Day One

Explore the Bear Lake Road area.

Visit the Moraine Park Museum.

Take a stroll around Sprague Lake.

Walk around Bear Lake.

Options for easy hikes include The Pool or Bierstadt Lake. (Tip - In summer, you can hike from Bear Lake to the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead and ride the shuttle back to your car.)

Day Two

Drive up Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitors Center. (Be sure to stop at Chasm Falls on the way up.)  Continue on Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake

Take a short hike up the East Inlet Trail to Adams Falls. If time permits, continue to the large meadow beyond the falls.

Explore Grand Lake - time for a snack and some shopping.

While on the West Side, be sure to be on the lookout for moose.

Return to Estes Park by way of Trail Ridge Road, checking out the views at Rock Cut, Forest Canyon Overlook, Rainbow Curve and Many Parks Curve.

Day Three

Hike from Bear Lake to Emerald Lake via Nymph Lake and Dream Lake.

If time allows, on the way back take the trail that branches off at the outlet of Dream Lake to Lake Haiyaha. Either backtrack to the Emerald Lake Trail or continue on the unimproved trail that leads to Glacier Gorge.

Day Four

Explore the Wild Basin area. Hike up the Wild Basin Trail to Ouzel Falls. Not ready to turn around? Continue to Thunder Lake.

On the drive back, stop by St. Catherine's Chapel at St. Malo Retreat - a beautiful stone building in a stunning setting.

If time allows, stop at Lily Lake and stroll around it.

Day Five

Explore the tundra region. The Crater is a short (but steep) hike that is also known for bighorn sheep. Longer options would include any of the mountains accessible from the Chapin Pass Trailhead or Mt. Ida.

Catch one last sunset from Rock Cut on Trail Ridge Road.

Photo by Dixie C. Manning

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