Estes Park

Located about 90 miles northwest of Denver, Estes Park is surrounded by nationally protected lands and mountain peaks ranging in elevation from 8,500 feet to over 14,000 feet. The town welcomes residents and visitors alike with spectacular scenery, laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere and superior hospitality to match. 

Estes Park is a year-round community with over 6,500 residents. The downtown offers unique shops, galleries, restaurants and places to explore. The Big Thompson and Fall Rivers meet at Riverside Plaza, an open park connecting to the scenic Riverwalk. Eight miles of improved hiking and biking trails traverse the valley floor past a bird sanctuary, golf courses, and around Lake Estes. Outdoor activities range from hiking, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, to rock and ice climbing. Outdoor enthusiasts also take advantage of boating on Lake Estes, mountain biking, and horseback trails. Additionally, the area is known for its diverse variety of watchable wildlife, including elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.

With its scenic river walk alongside the Big Thompson River, Estes Park is home to more than 200 retail stores and many restaurants that feature live music. Estes park has established an international reputation for the quality and variety of festivals it hosts. These include the Stanley Film Festival (held on the grounds of the Stanley Hotel, where horror-writer Stephen King penned “The Shining" and also served as the stand-in for Aspen in the movie "Dumb and Dumber") Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, Rooftop Rodeo, Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival, Wool Market, Jazz Fest & Art Walk, Elk Fest, Catch the Glow Holiday Parade & Celebration and Estes Park Duck Race.

The climate is dry, both summer and winter, receiving an average of 14 inches of precipitation each year. On average, the Estes Park receives only 34 inches of snow during a winter season.

Population:  6,504 (2020 estimate)
Elevation: 7,522
Climate: Nearly 300 days of sunshine per year with an average of 14 inches of precipitation
Geography: Estes Park sits at an elevation of 7,522 feet on the front range of the Rocky Mountains at the eastern entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park

Median Family Income: $59,826

There are approximately 1,020 students, in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 attending Estes Park.

Park School District R-3 follows the Colorado Department of Education curriculum standards for the CORE subjects as well as art, music, and physical education. Special Education, English as a Second Language, gifted education, and foreign language are examples of additional programs offered at Park School District. In addition, there are numerous sports, clubs, and other activities available to students.

Rocky Mountain National Park, rated the #1 Outdoor and Adventure Destination in the U.S. by Tripadvisor, is just 4 short miles west of Estes Park. The park encompasses 415 square miles of mountain peaks with more than 350 miles of hiking, over 700 species of wildflowers, 150 named lakes, and Longs Peak - one of Colorado’s best known “14-ers.” Abundant wildlife can be seen year round, including the elk that frequently roam downtown.

The Estes Park Medical Center is a 25-bed critical access, acute care facility with a 24-hour emergency department, 24-hour ambulance service, emergency air transport, medical/surgical services, obstetrics, home health care and hospice. University of Colorado Health—and its affiliated Poudre Valley Hospital—operate UC Health Primary Care. This facility is staffed five days per week with three doctors and a nurse practitioner, and they offer convenient online scheduling as well as walk-in visits.

Tourists are the lifeblood of the region’s economy. Most jobs are in hospitality or supporting industries and many of the businesses in town operate seasonally. Small business owners are the backbone of the region. Real estate/construction is the second largest job provider. Many residents commute daily to Loveland, Fort Collins and the Boulder area.