Estes Lake Recreation Area
- visitestespark.com
- Estes Park
About
Lake Estes is the flat, friendly side of Estes Park. A paved loop, a marina, and a fishing pier, all with the mountains behind the water. It's what I suggest for a first morning in town, or a day when the Park feels like too much.
Lake Estes is a 185 acre lake east of downtown. The Lake Estes Trail is a paved loop of roughly four miles (sources list it between 3.75 and 4 miles), reachable from the Visitor Center, the parking garages and the marina. Restrooms and drinking fountains are at Cherokee Draw. The Marina rents kayaks, paddleboards, boats and bikes, usually from about May to mid-September depending on weather. There's an accessible fishing pier near the Fisherman's Nook lot.
Walk it early, before the wind comes up in the afternoon, and you may see wildlife along the shoreline. Give it plenty of room. Bring a layer, because the lake makes its own breeze. Biking works well here, but watch for walkers and stay to the right. Dog rules aren't spelled out on the Visit Estes Park page, so check with the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. This is also a good fallback for a smoky or stormy day when the high country is a bad idea.
