About Estes Park

STATS & FACTS

Altitude:
The Town of Estes Park is in a high mountain valley, 7,522 feet above sea level, readily accessible by good roads year round and surrounded by snow-capped peaks ranging from 8,500 to more than 14,000 feet high.

Land Area:
Town 5.82 square miles
Estes Valley: 32 square miles

Location:
60 miles northwest of Denver, via Interstate 25 north to Colorado 66, west to U.S. Highway 36 to Estes Park at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park; or north on Interstate 25 to U.S. Hwy. 34 at Loveland, then west on U.S. Highway 34 through the scenic Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park.

Population:
The Estes Park School District comprises an area including Glen Haven, Pinewood Springs and Allenspark. The area has a 12-month population of about 10,000. The area’s full time population swells to more than 15,000 in summer months, with an estimated daily population count of 50,000.

The Name:
The word “park” in the name “Estes Park” comes from the geologic description of a glacially cut level valley between mountain ranges. “Estes” refers to one of the earliest settlers.

Climate:
Estes Park’s beautiful dry climate attracts thousands of visitors each summer from hot, humid climates at lower elevations. Mornings are almost unfailingly sunny, winter and summer, and the frequent summertime afternoon showers usually dissipate in time for the nightly display of stars in the sky, made even more spectacular by the lack of urban light and air pollution. The village of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are two of the most accessible mountain areas in the state of Colorado because there are no mountain passes to cross en route and because the highways are well maintained year-round.

• Summer: Summers are warm but rarely uncomfortably hot, cooled by frequent afternoon showers. The low humidity makes the hot summer days (average high in July is about 85°) seem cool to those from other areas of the country. And our cool evenings (it can dip to under 50° at night in July) are extremely comfortable.
• Winter: Winters are surprisingly mild, with highs usually in the 40s and lows in the 20s. During winter the daytime temperature is usually above freezing, and snow melts within a couple of days.