The trail around the lake is busy but beautiful! We were captivated by all of the views and cute…read moredogs on leashes. The trail is smooth and pretty flat overall especially on the first half. There is parking all around the lake. There was not a lot of shade but fortunately it was in the mid 70s so not too bad. We opted to park at the visitor center and walk over. The center has nice bathrooms and a gift shop so that was a nice thing for us too. If you like easy walks or bike rides with great views be sure to add this to the list!

My absolute favorite running trail! I ran in the morning and it wasn't too crowded, weather was…read moregreat, felt safe, and it was beautiful. The only issue I had was wanting to stop and take pictures instead of running. There were elk a couple mornings, but I didn't see them everyday :( The trail is 3.7 miles around with a few big hills. There's a parking garage and a few lots throughout, including a camping area. The welcome center is nearby to get water or use the bathroom, and there are bathrooms near the bike/ boat rental place but their water fountains weren't working. I love this trail and recommend running here if you're visiting the area!

Super simple and quick hike with the dogs. Loved being able to hike, with the dogs. Views were…read moreincredible and there was really cool spot at the top to chill. Absolutely recommended for quick beautiful pupper hikes!

This is a really lovely part of the park, generally not too busy as it is an offshoot from Bear…read moreLake road (and there isn't a ton of parking). You can take some really nice hikes through the Hollowell meadows and continue on to more strenuous hikes as you wish. They also have some really great picnic spots here, and I don't know about you, but for me a picnic in a beautiful place just cannot be beat!

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is home to hundreds of hiking trails, several of which have…read morebecome nearly as famous as the park itself. Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake, in particular, attract hikers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. The well-known trails are gorgeous (mere adjectives cannot describe the awesome grandeur of RMNP), but I'm partial to the obscure trails scattered throughout the park. Hollowell Park Trail -- my favorite by far -- is hidden behind two gender-neutral bathrooms* at the end of an unmarked road. It may not be as famous as other trails, but it's every bit as scenic and serene. I'm directionally challenged, but I will attempt to describe how to find it. Approximately one quarter mile past the east entrance of RMNP (the one facing Estes Park), turn left on Bear Lake Road, drive approximately one mile, and then turn left onto a road heading towards the two aforementioned bathrooms. Hollowell is not a strenuous trail, but parts of it are rocky (these *are* the Rockies) and a bit steep, so take your time and be mindful of your footing. The air is noticeably thin in the mountains, so you might be short of breath until your lungs adapt and adjust to the high elevation. I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition, but even my respiratory system works harder than usual in the Rockies. Bring water, rest when you feel fatigued, breathe deeply, and walk at a pace you find comfortable. A hike on the Hollowell Park Trail is like a lesson on the ecology of RMNP. Over the course of a leisurely three-mile hike, I spotted many plants common to the Rockies, such as yellow rabbitbrush, juniper, and arctostaphylos uva-ussi (aka the more phonetically interesting "kinnikinnick"). Kinnikinnick is notable not only for its rounded leaves and tiny, bell-shaped flowers but also for its appeal to black bears and grizzlies. Bears consume the shrub in late fall, which leads to constipation and prevents them from defecating during winter hibernation. See, aren't you glad you follow The Mysterious Ryan M.? Where else on Yelp would you learn about the opportunistic eating habits and gastrointestinal systems of grizzlies and black bears? Yes, bears are common throughout RMNP, so exercise caution and common sense, especially if you find yourself alone on a seldom-traveled trail such as Hollowell. The signs posted prominently at the beginning of the trail advise hikers to stand their ground if confronted and to fight back when necessary. I propose an addendum to the signage: "When fighting back fails, poke the bear in the eye with your bleeding stump." Hollowell Trailhead was not listed on Yelp, so I performed my civic duty and added it myself. I can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon in the Rocky Mountains. The sentimental part of me wants to keep Hollowell my little secret, but the larger, narcissistic part of me wants credit for exposing Yelp to such a gorgeous, seldom-seen part of the Rockies. *When you check in on Yelp, you can answer "yes" in response to the question, "Are there gender-neutral bathrooms?" Yelpers are dying to know. The Hollowell Park Trailhead does not offer karaoke. Kosher options refer only to Orthodox Jewish hikers consumed by wildlife.

