George Hix Riverside Plaza
- estespark.colorado.gov
- Estes Park
About
Where the Big Thompson and Fall River meet, in the middle of downtown. Bridges, fountains, sculptures, and benches. It's the best place in town to sit with an ice cream and watch the water do its thing.
George Hix Riverside Plaza is the center of the Riverwalk, right at the confluence of the Big Thompson River and Fall River. The Town of Estes Park describes it as benches, water features, sculptures, and parking, and there's a sensory garden in the plaza too, with musical instruments and bridges. You can wander in from the downtown sidewalks in a minute. It works for a ten-minute stop or a long sit.
I like it best in the morning, before the shops open and the crowd arrives, when you can actually hear the two rivers. Summer afternoons get busy, and weekends in July are a lot. Walk the Riverwalk in both directions from here, since it's short and easy to do in sandals. Bring a jacket in the evening, because the water keeps it cooler than you expect. Stay on the paths and out of the water near the edges, especially in runoff season when the current gets pushy. Parking is tight, so walk in from somewhere else if you can.
