Estes Park, CO : Anyone close to there?

[Diggles]

I'm road tripping out west for the month of August & would love to have some input from a local. I would like to bring my bike, but will mostly be on the rocks at RMNP. I'll be on my own so...

Any locals? Help a sista out with the local low-down?

-d

[pooks]

I'm not local, but I've camped there several times. My favorite place to camp in the world. I'm pretty sure you can rent bikes in town.

[sarahkonamojo]

I'm kind of near there. (Fort Collins) There are some amazing road rides in the area, east, west, south mostly. If you are in Estes there is some up and a lot of downhills that you then have to ride back up. You could log some epic days.

RMNP Very beautiful place. It is best enjoyed for the hiking. No mountain bikes allowed in the park on trails, but roads ok, of course.

Enjoy it. You won't be alone.
sarah

[Pedal Wench]

One epic ride is Trail Ridge Road up through the park. It's supposed to be fabulous - I've never done it -- yet. Check with the rangers to make sure the road is cleared for cycling.

[Diggles]

Thanks girls! I wasn't aware you weren't allowed to ride on park trails so I'm glad to have that tidbit. I'm not sure I have what it takes to ride there so perhaps just stick to the rocks.

If anyone is interested in climbing...lemme know...I'd love to meet up with a familiar...er...uh...screen-name?:D

[pooks]

I don't think you can take bikes off road at the park. But I see them on the roads all the time, and the views are outstanding. It truly is my favorite place in the world to camp. Not that I've camped all over the world. But you know what I mean.

[HappyAnika]

Hi there, I'm just down the hill in Longmont. I don't have a lot of experience with the park itself (we have dogs and like to take them with us - no dogs in the park). You could ride down and then back up several canyons (36 and 7 go into Lyons, I would recommend 7, less traffic and prettier, 34 goes into Loveland, I've only driven this a couple of times, not sure how it'd be on the bike). A great ride would be to head out of Estes on 7 toward Hwy 72 aka the Peak to Peak Hwy which goes to Nederland, a funky mountain town at the top of Boulder Canyon. While there are lots of ups and downs, you stay at relatively the same elevation, as opposed to dropping the 2,500 - 3,000 ft down to the front range. The views along the peak to peak are fabulous, its a designated scenic route. Just remember to drink a ton of water, its "high and dry" here. Oh, and I just have to throw in that we got married in Estes Park, at Lily Lake which is technically in the park, but just off Hwy 7 outside the entrances. Have a great trip!

[Diggles]

i would love to go to fort collins. i hear the bouldering there is outstanding & there's a brewery...new belgium (sp?) that is famous all the way here in kentucky.

i need to figure out my camping arrangements for the month. it's not hot out there is it?

Hot...remember i'm in kentucky. it's 97 here w/ 90% humidity.

[Kathi]

Hot but not the kind of hot you're used to, no humidity. It was 100 yesterday here in Denver. We slept with the windows open last night and have not turned on the swamp cooler today.

I rode my bike yesterday, went out about 11:00 for 1.5 hrs. The climb back to the house was a little warm, but not miserable

100 degrees without humidity feels like 90 degrees. Of course, Estes Park is higher elevation so it is cooler.

My friend who lives in Silverthorne cuts grass at Keystone Golf course and he says that in the mornings this time of year there is often frost on the grass.

Colorado is like anywhere else, it can get cold in the summer. Two weeks ago, the weekend of the Triple Bypass, it was rainy and in the 60's here in Denver. Riders on the Triple Bypass bailed, not because of the rain, but because of the cold and danger of hypothermia.

We're in the monsoon season, not sure how long it lasts, so it can be sunny and beautiful in the mornings and rain showers in the afternoon.

Be prepared for cold and hot. There are stores in Estes Park so you can buy whatever you need if you forget somethng. That's how they make their money, :) tourists forget to bring essentials (warm clothes) so they have to buy them.

I made that mistake myself in June, it was hot here so I took only shorts to Summit County, it was in the 60's and 30"s at night. Fortunately, I had left a pair of long pants and a long sleeved shirt in the condo, so I got by.

[Diggles]

You girls are so freakin helpful. Doesn't even have to be about cycling...y'all are just some nice gals.:p ;)

I would never have thought to bring clothes for cold in august. neva. it's going to be a tight squeeze all the way from north carolina in a 328 BMW w/ a bike, 2 crash pads, 2 sets of climbing gear & clothes. Oh & 2 adults. Ha!

[Kathi]

More info from one of our hiking books,

Snow can fall in higher elevations any time, rain in Colorado tends to be cold and unprepared hikers can become hypothermic at any time, monsoon season (mid-July to early Sept) brings occasional gray, rainy days and increased thunderstorms. Flash flooding and lightening (very dangerous out here) are 2 other problems with thunderstorms. It snowed on Monarch pass 2 weeks ago.

" Whatever the season, always bring layer of clothes and rain gear. Weather can change quickly and a temp drop of 10-20 degrees F in one hour is not unheard of. Be prepared!"

Another tidbit, for every 1,000 ft of elevation gained, the temp. drops 5.5 degrees F. If Denver at 5,280 is 80 deg.F it may be 53 degrees in Leadville at 10,190 ft! That's what got me the day I rode up there, temps were in the 50's Fortunately, I did have my arm and leg warmers with me and a light jacket.

