As the end of August approaches and the -ber months draw near, it’s the perfect time to start planning an autumn excursion. With many beautiful options in the state and even in the area, it may seem like a tough choice to have to narrow down your options. This week, we’re bringing you the top 3 reasons why Estes Park should make the top of your fall destinations list.
1. Fall color in and around Estes Park
One of the top reasons folks from around the country flock to Estes Park in September and early October is to see the changing aspen leaves in the Estes Valley. Every year, the colors change at a slightly different time, but the end of September especially makes for peak fall foliage spotting. Swaths of yellow leaves paint the mountains surrounding Estes Park, and a day trip or two to venture out into the changing scenery should absolutely be on any fall-lover’s itinerary.
Rent a Jeep or a Slingshot to ride in style down the Peak-to-Peak highway toward Nederland - a local favorite journey for maximum foliage spotting and ample photo opportunities. Bring the family out in a side-by-side and truly immerse yourselves in the fall color that only heading into the national forest can provide. There are plenty of ways to get up close and personal with the beautiful fall color in and around Estes Park.
2. Things chill out… literally
Visiting Estes during the summer absolutely has its place in many people’s hearts, but there are plenty of visitors who are looking to avoid the crowds, heat, and general fast-paced nature of peak season in Estes Park. Autumn is the perfect time for those folks for several reasons. First, the number of people in town decreases drastically once fall rolls around, especially on weekdays. This is often ideal for people looking for a slower-paced adventure, whether that’s walking downtown, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, or riding a UTV trail with fewer other users.
Additionally, the temperatures are much milder as summer turns to autumn in the Rockies, making it ideal weather for a more comfortable day of adventuring. Layers are your best friend in this area regardless of the time of year, but especially in the shoulder seasons, so be sure to pack them if you’re heading this way in the fall. You can also find a fall festival nearly every weekend in the fall, including Autumn Gold, Elk Fest, Pumpkins and Pilsners, and more - perfect for an afternoon venture back into society after a morning of solitude in nature.
3. The Rut
If you have never sat and listened to the bugles of bull elk echoing off the mountains during the elk mating season, known as the rut, do yourself a favor and add it to your bucket list immediately. Between watching big bulls clash antlers as they fight to control their harems, or groups of cow elk and their babies, the antics of the younger bulls who aren’t quite old enough to control their own harems, and the cows who are clearly fed up with the seemingly endless shows of masculinity, the rut reaches soap opera levels of drama each year and is absolutely worth seeing at least once. Many people return year after year to the Estes Valley just to get to witness this incredible show of wild animals in their native habitat.
Get off the beaten path and head out on an ATV trail if you really want to get a show - some of the best bugling and sometimes even full harems can be found outside of the downtown Estes area. Combined with the safety and respect of wildlife of remaining in a vehicle to watch it all go down, the rut hits its peak in the national forests and National Park surrounding Estes Park.
These reasons, along with so many others, are the perfect opportunity to plan a fall adventure in Estes Park. With everything fall you could need in one picturesque location, Estes is the ideal place to celebrate all things autumn.
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