Top Estes Park How to Get Around in 2026

We offer private, fully customizable hiking tours of Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a guided hike to see the best the area has to offer. You follow our guide to the trailhead (in your own vehicle) to begin your hike. All tours include a timed entry reservation, gear rentals, and 5 professional photos available for digital download. (Ask about our add-on package for more photos!) We offer fully inclusive and accessible options as well. Great for solo travelers or the whole family and all ability levels. We will text you to build your custom itinerary after we receive your booking request. 4 hour: Easy/Beginner 6 hour: Medium/Intermediate 8 hour: Hard/Advanced

Riding an Ebike around Lake Estes is one of the most popular things to do in Estes Park. You're almost guaranteed to encounter elk along the way and the beautiful views are around every corner. The bike path starts at Backbone Adventures and loops right back to us. Bring the whole family, we have kids bikes, tag alongs, and toddler carts. Don't forget your phone. You're going to find all kinds of picture points.

Enjoy unobstructed views–come rain or shine–as you discover all that the Rocky Mountains have to offer in a retractable glass-top vehicle. This 4- to 6-hour, small-group adventure takes you above the treetops, to cascading waterfalls and past glaciers. Fill your lungs with Rocky’s fresh mountain air during a pleasant short hike or two to some of the points of interest.

The basecamp to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park offers unlimited high-elevation adventure—and with this tour, you’ll see that for yourself, *without* breaking a sweat. Following your guide, you’ll set off on an e-bike, traveling from the famous Stanley Hotel to downtown Estes to Rocky Mountain and more, getting to know this mountain town in the open air.

Climb from the streets of the "Mile High City" to Rocky Mountain National Park, on a day trip that showcases the rugged beauty of Colorado's mountains. Weave through small, historic towns and drive over alpine passes, as you scan the horizon for mountain wildlife such as elk, black bears, or moose.

Explore the picturesque town of Estes Park—and leave the crowds behind—on this small-group e-bike tour around its scenic landscape. Discover highlights, including the historic main street and renowned Stanley Hotel, ride on the dedicated cycle path by Lake Estes, and take in panoramic views of Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the way, learn about the area and hear insights on local culture and traditions.

Skip the awkward group tours or finagling a ranger talk into your Rocky Mountain National Park schedule. This private self-guided tour lets you hit all the stops you want, always at your pace. With hours of content—enough for several days—you’ll get an in-depth look wherever you go in the RMNP area, from Estes Park to Trail Ridge Road to Bear Lake and beyond.

Get your creative juices flowing and participate in a painting workshop during your time in Estes Park, Colorado. Join a small group at a studio and discover a new art medium—acrylic pour painting. Every guest receives a canvas and learns how to pour the paints in a methodic way to create beautiful works of art. The best part is, that you can create your work without worrying about cleaning up.

Explore Rocky Mountain National Park with the ease only a private, guided tour can give you. After pickup from your hotel, you’ll drive up, up, up the famous Trail Ridge Road—the highest continuous paved road in the country—see frozen waterfalls, go for a guided trek around an alpine lake (spikes provided!), and witness the grandeur only Rocky Mountain can provide.

Leave the guidebook behind and spend an afternoon exploring Rocky Mountain National Park with a local historian and naturalist with decades of experience. This private afternoon tour can be customized based on your interests and is an ideal introduction to the massive park, which can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. Get wildlife viewing tips and learn about the area’s pioneer and Native American history along the way.

We are the only unguided Jeep rental service in Estes Park. In your opinion, this is the best experience. You go at your pace and create you're own adventure. If you want to take it easy, you can do that. If you want to crank it up and test your skills, you have that option. You're not forced onto one specific trail. You get to choose (Backbone Adventures help with that) a trail best suited for you.

Estes Park is the year-round adventure playground of Colorado and the base camp for Rocky Mountain National Park. With seemingly endless outdoor activities, there is truly something for every one. On the comfort of an electric bike enjoy the ride, take in the sites, and learn the history from your experienced tour guide. Experience a memorable two hour Guided Electric Bike Tour!

Explore the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains like never before on our guided tour of Rocky Mountain National Park! This self-guided audio tour will take you on a journey through the park's iconic peaks, and stunning alpine lakes, with views of breathtaking wildlife. Turn your phone into a personal guide as we share fascinating insights into the park's geology, ecology, and history. With stops at multiple viewpoints and scenic overlooks, you'll have plenty of opportunities to explore the park's stunning vistas and capture unforgettable photos. The tour provides directions, stories, music, and travel tips - all in the comfort of your own vehicle. It's like having a tour guide along for the ride. We've done all the planning, so you don't have to! *Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*

An ATV (quad) ride through the Rocky Mountains. Honestly, it just doesn't exist anymore, but it does with Backbone Adventures. Backbone Adventures offers it because it's exciting, fun, and active. It's what we love to do and we think you're going to love it to. Although it's unguided, we're on the trail with you for whatever you need. We can also help to point out amazing vista points and aid with riding techniques. The quads are operated on the same trail as your Polaris Razors, so you can blend vehicles if you have a larger group.

