Family Activities in Estes Park, CO

Explore the Outdoors

• Rocky Mountain Park is one of the big reasons people visit Estes Park, and the park has plenty of year-round family fun. In winter, take the kids to the park̵7;s Hidden Valley Snow Play Area, a fenced-in, hilly section of the park where families sled and tube in snowy weather. The park̵7;s beginner-friendly trails are an ideal place to introduce your kids to the joys of snowshoeing. In summer, families can hike on the park̵7;s 350 miles of trails, pedal a paddle boat around Lake Estes or take a kayak trip down the Poudre River. The park participates in the Junior Ranger program, which awards kids badges for completing the activities in the Junior Ranger guide -- ask for a copy at the Visitor Center.

Get Spooked

• Some kids love to be scared by a good ghost story, and if your child is one of them, make reservations for the Ghost Stories tour at the Stanley Hotel. Author Stephen King got the idea for his book ̶0;The Shining̶1; while staying at the Stanley off-season, and programs like ̶0;Ghost Hunters̶1; have investigated paranormal activity in the hotel. The Ghost Stories tour is family-friendly, but stories about the hotel̵7;s haunted rooms and ghostly guests may be too much for sensitive kids. If you̵7;re looking for spooky stories to tell around the campfire, set up a session with Storytelling in the Rockies, and listen to the Rockies̵7; local legends and ghost stories.

Enjoy the Water

• The mountain lakes in Estes are usually too cold to swim in without a wetsuit, but you can enjoy the water without diving in. The family-friendly Trout Haven Fishing Pond is a fun place to teach kids how to cast and bait a hook. Because you don̵7;t need a license and can borrow all the equipment you need for free from the office, it̵7;s also pretty hassle-free. The office will even clean your catch and pack it on ice for you. If you want to spend the day on the water, bring lunch and plenty of sunscreen to the Lake Estes Marina, where you can rent a fishing or pontoon boat and explore Lake Estes. See if the kids can spot an elk on the shore.

Play Together

• Kids can sink a hole-in-one, take a leap on the Extreme Bungee Trampoline, hone their skee-ball skills and zoom around in bumper cars at the Estes Park Ride-A-Cart Family Amusement Center. If you̵7;re looking for something to do indoors, bowl a few games at Chipper̵7;s Lanes, which has morning bowling sessions just for preschoolers and a family-friendly vibe. Give the kids a close-up look at Colorado̵7;s ranch life at MacGregor Ranch. Call ahead to set up a tour of the barn or a program on homesteading or Colorado history for your family, or check the online calendar for upcoming events.