We've been to Estes Park several times and I can't believe that I have not reviewed the Riverwalk…read morebefore because it is one of my favorite aspects of Estes. You pick up the walking path at the Visitors Center and it will take you along the river to downtown. Aling the way there are restaurants and lots of stores. The best part for me are the benches where I like to sit and listen to the river as I meditate. Along the walking path there are chimes for kids (and adults) to play. To me this is a must-do if you are in Estes. It is an about one mile walk that is thoroughly enjoyable. The beauty of the river makes the walk peaceful and serene.

Beautiful shady walk! Lots of pretty bridges to cross. Lots of benches next to creek for stopping…read moreto take in the view. I was able to breastfeed my son at one of the benches which was nice.

Stanley Park is a beautiful park in Estes Park that is located right next to Lake Estes. This place…read morehas all sorts of things to do. Stanley Park has bike paths, a skate park, playground, a few ballfields, tennis and pickleball courts and a dog park. On occasions, this park will host concerts and festivals. I was in town for a 5K run that was supposed to take place here. But the event was canceled due to some nearby wildfires that were causing smoke to fill the air. I ended up doing the run virtually on the sidewalk and enjoyed the beauty of the surrounding area. You can get a glimpse of the mountains from Rocky Mountain National Park in the background. The bike park course is open to the public and to non-mountain bikers too. The perimeter track can also be used for running, walking your dog and horseback riding. The paved part can also be used for bikes, skateboards and roller skates. If you don't have a bike, they have bike rentals nearby. After I finished my run, I spotted an Elk hanging around grazing the grass.

Only one review? Well let's keep the five star momentum going because this place deserves it! I met…read moreup with some friends here for paddleboarding and was surprised that on a sunny, warmish October day that: A) It was empty. We were the only people on the water for awhile. B) Free parking. Hollllla! McIntosh is nestled in the middle of a residential area and I kind of love that (residents may say other wise). You have a spectacular view of Longs Peak right in front of you and even though you're near an airport, it's pretty quiet. North side has a playground with restroom and there are multiple places to launch from on your sup or kayak. This will be going into my regular rotation for sup next year!

McIntosh is a decent sized lake with walking/jogging paths, and a playground. It is in the middle…read moreof a residential area. McIntosh is my favorite place to have an impromptu SUP drop-in the water and a frequented stop to take my dogs walking over the years. Parking is free and almost always easy to find. McIntosh does not test their water, so keep that in consideration, especially if you are taking dogs into the water as they can easily get sick or worse from any contaminated/algae bloom lake water. Learn what blue algae is and look for signs before entering.

Wonderful place for families to gather and connect with friends. We've been to a good handful of…read morebirthday parties hosted here and always love it. Plenty for kids to do and a warm, welcoming community all around.

What a fun day we had with our grandchildren. Great equipment in a fun and beautiful setting. Good…read morejob Niwot!

We stayed at this campground so we could break up our drive and do the whole route through the RMNP…read morestarting at Estes Park and could finish the drive back to the Denver area the next day. It is the only campground in the park that is on that side of the park by grand lake. We stayed at campground site 74. If you can choose your campsite I recommend that site. It is on the outer rim of the campgrounds and has a great view of the mountains. In the morning we were able to see and hear elk from the campsite! The downside was some of us drink the water from the water spigot at the campsite (not from the dish sink or bathroom sink) and got very sick while the others that did not were fine. Bring lots of your own water or boil your water just to be safe. Mostly tent campers at this location. No showers. We did not have cell service either here, but did not have cell service in the majority of the park. Lots of signs and talk about bears being here but we did not see any. Bring cash to buy firewood at the campground.

We love nature and this was a perfect spot to unwind and get back to that minus cell phones or…read moredigital interruptions. All of Colorado is beautiful but this was one of our favorite spots in both winter and spring but especially in summer because it's like being in a postcard.