[pooks]

Always prepare for cold nights camping in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. That's the reason I love to camp there! Beautiful days, perfect for hiking without roasting -- and cool nights, all the better for sleeping!

[sarahkonamojo]

Diggles,

Not sure about the climbing in Fort Collins. I know there is a lot of climbing up near Horsetooth and the Poudre Canyon.

I do know about the breweries in Fort Collins. Worth the trip to see New Belgium. Great tasting room and some fun cycling gear for sale. And don't miss Odells (brewery) also in Fort Collins. The Odells facility is not as impressive, but I drink more Odells than New Belgium...

(I live in Fort Collins.)

Enjoy your adventure.

Sarah

[HappyAnika]

I have quite a bit of experience with high altitude hiking (and I'm a weather buff) and my advice would be to not plan on it being either hot or cold, but rather both. The thing about the temperature dropping 5 degrees with every 1,000 ft is not always the case. It is often just as hot (up to 97 easily) in Estes as it is at my home, 3,000 ft. lower. On days like that the biggest difference is it cools off a lot and very quickly in the mountains at night. You can experience the weather of all 4 seasons in a single summer day, including snow and freezing hail above 9,000 ft. That weekend Kathi mentioned where is was cold and rainy, DH and I were on a hike and it was the coldest I've ever been on a hike, including snowshoeing in the winter. The very next weekend we were hiking and it was 96 when we got back to the trailhead at 2 pm at 8,000 ft. Layering is absolutley the key to being prepared. We have a little saying out here: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute and it will change."

One last comment about the afternoon thunderstorms, do everything you can to not be above treeline after 1 pm. (This is assuming you have a ways to go to find shelter). You can find dreadful stories of rock climbers and hikers being killed by lightning strikes, particularly on Long's Peak. I can't remember the exact numbers, but I think Colorado came in 3rd place recently for states with the most lightning caused deaths. Some people come to CO all worried about bears and mountain lions, the thing they should worry about is the weather. I don't want to try and scare anyone, but the weather here deserves respect. If you just follow a couple of simple guidelines you'll stay safe and have a great time. And if the weather is too crappy too climb one day, definitely head to New Belgium ;)

[Kathi]

The weekend of the Triple Bypass was cold and rainy but when you are from areas like Ohio and Ky rain in July doesn't equal hypothermia. You get a little chilly but many times rain feels refreshing. We talked to 5 riders who started the Triple Bypass but quit because they were so cold. We heard that only 190 riders finished out of 3,000. It sounded like many of them weren't prepared either.

The weekend I rode in Leadville was in June. It was 90ish here in Denver but in the 50's and 60's in Summit County.

Estes Park isn't as high as Leadville but HappyAnnika is right layering is the key. And as they said on the news last night, lightening is the no.1 weather related killer in Colorado. Last month a motorcyclist was struck by lightening and killed here in Denver and the other day a group of hikers were hit. I heard that if you hear thunder you can be struck by lightening.

Just be prepared!

[Diggles]

ok, now i'm nervous. i have very little space for clothing so i'm going to have to plan this well. i have zero money to blow on the i didn't plan on this stuff.:eek: i appreciate the advice greatly.

i've been looking for camping spots too & EVERYTHING is really expensive. the cheapest i've found is $15 a night. http://www.nationalparkcampground.com/NPC-Rates.HTML (the primitive tent camping one)
$15/night by yourself is a lot. i'm a dirtbag climber! i'm wondering if i might be able to just park somewhere & sleep in the car w/out being bothered by the police.
anyone have any suggestions? i know i've asked a lot from you girls already...i'm sorry to be a pain...

-d

[Kathi]

Have you looked at Grand Lake? It's the other side of the park. Estes Park is like Gatlinburg, touristy and expensive.

[sarahkonamojo]

I'm not a climber, but I know the area a little. I know some people like to climb Lumpy Ridge, but don't think it is actually in the park. Point is, you don't need to stay in the Park. Like Kathi said look to Granby/Grand Lake. Or look south of Estes.

As far as climbing goes, are you going to climb Longs or are you a rock climber? Either way, opportinuties for climbing are wide spread and not limited to RMNP. The Taylor River Canyon near Gunnison has some great climbing and camping will be a lot cheaper. If you are looking to climb 14ers you might head to Buena Vista and climb the collegiates.

In general when looking at a map of Colorado lands, BLM land will have the cheapest, often free and unimproved, camping, US Forest Service land is next in expense, but will vary, National Parks are the most expensive. And if you use Reserve America, you often pay double due to a reservation fee.

Good luck,
sarah

[Susarific]

I spent the summer in Estes Park years ago while I was in college. I rode my bike all over the town and in the park. Trail Ridge Road is an awesome ride. I would ride up Trail Ridge Road to the Trail Ridge Store and then down Fall River Road back to Estes Park. There is also a nice bike shop there called Colorado Bicycling Adventures, they should be able to help you with anything that you need!! Have a great time and definitely eat at the Sweet Basilico Cafe, it's AWESOME!!