Estes Park
Historic town · Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park's eastern gateway fills with visiting elk that wander onto golf courses and downtown lawns each fall rut, while the 1909 Stanley Hotel and Riverwalk shops anchor a town built around the autumn tourist season.
Don’t miss
Color nearby peaks: September 23–September 27
Color builds from September 17 · mostly bare by October 17
Sampled at Estes Park’s own coordinates and elevation (2309 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 54 weather points across Colorado, nudged 2 days earlier to match 2 published peak dates from csfs.colostate.edu and smokymountains.com. This year's weather has the peak running 4 days earlier than a normal year. How the forecast works
When to go to Estes Park
Good color holds through about October 4, giving you roughly 17 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 14 days earlier than Colorado as a whole. It sits at 7,575 ft, high enough to turn before the valleys do.
It is roughly 52 mi out of Denver.
Estes Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Colorado, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Colorado
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When does Estes Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 23–September 27 (best estimate September 25). Color starts around September 17 and is mostly bare by October 17.
- How do I get to Estes Park?
- The closest city is Denver, about 52 mi away. It's part of Colorado's fall lineup.
Own or manage Estes Park? Update your listing or get in touch.