Fall in Estes Park: Elk Rut, Autumn Gold and Stanley Hotel Tours

In Estes Park, fall is elk season. The peak of the elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park generally lasts from mid-September to mid-October, and it is often possible to hear elk bugling into November.

Around that, the town offers a festival of beers, brats and bands in a downtown park, walking tours of a hotel dating to 1909, a free museum and a paved loop around Lake Estes.

Elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park

Wildlife viewing is one of the most popular activities visitors enjoy each fall in Rocky Mountain National Park. During the rut, the park can offer the scene of tens to hundreds of elk in one location, flanked by mountain scenery and fall colors.

The bugling has been studied here. Research in the park by Dr. Jennifer Clarke and her students from the University of Northern Colorado suggests that elk bugles contain wide ranges of information. Research by Dr. Joel Berger of the Wildlife Conservation Society suggests that elk in Rocky Mountain National Park bugle more often and for longer periods, and form larger aggregations, than in parks such as Yellowstone where they have predators such as wolves and grizzly bears.

Each fall, annual meadow closures go into effect in the park to prevent the disturbance and harassment of elk during their mating season. The closures are in place from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. They cover meadow areas in Horseshoe Park, Upper Beaver Meadows, Moraine Park, Harbison Meadow and Holzwarth Meadow. During those hours, the meadows are closed to all travel on foot or via horseback off established roads and trails.

Visitors watching elk should keep back at least 75 feet (23 m), the length of two school buses. Elk calling is prohibited in the park, as is using spotlights or vehicle headlights to spot wildlife.

Elk Fest and Autumn Gold downtown

Elk Fest in Estes Park includes bugling contests, a Rut Run 5K, local vendors and performances.

Estes Park Autumn Gold, presented by the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary, is a Festival of Beers, Brats, & Bands. It is held at Bond Park in downtown Estes Park. Festival hours are Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 daily, and kids 12 and under get in free. The 2026 band lineup for Saturday, September 26 lists Wendy Woo, Stone Beat Invasion and Last Men On Earth.

Vendors offer roasted corn on the cob, funnel cakes, fresh squeezed lemonade, coffee, popcorn and the traditional Autumn Gold brat. There is a Family Fun Zone, and dogs are welcome on a leash. Money raised goes to covering event costs, supporting local nonprofits and school scholarships.

Tours at The Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel, at 333 E Wonderview Ave, runs several walking tours. The Historic Tour lasts 60 minutes and covers the hotel's history from its inception in 1909 to the present day. It introduces Mr. Stanley, his wife Flora, Stephen King and other notable guests.

The Ghost Tours are 60-minute walking tours held after dark, led by an experienced guide. On Halloween only, the hotel runs the Stanley Halloween Ghost Tour, a 60-minute indoor and outdoor walk through the most haunted parts of the building.

The Shining Tour explores the differences between Stephen King's 1977 novel The Shining, Kubrick's 1980 movie and the 1997 miniseries. The Vault Whiskey Tour is a 60-minute walk through Colorado's largest whiskey collection. The Frozen Dead Guy Tour runs 40 minutes and goes into the world of cryonics.

Estes Park Museum

The Estes Park Museum, at 200 4th Street, is open year-round, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. Its interactive displays and in-depth exhibits tell Estes Park's story of Native American tribes, homesteaders, entrepreneurs, and artists.

Estes Park has one of Colorado's longest histories as a destination community, from its naming and widespread publicity in the 1864 Rocky Mountain News. Rocky Mountain National Park was formed in 1915, and the Town of Estes Park was incorporated in 1917. The town hosted Isabella Bird, Enos Mills, Eleanor Hondius and F.O. Stanley.

The museum's foundation dates to 1962, when the National Park Service razed Stead's Ranch, an 1876 homestead and guest ranch in the park, and concerned citizens organized to preserve artifacts from it. It has operated as a municipal museum since 1992.

Lake Estes Trail and Homer Rouse Trail

The Lake Estes Trail is a paved, 4-mile loop around Lake Estes, and its difficulty is listed as Easy. Managed by the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, it crosses Town of Estes Park, Larimer County and Bureau of Reclamation property. Access points include the Visitor Center, parking garage and Fisherman's Nook lots, along with paid entry lots at Cherokee Draw, Wapiti Meadows and the Lake Estes Marina. Cherokee Draw has restrooms and drinking fountains, and dogs on leash are welcome on the trail.

The district's Marina & Tackle Shop rents boats, bikes and pedal carts. Its golf offerings include an 18 Hole Golf Course and a 9-Hole/Disc Golf Course.

The Homer Rouse Trail, just east of Lily Lake, is managed by the district and welcomes dogs on leash. It runs 3.8 miles with an elevation gain of 308 ft. To reach it, take Fish Creek Road to the entrance of Cheley Camp and park in the gravel lot; there are no restrooms or water.

Stanley Park and family outings

Stanley Park encompasses nearly 100 acres. It has a dog park, mountain bike and skate parks, picnic shelters, a playground and a grassy area for concerts and festivals. The playground has slides and forts for kids. The Bluebird picnic shelter has a stone fireplace and suits up to forty guests.

Visit Estes Park lists Amusement Parks, Pikas in the Park and Geocaching under kids and family things to do. Its list of attractions includes Lake Estes, the Riverwalk, Performance Park, the Aerial Tramway and The Stanley Hotel. Its restaurant categories include Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries and Sweets and Desserts.

Estes Park Aerial Tram

The Estes Park Aerial Tram is at 420 East Riverside Drive, and the ride is 5 minutes each way. Visitors can stay at the top as long as they like; the average is about one hour. Temperatures up top can be 10 degrees colder, with wind, so the tram suggests layers or a jacket. The tram operates in the rain but pauses temporarily for lightning or extreme winds.

The Hungry Chipmunk Cafe can only be reached via the tram. Children 5 and under ride free, and the family special works like this: buy 2 adults + 1 kid (6-17) and get 3 more kids half-off. Both terminals are fully ADA compliant, and wheelchairs can go up in the tram.

Hermit Park Open Space

Hermit Park Open Space covers 1,362 acres 2 miles southeast of Estes Park, at 7,880 to 8,964 feet elevation. Ponderosa pine forests and wetland meadows characterize the land, with habitat for a variety of mountain wildlife.

It has cabins, RV and tent camping, a group campground, a reservable group pavilion, and trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. The pavilion can accommodate 150 guests. The open space is open March through mid December. Entrance permits are required for all use, whether visitors drive, walk, bike or ride a horse in. No hunting is allowed within the property boundaries.

Its preservation was a joint effort between Larimer County, Agilent Technologies, Town of Estes Park, Estes Valley Land Trust, Great Outdoors Colorado and other contributors.