10 Sightseeing Tours in Estes Park That You Shouldn't Miss

Make the most of your time in Colorado and treat yourself to a fully customized private tour in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. This is the perfect tour for someone who simply wants ample time at each sight and a guide who treats them like family showing them all their favorite spots. Disconnect for a day and immerse yourself in the beauty and solitude of these majestic mountains in an upscale vehicle that offers extensive views of your surroundings. Feel small against the vast, all-encompassing, mountains surrounding you as you take in Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine. From Denver, drive along through Boulder with its famous Flatirons Rock Formations. Continue through canyons alive with wildlife up to Estes Park, the charming town at the entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Inclusions: Hotel pickup, National Park fees, Bottled water, Driver/guide, Professional guide, Snacks, COVID-19 Prepared: masks, routine sanitizing, and more

Exclusions: Gratuities

This is a private custom tour in a luxury SUV. I am a history buff and have been a private guide for over 12 years. I am certified by the State of Colorado for private driving and guiding for all my tours. I will not only show you the beautiful sites of the Colorado Mountains but I will also give you some of the sordid and salacious details of Estes Park's past. In the Rocky Mountain National Park we can go on small hikes to the Alluvial Fan and other sites such as Spaque Lake or Bear Lake. There are many wild animals to see such as Mule Deer, Elk, Moose and more. Estes Park is a great place to souvenier shop and stop for a bite to eat from one lof the local establishment that specialize in the local game and food. If the clients would rather go to Grand Lake then I can customize and take that route. This is a full day where you will see some of the most beautiful majestic sites that exists. We will drive along the longest higest road in America where you will witness these sites.

Inclusions: Private transportation

Exclusions: Lunch

Explore Rocky through your viewfinder on a 4 hour Photo Safari. Select from Landscape, Wildlife, or Instructional Photo Safari options to get the best experience you can. Our job is to get you to the right place at the right time, avoid the crowds, help you dial in the best settings and get the best compositions to get the best images to take home. This tour is highly customizable with many locations and subjects we can focus on, so everything is tailored to your interests. For the Landscape option we can shot Sunrise at an Subalpine Lake, on the Tundra, or along the river of a Mountain Meadow. Wildlife like Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Marmots, Pika, and on lucky days Bighorn Sheep can be captured. We can also focus more on education so you can learn to get the most out of your camera, to get off of Auto and learn your f-stop, exposure, focus, and composition. All guests have access to our arsenal of Nikon pro cameras and lens like the D810 and 600mm lens.

Inclusions: Transport by private vehicle, Private tour, Hotel/port pickup and drop-off, Professional photographer guide with 15 years of teaching experience, Local guide, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions:

We will explore and photograph the appropriately named Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park. We will hike along the North Saint Vrain Creek, and stop along the way to photograph several waterfalls (including Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls). Bring your tripod and a polarizer filter, and I will demonstrate my techniques for capturing waterfalls and other moving water in a variety of lighting conditions, and help you capture great silky water photographs. The full hike to Ouzel Falls is about 5.5 miles (9 km) round trip, with just under 1,000' elevation gain. For those not able to do the full hike, we will do a more leisurely hike to Calypso Cascades (about 3.6 miles round trip, and about 700' of elev. gain), which still takes you deep into a beautiful area, with multiple falls, and wildflowers and fall color in season. Don't have a RMNP entrance reservation? (new this year) No need! My commercial use permit means we don't need an advance permit!

Inclusions: Private transportation, Snacks, Park entrance reservation

Exclusions: Park entrance fees - bring a national park pass or receipt for entrance.

Explore Rocky through your viewfinder on a 4 hour Photo Safari. Select from Landscape, Wildlife, or Instructional Photo Safari options to get the best experience you can. Our job is to get you to the right place at the right time, avoid the crowds, help you dial in the best settings and get the best compositions to get the best images to take home. This tour is highly customizable with many locations and subjects we can focus on, so everything is tailored to your interests. For the Landscape option we can shot Sunset at an Subalpine Lake, or on the Tundra. Wildlife like Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Marmots, Pika, and on lucky days Bighorn Sheep can be captured. We can also focus more on education so you can learn to get the most out of your camera, to get off of Auto and learn your f-stop, exposure, focus, and composition. All guests have access to our arsenal of Nikon pro cameras and lens like the D810 and 600mm lens.

