Estes Park is the gateway to one of Colorado's best-known tourist attractions --Rocky Mountain National Park.

In this one tank trip, Bill Clarke finds the back way into Estes and a great way to see the park. Getting there is half the fun if you make the left turn at Lyons. Colorado Highway 7 adds 10 miles to the trip, but you'll go through some spectacular scenery and before long, you're in the resort town of Estes Park.

The peaceful side of Estes Park -- the mountains, the lake, and the wildlife -- are some of the best that Colorado has to offer.

There's fishing, biking, golfing and the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley inspired Stephen King's "The Shining" but now the horror is that you'll pay $2 to park close -- just to look around.

Parts of downtown Estes provide a soothing place to sit down and relax. But the main streets' stores are open for business and the business is tourism. In a soft economy, your business is very welcome.

There are plenty of places to go for guided tours of the region but there's also a lot to see on your own.

For generations, Rocky Mountain National Park has been a popular destination for people from all over the world and sometimes in heavy traffic, the time between scenic turnouts can drag on.

But take the Trail Ridge Road -- the highest paved road in the country.

But once you get here your patience will be rewarded. The people are interesting, the views remarkable, and there are plenty of animals around to keep you entertained. Higher up, this is grazing land for the elk you often see in downtown Estes Park.

The wildlife you should watch out for at lower elevations are still well within walking distance on the open fields above 11,000 feet. You won't find a marker showing the highest spot on the road, 12,183 feet above sea level, but you'll know you've passed it when you're heading downhill to the Visitor's Center.

From here you can turn around and go right back to Denver or you can go west for more adventure.

From downtown Denver to the top of Trail Ridge Road, it's just under 200 miles round trip. Lunch for a family of four will cost about $25 or $30. Guided day tours of the area typically are $28 dollars for adults, $14 for kids age 11 and under.

Admission to the park is $15 per car for one week or you can buy a year-long pass for $30.

More Information:

Rocky Mountain National Park
Scenic Drives: Trail Ridge Road
Great Drives: Trail Ridge Road
GORP: Scenic Drives