Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ary and February are the best months for dry, powdery snowpack; spring snows tend to be
heavy and wet. Most routes follow summer hiking trails, but valley bottoms and frozen
streambeds typically have more snow cover and are less challenging. Ask about avalanche
hazards before heading out - Colorado has one of the most dangerous snowpacks in the
world with people dying in slides most years - and avoid steep open slopes.
Novices should consider hiring a guide or traveling with experienced leaders. Rangers
lead weekend snowshoe hikes in the east side of the park from January to April, depend-
ing on snow conditions. Trailhead locations and times are available from the park
headquarters.
Overnight trips require permits, and the USFS and NPS will have a list of closed trails.
You can gear up at the Estes Park Mountain Shop (
Click here
).
Sleeping
The only overnight accommodations in the park are at campgrounds; the majority of
motel or hotel accommodations are around Estes Park or Grand Lake. The closest thing
the park has to the typical Civilian Conservation Corps-era lodges built by public works
at parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone during the Great Depression is the YMCA of the
Rockies, which is on the park's border.
The park's formal campgrounds provide campfire programs, have public telephones
and a seven-day limit during summer months; all except Longs Peak take RVs (no hook-
ups). The water supply is turned off during winter.
You will need a backcountry permit to stay outside developed park campgrounds. None
of the campgrounds have showers, but they do have flush toilets in summer and outhouse
facilities in winter. Sites include a fire ring, picnic table and one parking spot. Most have
bear boxes for food storage.
CAMPGROUND
$
Longs Peak Campground
OFFLINE MAP
( 970-586-1206; Longs Peak Rd, off State Hwy 7; tent sites $20; )
This is the base camp of choice
for the early morning ascent of Longs Peak, one of Colorado's most easily accessible
14ers. The scenery is striking and its 26 spaces are for tents only, but don't expect much
solitude in the peak of the summer.