Inclusions: Transport by private vehicle, Private tour, Hotel/port pickup and drop-off, Professional photographer guide with 15 years of teaching experience, Local guide, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions:

Enjoy a  Evening Wildlife Safari leaving from Estes Park in RMNP. Each tour is limited to 4 guests and private so each trip is just for you and your group. We will pick you up outside the office of your Estes Park hotel at the time we confirm, usually 5pm  or later but adjusted depending on the exact date. Yellow Wood Guiding Wildlife Safaris are driving tours with many stops as we travel across Trail Ridge Road. Our tours are designed to both provide great views of wildlife, but also learn extraordinary information about these amazing animals and the wonderful Rocky Mountain ecosystem.  Nearly every Summer Safari we see Moose cows and sometimes bulls, Elk bulls and cow herds with calves, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep on the distant mountains through the spotting scope, Yellow-bellied Marmots, American Pika, and a number of small cute critters only found in the Rockies like Least Chipmunk, Ground Squirrels, many different birds and some hawk & eagles.

Inclusions: Local Professional Guide with 12 years experience and having lead 4000+ tours, Professional photographer guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Live commentary on board, Private tour, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: National Park Entrance fees

Custom tour designed for you and where your interests are. We are not on a schedule and can even adapt as we go depending upon what we find on your special day. I am a local historian and naturalist who has lived in the area for over 50 years. I consider myself an interpreter of nature adding color to the already stunning beauty you'll see. We'll concentrate on the myriad wildlife, the diverse biology, and incredible geology of the Rockies. We'll also get insight into what it might have been like for early pioneers and lodge keepers as well as indigenous people like the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute. My tours are completely flexible so if you want to hike for 3 or 4 miles, great! Or if you just want sit back and relax and enjoy the view that's fine too! Either way we'll stop often to photograph and talk about the amazing sights.

Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: National Park Pass

This private hiking tour takes you on serene trails surrounded by vast Colorado mountains and alpine lakes. Disconnect for a day and immerse yourself in the beauty and solitude of these majestic mountains in an upscale vehicle that has panoramic views for miles. Experience the National Park with ease knowing the tours are designed to create an authentic experience for you. As you hike along the trails and take in Colorados 300 days of sunshine you will connect with nature. Itinerary From Denver, drive along the Front Range through Boulder with its famous Flatirons Rock Formations. Continue through canyons alive with wildlife up to Estes Park, the charming town at the entrance of the National Park. The guide will take you on a hike in the National Park geared towards your groups fitness level.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Snowshoes/YakTracks if needed - please add shoe size in comments section, Entrance Fees, Snacks, Water, Expert Hiking Guide, COVID-19 Prepared: masks, routine sanitizing, and more

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch - Guide will have recommendations

Head out on an Early Morning Wildlife Safari leaving from Estes Park in Rocky Mountain National Park. Each tour is limited to 4 guests and private so each trip is just for you and your group. We will pick you up outside the office of your Estes Park hotel at the time we confirm, usually 4:30am-5am depending on the exact date. Yellow Wood Guiding Wildlife Safaris are driving tours with many stops as we travel Trail Ridge Road and around Estes Park. Our tours are designed to both provide great views of wildlife, but also learn extraordinary information about these amazing animals and the wonderful Rocky Mountain ecosystem.  Nearly every Summer Safari we see Moose cows and sometimes bulls, Elk bulls and cow herds with calves, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep on the distant mountains through the spotting scope, Yellow-bellied Marmots, American Pika, and a number of small cute critters only found in the Rockies like Least Chipmunk, Ground Squirrels, many different birds and some hawk & eagles.

Inclusions: Local Professional Guide with 12 years experience and having lead 4000+ tours, Professional photographer guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Live commentary on board, Private tour, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: National Park Entrance fees

Custom tour designed for you and where your interests are. We are not on a schedule and can even adapt as we go depending upon what we find on your special day. I am a local historian and naturalist who has lived in the area for over 50 years. I consider myself an interpreter of nature adding color to the already stunning beauty you'll see. We'll concentrate on the myriad wildlife, the diverse biology, and incredible geology of the Rockies. We'll also get insight into what it might have been like for early pioneers and lodge keepers as well as indigenous people like the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute. My tours are completely flexible so if you want to hike for 3 or 4 miles, great! Or if you just want sit back and relax and enjoy the view that's fine too! Either way we'll stop often to photograph and talk about the amazing sights.

Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: National Park entrance fee