blah114

Hello, can someone please recommend a place to stay and things to do in mid-APR in RMNP. We are doing two nights around Estes, then 1 night TBD (maybe Glendale, or even Estes, who knows), then final night in Denver. To us, privacy is important, as is a mountain view. We're not much into hotels and prefer cabins. We would like to be around wildlide, along with a warm, hospitable host (manager) that could advise us regarding where to hike. I know Trail Ridge is closed because of construction, besides weather. I have narrowed down the choices to Woodlands on Fall River, Estes Park Condos, Boulder Brook, Rams Horn Village Reosrt, or Streamside Cabins. To us, a hottub would be nice, but we don't plan on spending our days watching TV.. the park is most important, I believe. Suggestions for an itinerary are appreciated as well. I know we'll likely drive to Loveland just for the views. Perhaps making a reservation before we leave would be a bad idea--other than the Oxford in Denver, which is already reserved for us..

sylvia3

Drive to Loveland for the views? That's heading east to the flatlands and I25. Hope you have nice weather; it could be fabulous spring, or snow.

poss

I'm sorry I can't respond in a helpful way because I don't know the area at all. But I've been planning a similar trip for August and had narrowed my choices to pretty much what yours are. Solitude cabins are included in my list also, so I'm wondering if you looked at those and rejected them. We were very interested in Boulder Brook, but then I realized we'd probably be bothered by the sound of the river at night. It's a sound we love in the day, but we're light sleepers and I suspect it'd not be a plus for us at night.
Good luck with your search!

tekwriter

Woodlands and Boulder Brook are right next to each other and very similar, although Woodlands is a better value (going up there in early May myself!) There is somewhat of a mountain view and it's only a five-minute drive to the park entrance, five minutes to downtown. Instead of making a drive to Loveland for views, return to Denver via Hwy 34 through Loveland to drive through the Big Thompson Canyon, especially if you drove to Estes via Hwy 36 through Boulder.

It might be OK to show up without reservations in Estes if you're there mid-week

tekwriter

(I keep hitting post before I'm ready!)

but find out if your first choices have vacancies, at least. Be prepared for winter weather, but you may be lucky and get sunny and warm. Hiking trails will be snowy in most places - there's been a lot of snow up there in the last few weeks. You might want to try snowshoeing - very easy and cheap to rent shoes in town. The popular snowshoeing area is around Bear Lake with easy trails to enjoy. Here's a great website on trails in the park: http://www.thespiritoftherockies.net...ikingRMNP.html

The Oxford is a nice place and I think you'll enjoy Denver. I think 2 nights in Estes, 2 in Denver would be right.

TheWeasel

Trail Ridge Road is closed for the winter. It will reopen this summer and there will be delays (not a closure) due to road construction.

Most places in Estes Park would have some info on hiking. There's a guy at McGregor Mountain Lodge (Michael Hodges) that does a lot of hiking/climbing in the park. If you stay there I'm sure he would have good suggestions.

I don't know why you'd drive to Loveland for the views when you have them right there in Estes Park. Some of the lower elevation trails will be good for hiking mid-April.

blah114

thank you, one and all. Keep the replies and thoughts coming, please. Solitude Cabins.. look nice, very high in price (for us).
I am beginning to worry about the weather. I am not naive, but figured winter would be a non-touristy time to go to Estes. If we can even see a few places in the park without sliding around, it will be worth it.
Vacancies.. oddly, the innkeepers are recommending we "wing it," without reservations. Everyplace, besides Boulder Brook is quite wide open regarding availability. I figured we could see the places firsthand, then book them, and if they are unavailable, so be it. There will be at least one place with rooms open. I wanted to drive a bit just to see other views besides Estes. I got outstanding airfare ($210 for 2), so I thought it would be worth gambling with the weather.
Please keep the replies and thoughts coming. Solitude Cabins LOOK great, but they are a bit high. I would pay that price for Estes Condos, who have numerous available units, to have a hottub (private tub).

blah114

A friend recommended we drive to Loveland for the views. Also, the river would lull us to sleep. So, has anyone actually stayed @ Woodlands, Boulder Brook? I called Wildwood Inn and was stunned by the attitude from the lady on the phone.. very abrupt. Anyway, Boulder Brook and Woodlands's staff on the phone were nothing but wonderful, so I think we'll end up at either location. McGregor looked nice also. I am really wondering if I should postpone the airfare a few weeks, which I can do. I don't want to be risking our lives driving in Estes Park.. I have been to CO before and know it snows until June at high elevations. To me, tradeoff of few tourists makes it worth it.

sylvia3

The roads in Rocky Mt. are very drivable, don't worry about "risking" your life. Still not sure about "views" in Loveland; views back to the mountains, which you will see driving there in the first place?

poss

blah: Have you checked Trip Advisor forums? My memory is that there are at least a couple of detailed reports from folks who've stayed at Woodlands and Boulder Brook. By the way, it looked to me that Solitude cabins cost abt the same as Boulder Brook, esp. since one can rent a cottage at a one bedroom rate and just close off the second floor. But if it weren't for the creek noise, I think we'd prefer BB to Solitude. Anyway-- take a look at Trip Advisor; I think you'll find what you're looking for in the help way there.

MJLR321

If a Brit can post her 2 cents worth...

In CO, RMNP in April/May 2004, my travelling companion and I couldn't believe our luck when we hit upon Rams Horn Lodge Resort, Estes. These are cabins/houses to die for. If I had a house in the UK such as the one we stayed in, I would camp there for the rest of my life. Clean, well-equipped, big comfy beds and nice toiletries as extras, balconies with wonderful views as we watched deer and other wildlife wander freely (just the job for a glass of...after a day's hike). The pool was warm, if we had wanted a jacuzzi, it was there. $85 per night, but that WAS 2004, but because we were there at end of season, they had dozens of 'specials'. Later we realised that fewer than 50% of accommodations were occupied.

