Things To Do When You Visit Estes Park With Kids

 

Estes Park, Colorado, is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States. Visiting Estes Park with kids should be on your radar. Kids of all ages love the great outdoors, and Rocky Mountain National Park has it all. Estes Park sits at the east entrance of the national park, making it a great place to start your adventures.

This post was originally published in April 2013 and has been completely updated and restructured for June 2026.

Estes Park Family Trip: Quick Tips

• Top Kid Hike- Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Haiyaha (young kiddos can do this hike).
• Best Picnic Spot- Sprague Lake (Featuring fire pits, grills, and walking paths).
• Enjoy A Meal At Penelope’s – On The Main Drag In Estes Park (World-Famous Burgers).
• Book Your Timed Entry Ticket To Rocky Mountain National Park for Mid-May through Mid-October Visits ( Book Timed Entry Here).

A visit to Estes Park is one sure way to get your kids off of the couch. The outdoor family-oriented activities are endless. Our family loves the Estes Park area, as the list of things to do here goes on for miles. Here are three of our favorite things to experience while visiting Estes Park, Colorado.

Best Kid-Friendly Hike: Dream Lake via Bear Lake Trailhead

Important RMNP Summer Travel Note: To hike Bear Lake or Sprague Lake between May and October, you will need a Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road Permit in addition to your standard national park pass. Be sure to book these ahead of time at Recreation.gov, so you are not turned away at the gate.

The Bear Lake Trailhead area is home to many trails that will work for families. One of our boys’ favorite hikes has always been to Dream Lake. Yes, this trail is extremely busy, but well worth it. Upon arriving at Dream Lake, find a rock to break out your snacks on and enjoy the scenery.

Keep your eyes on your back packs at all times, as there are many critters that are scurrying to find a meal or two! If you are up to it and have started your hike early in the day, head on back to Lake Haiyaha or Emerald Lake. Our boys have hiked all of these trails since they were ages 2 and 6. Today, our boys are grown adults, and they still talk about their hikes as young kids in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Horseback Riding In Estes Park With Kids

Glacier Creek Stables in the national park offers an incredible horseback riding experience. There are several places throughout the Estes Park area you can ride horses – View the list here.

Sprague Lake- A Hike For Everyone

There are several stables throughout the Estes Park area, including Rocky Mountain National Park. Keep in mind, if you do not ride horses on a regular basis, you will not want to plan a long hike the following day you go horseback riding. Many people don’t realize that horseback riding is an actual workout.

Picnics At Sprague Lake In Rocky Mountain National Park

A picnic is a fantastic way to explore Estes Park and all of its surroundings. Pack a picnic basket full of sandwiches, snacks, and plenty of water.

Water becomes a necessity, so pack accordingly. Sprague Lake offers a nice setting for picnics. With several picnic tables and fire pits/grills, this is a family-friendly picnic area. Pack a frisbee, sport a comfy pair of shoes, and enjoy a picnic around a beautiful lake!

Horseback Riding In Rocky Mountain National Park

Hiking, horseback riding and picnicking are three fun things that our family loves to do while visiting Estes Park. No visit to Estes Park would not be complete without a stop at Penelope’s World Famous Burgers & Fries. This iconic restaurant is located at 229 W Elkhorn Avenue in Estes Park. A perfect meal to round out a day of fun in the great outdoors.

If you realize you have forgotten to bring your backpacks, proper footwear, never fear. Estes Park is filled with many family friendly stores that are there to meet your needs.

And don’t forget to stop into one of the Main Street to pick up your trail tags. As you can tell, our boys have enjoyed collecting these over the years.

View The Official Estes Park Visitor Guide Online

Estes Park is a fantastic place to visit with kids. Plan your visit today, you will be grateful that you did!