids see elk and bighorn sheep?
Elk are all over town and in Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park. Bighorn sheep are often at Sheep Lakes. Dusk and dawn are best, and keep at least 75 feet away.
Related guides: Snow day? My Winter Hikes & Snowshoeing guide has easy snowshoe trails and sledding tips, and my Stanley Hotel guide covers the chocolate factory and tours for ages 8 and up.
Bluebell Mountain House is pet-friendly and in a prime location, very close to the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance, so the whole family (pets included) can be watching elk at dawn and back for pancakes. I'd love to host you!