Big Thompson River
- estespark.colorado.gov
- Estes Park
About
The Big Thompson comes out of the Park and runs right through Estes Park, and town has made it easy to get to the water. A short riverside path, a couple of small parks, and a place to stand and listen.
The Big Thompson starts in Rocky Mountain National Park and flows through Estes Park. In town, the Riverwalk is a quarter-mile path along the Fall River and the Big Thompson, with trees, flowers, benches and a playground. The Town also lists river access at the Big Thompson Recreational Area, Children's Park and Riverside/Baldwin Park, near the visitor center and the free parking garage. The recreation area is the place for wading and rock-throwing, and the Lake Estes Trail starts nearby. The Town says its parks are the places to start, so check estespark.colorado.gov for rules, including dogs.
I'd do this at the end of a day rather than as the main event. Walk the Riverwalk after dinner and let the kids throw rocks in the shallows. In early summer the river runs high and cold, so stay close and keep hands on small ones. Fishing needs a Colorado license, so check Colorado Parks and Wildlife first. And pack out what you bring, because this is the river everybody walks beside.
