Colorado Estes Park
June 2026 we road tripped to Estes Park for a peaceful week along a Colorado river. We ate bison-bacon-mushroom pies, hiked mountaintops, and showed Ava Lou some nature :)
The road trip was surprisingly peaceful with scenic rest stops, playgrounds, and tasty discoveries along the way. Annies raspberry filled pastries in South Dakota were memorable. We also loved the sculpture garden in Loveland, Colorado!
From Estes, we decided to hike the Lumpy Ridge Trail, Kruger Rock Trail, and Mills Lake via Bear Lake Trail. For Kruger Rock, we were able to purchase the permit morning of. For Mills Lake, we had to win the 7pm lottery the night before to be able to park on the Bear Lake road corridor.
Lumpy Ridge Trail
Difficulty: Moderate. Distance: 4.1 miles. Elevation gain: 1,085 ft. Time: 3hr. Trailhead: Lumpy Ridge Trailhead.
Kruger Rock Trail
Difficulty: Moderate. Distance: 3.9 miles. Elevation gain: 997 ft. Time: 3 hr. Trailhead: Kruger Rock Trailhead.
Amazing 360 views and a view over Estes Lake!
Mills Lake via Bear Lake Trail
Difficulty: Moderate. Distance: 6.0 miles. Elevation gain: 1,010 ft. Time: 4 hrs 20 minutes.
Trailhead: Bear Lake Trailhead.
Traversed past Alberta Falls 30ft waterfall. Beautiful alternate route up to Sky Pond.
We enjoyed relaxing at our River Cabin! Paradise on the River was legit.
On the way out of Colorado we acquired an elk for Ava :)