Explore the stunning landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park on this private car tour from Estes Park. With expert local guidance. Where captivating views and memorable experiences await. This comfortable tour includes a variety of stops, from the serene Sprague Lake to the breathtaking Trail Ridge Road, ensuring every moment is picture-perfect. Enjoy the convenience of transportation, binoculars for wildlife watching, and refreshing water throughout the journey, all in about 3 hours. Ideal for families and nature lovers seeking a relaxing adventure in the heart of Colorado. - Private 3-hour car tour of Estes & RMNP! - Includes transportation, binoculars, and water - Perfect for families and nature enthusiasts looking for a stress-free experience

Experience Rocky Mountain National Park on this personalized, small-group tour. NO PARK RESERVATIONS NEEDED! We handle all park entry logistics so you can relax and enjoy the day. Departing from Boulder, travel in a luxury high-roof van with your expert naturalist guide. Begin the day with light breakfast bites before exploring iconic areas like Trail Ridge Road, alpine tundra, scenic valleys, and pristine lakes, with time for photos and short walks along the way. Watch for wildlife including elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, marmots, and pikas. Each guest is provided with Vortex binoculars for an up-close viewing experience. Midday, enjoy a catered picnic lunch in a beautiful mountain setting. This all-inclusive experience covers transportation, park entry, meals, and guiding, just sit back and enjoy the Rockies.

If you're going to Rocky Mountain National Park for the animals, maximize your sightings with a full-day tour completely focused on wildlife. Travel with a guide who knows the best places to spot amazing Colorado creatures like bighorn sheep, moose, elk, and mule deer. Avoid the crowds at off-the-track locations, and learn about the park’s amazing biodiversity along the way.

We'll provide binoculars for wildlife spotting, basic gear like trekking poles (if hiking), extra water, and snacks to keep you fueled and comfortable throughout the experience. For your private guided tour in beautiful RMNP, be sure to come prepared with sturdy, closed-toe shoes—no sandals—as well as warm layers to adjust for changing mountain weather. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated on the trail.

Ride at your pace unguided and adventure through one of the most beautiful rocky mountain ATV trails in Estes Park in a Polaris Razor. The trail hosts one of the best vista points you're going to see in Colorado looking back at Rocky Mountain National Park. Backbone Adventures is your chance to have a seriously good time and build lasting memories with your family and friends. We can host group events, wedding parties, and potentially special requests.

Explore Rocky Mountain National Park on a private hiking tour led by a local expert. We pick you up from your lodging in Estes Park in a luxury vehicle and customize your hike based on your interests, pace, and experience level. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, alpine lakes, or wildlife sightings, we’ll guide you off the beaten path for a truly unforgettable adventure. As part of your tour, you’ll also have access to your personal hiking guide and concierge for the duration of your stay—ready to help with dining reservations, hidden gems, and activity planning. No timed entry required. No crowded shuttles. Just a seamless, stress-free way to experience the magic of the mountains.

Venture out into Rocky Mountain National Park to check out the wildlife! In the spring the moose are often out and about. There are also plenty of other animals you may run across during this tour especially including Elk, Turkey, Coyote, Mule Deer, and many others. If you're an ANIMAL ENTHUSIAST this tour is for you as we will travel around to try and see as many as possible. This is a guided wildlife viewing expedition sightings of animals although very likely are not guaranteed. This is a 2 hour tour and includes park entry as well as any timed entry. You just have to show up, and let us take care of the rest!

ChatGPT said: Embark on a thrilling 2-day adventure through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, where wildlife, history, and geology come alive. With expert guides, you’ll have the chance to spot moose, bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, black bears, grizzlies, wolves, bald eagles, foxes, coyotes, and even graceful swans. In the Tetons, explore the rich history of Jackson Hole, take in panoramic views from Signal Mountain, visit historic Mormon Row, and hike to the stunning Hidden Falls at Jenny Lake. In Yellowstone, uncover the fascinating story of its supervolcano and witness the geothermal wonders it fuels—Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, bubbling mud pots, and fumaroles. Stand in awe at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Artist Point Waterfalls, then journey into Hayden Valley, a premier wildlife-watching paradise. Along the way, scenic stops and local insight make this tour an unforgettable immersion into America’s most iconic landscapes.

Backbone Adventures offers an excursion you'll never forget. We suggest choosing the Switzerland Trail or Rollins Pass (favorite). Rollins Pass for example will take you to high mountain lakes (bring your fly fishing poles), old mine shafts, and snowy glaciers (even in summer). It's so remote, you'll feel like the entire mountain range is your's and yours only. The Polaris Northstar UTV is luxury at it's finest with GPS trail navigation, bluetooth stereo, heat and AC, power windows, and a smooth ride. Plenty of room for the whole family.