One of the town's police officers even pulled over when I was parked on the roadside and asked me what the problem was. My driving specs had lost a lens and I couldn't go anywhere. I was most courteously treated (after having checked my passport! well, why not?) and driven to an optician who promptly fixed the specs for $5 then called a taxi for me to return to my car.

I can't complain about this place. The location and convenience for hiking and exploring was wonderful. Wish I were back there now!

Good luck all.

MaryJo

blah114

Thank you. Yes, I have checked tripadvisor.com, but don't place much faith in it.. I recall some reviews for a B&B in Arkansas that was a dump. the owner was "rigging" the reviews, asking guests to positively review on tripadvisor.. not ALL reviews are that way. Ram's Horn is definitely a possibility, as is Boulder Brook, Solitude, and Woodlands. Or Estes Park Condos or McGregor Mountain Lodge. I perhaps am getting too caught up in where we're staying vs the park itself. We'll definitely be having lunch at the Stanley Hotel. I also want to thank Tek for the URL regarding trails, conditions, and closures of roads. Very great site.

Keep the suggestions coming, please. Ram's Horn has a deal: $229 for 2 nights in a Peak design (individual cabin). The place looks HUGE.. it's definitely a possibility. Comically, everyplace is wide-open regarding availability because we are in fact going mid-week. It's amazing how open availability is. Boulder Brook has a deal going which makes them reasonable. Thus far, Woodlands seems to offer the largest bang for the Euro, buck, or whatever you have. I am amazed they are so reasonable for what they offer. And Betsy, on the phone, was absolutely, astoundingly wonderful. Tripadvisor is good, but sometimes, I do not trust their reviews. I also know of a few other reviews in which owners post about their own cabins, from CA. Anyway, this does not at all negate all reviews. I am cautious regarding that site, though.

blah114

Here's what I was told: drive to Denver through Loveland Pass on hwy 34, which is what the gentleman or madam above suggested. So, it's not that we're going to Loveland, it's that we're driving a "scenic route." We won't have time for CO Springs, a shame, but this trip, I've a feeling, is preparing us for another 18-day trip that we'll take some summer/fall in 2009 or later. I firmly believe my wife is going to go nuts over CO. I have been there maybe 20 times, but to Estes Park for 45 minutes (had to run back to none other than Lucent in Englewood).

sylvia3

Loveland is nowhere near Loveland pass! No wonder a few folks were confused. Loveland Pass is NOT on the way to Estes, either, it's a loop on I70 to avoid Eisenhower tunnel. You cannot even go that route back to Denver unless you go over Trail Ridge Road (a very long, albeit scenic detour), and that is closed. Loveland (the city) is due east of RMNP on Hwy 34; Loveland Pass is something entirely different.

wtm003

<<return to Denver via Hwy 34 through Loveland to drive through the Big Thompson Canyon, especially if you drove to Estes via Hwy 36 through Boulder.>>

I agree...but FYI Loveland Pass is NOT on that route. Loveland Pass is about 60 miles west of Denver off I-70 and is a high mountain pass. Grab a map and you'll be able to see the difference.

blah114

thanks again for the advice. I welcome anyone's suggestions regarding dining, driving, hiking, and lodging.

sylvia3

The Stanley in Estes has a nice dining room with a fountain-fake waterfall view that has good food(cannot comprehend why the main dining hall has been closed to dining; the views were awesome). It is a nice place to visit no matter what, and the views are rewarding. In RMNP, go as far up Trail Ridge as you can; the views are beautiful even if you can't go to the top and beyond. Bear Lake is a very nice little hike (basically a walk around the lake), and it's a nice sprintime hike if you go up from that trailhead to Nymph Lake (depending on mud). I've only stayed at Rams Horn on your list, but the space was good.
When you enter the park, ask the rangers at the welcome centers (both are open; I prefer going past the Stanley to the new center) for the best and latest info on animals, hikes, etc. They are there to help, and I always trust their guidance.

Nikki

I stayed in a beautiful private home with a spectacular view at Windcliff in October. This is a community of private homes across the road from the YMCA of the Rockies. The houses are high on a cliff with outstanding views and have good off season rental rates.

http://windcliff.com/aboutWindcliff.html

fmpden

Lets get our geography straight. Loveland Pass at 12,000+ is one of the highest passes in the state -- well above timber line and will have lots of snow in April. Loveland Pass is on the continential divide and is us by old US Hwy 6 due west of Denver about 60 miles. I-70 via the Eisenhower Tunnel goes under the continential divide. To get to the pass exist at the Loveland Basin ski area and follow the road up and over. The views are great. On the west the road passes Arapahoe Basin and the Keystone ski areas before rejoining I-70 at Dillon/Silverthorn.

The town of Loveland is about 30 north of Denver on I-25 and nearly due east of Estes Park. Loveland is where a lot of valentines are reposted everyyear.

Hiking other than in very low areas will be problem because of snow. Most of these areas picked up another six inches or so today (Easter).

Trail Ridge road is always closed until Memorial Day and sometimes later. But Memorial Day is always the target for opening. This year, major portions of TR is being rebuilt so the delays will be more extensive than in past years resurfacing.

sjde53

I hadn't known you could rent at Ram's Horn--thought they were all time shares.

The drive from Loveland to Estes on Hwy 34 is through the Big Thompson Canyon and is where you may see Big Horn Sheep.

For cabins check www.vrbo.com and www.estesparkrealestate.com or ponderosainc.com. Usually before peak season (which is mid to end of June until mid-August) there will only be a 2 or 3 night minimum.

Sue