This will be for 3 days in August. Most important to us is to have very quiet and peaceful surroundings (not on road, etc). Hoping, also, for wonderful views and spacious, comfortable room, if fireplace and hot tub, so much the better. Doesn't need to be "luxury," but would like "upscale." We love lodges and inns; don't like B&B's (not enough privacy). Hope to be near great walking trails and good restaurants.

Thanks so much for feedback.

I posted on your other thread. I highly recommend Devil's Thumb Ranch, near Winter Park, instead of Estes in August.
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My husband and I (before kids)stayed at a beautiful place called Boulder Brook. It's right beside the river, outside the town, so it was quiet and very nice. It's a small inn, not a B&B. I think we did have a hot tub too. This was about 10 years ago, so you'd want to check for current info.

There are many places right on the river that advertise what you want (go past the Stanley Hotel, the back way into the park); I'm thinking it's Fall River Road.

Thanks, Maureen; I'll definitely look into Winter Park. (The only WP I know is in Florida.)

Mom and Sylvia: But wouldn't the places on the road hear some traffic?

Thanks to everyone who responds!

No, not really, you drive down just a little bit to get to many of the places right on the river. BTW, Winter Park is a ski town; all the accommodations will be cheap(er) in summer than in winter; it's nice to ride up the mountain and walk or bike down. If you want to drive through RMNP, and go to the western slopes, a nice option is a cabin (with all the amenities) at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch near Tabernash (20 miles north of Winter Park). If RMNP isn't the main event for you, the views, crowds, and prices might be better on the western side.

We are very familiar with Snow Mountain Ranch, the YMCA of the Rockies, near Winter Park. It's not upscale, though, as the OP wants. A great family place, great trails, etc. Not luxurious by any stretch.
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I'd also recommend Boulder Brook if you're staying in the Estes Park area. It is on Fall River Road, I believe. I stayed there a year or so ago and really enjoyed it. It's not a big huge complex.

My room had a nice size jacuzzi and a fireplace as well as a small kitchen area. I don't know if the complex has an outdoor hot tub.

You do drive back in the woods a little to get to the buildings (about 4 rooms to a building). The building I was in was right on the river, though there wasn't a whole lot of water because it was late September. I remember I slept with the windows open a little even though it was fairly cool so I could hear the water tumbling over the rocks!

You had to drive into Estes Park for the town and restaurants, but I remember it only being a short drive.

My husband and I are frequent visitors to Estes Park and stayed at the Boulder Brook last October. It's very nice and I don't have any complaints about it, but we really prefer the property next door, The Woodlands on Fall River. It's less expensive than Boulder Brook and offers very similar lodging - even roomier, we thought, with the same view and excellent location near both town and RMNP. It even has wood fireplaces vs. gas ones - that was quite a selling point for us! Although it is within view of the road, it is not noisy and dead silent at night. We've stayed at the Woodlands five times, with another weekend coming up in May. Highly recommended.

A B&B in Estes that knows privacy is Romantic Riversong. We were married there and return every year for our anniversary. They have some rooms separate from the main lodge, like Wood Nymph or Indian Paintbrush. Definitely upscale and luxurious - quiet and exquisite. If you want a memorable get-away, I can't say enough about it!

Thanks so much for these replies. Can any Estes experts compare Woodlands cabins with Solitude cabins? As far as the accommodations themselves, the relative privacy and quiet, the convenience to other things? Is one less likely to have families/kids?

Does anyone the Riversong in that area?

Thanks!!

tekwriter: Since you know Boulder Brook and Woodlands AND Riversong, I very much hope you'll compare/contrast all three. Nicest "feel," best location, most relaxing, anything else you can think of. Can you recommend particular rooms to ask for in each? We definitely need king bed.

Thanks so much!

darn! I just telephoned Woodlands (I much prefer woodburning fireplaces to gas) and they have a 4 night minimum in August. So those cabins are out for us, alas.

Hi Poss, Riversong is most definitely luxurious and relaxing. Take a look at their website - www.romanticriversong.com. Our favorite room is Wood Nymph - huge suite set apart from the main house with woodburning fireplace, private balcony, huge jetted tub, two-person shower... the only drawback is that it's a queen sized bed (I'm used to a king too, but we were there for our anniversary!) The other spectacular room, where we were married, is Forget-Me-Not. King bed, best view in the lodge, jetted tub, balcony, but has a gas fireplace. I don't think they'd have more than a 2-night minimum. We just visited for the fifth stay here in February - we're going to stay in every room by our tenth anniversary! I do understand what you said about B&Bs not having enough privacy, but this lodge is specifically for couples and even when it's full, I've never found any issue with privacy not being respected. The owner, Gary, is very dedicated to making this a true romantic getaway. They've been doing this for almost 20 years now - it's a wonderful place that my husband and I adore!

Sorry that the Woodlands has such a long minimum stay - it's great in a different way than Riversong. Simpler but still with all the amenities including a well-stocked kitchen. Boulder Brook is very the same, just more expensive!

Thanks for continued feedback. I'm hoping that someone can give me a "reading" on those Solitude cabins. Price-wise (for what one seems to get) they're very appealing. But it's so difficult to tell from a website. And I don't have a clear sense of where they are, ie. whether they're as convenient to things as Bouder Creek. Or whether their views are as nice. I understand that they're not on the water, but we live on water at home, so great wooded views would be just as pleasing to us.
Hoping for more responses! (Riversong maybe a little too expensive. Hope to keep rate around $200-225-- if possible.)

I'm topping hoping that somehow it'll get a response about Solitude cabins (or other). The helpful person at Boulder Creek said we'd likely hear the river and maybe even a bit of traffic noise. I'd love to avoid that if possible.
The Solitude cabins seem as if they'd maybe be more quiet and private, but they're a good deal farther from the Park than where Boulder Brook and Woodlands are. I'm hoping folks who know the area well can advise me whether that mileage/time difference would be a significant fact (in August).

Or is there somewhere else I haven't looked into yet?
(Maureen-- if you're still monitoring: I suspect we won't be wild abt Estes Prk either, but since we've never been to RMNP, I thought it probably deserves a visit, yes?)

Thanks, everyone!

poss, I'm still saying Devil's Thumb Ranch near Winter Park! It fits your description perfectly. It is further from the Denver Airport, though, than Estes. Probably by just an hour at most, though, if you can leave Winter Park other than during rush hour on I-70 East.

I don't think you want to drive, but if you did, you could drive through Rocky Mountain National Park, over the stunning Trail Ridge Road and then into Grand Lake, which is an equally stunning large natural mountain lake. You could stop for lunch in Grand Lake, then head to Devil's Thumb Ranch to stay the three nights.

If you really want peaceful, that's what I'd suggest.
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P.S. Being anywhere in Colorado in August will be great.

I've not stayed at any of these places so I can't comment on the amenities, etc. but just looking at the map, Solitude is not that far from RMNP. Really, nothing in EP is real far from the park. I'd estimate (based on the map on their website) that it may take an additional 5-10 minutes of driving to get to RMNP vs. Boulder Brook.

The main "downtown" area with lots of stores is basically centered around the intersection of Elkhorn and Moraine and extends out for several blocks.

If you find the main streets to be too crowded and slow, there are back ways to get to RMNP that avoid going through the downtown area. That's (obviously) generally the most congested area, if there's any congestion at all.

I do think MaureenB is right about going to the other side of the park for peace and quiet, especially in August. Keep in mind there will be road construction on Trail Ridge Road all summer, so you'll experience some delays there.

For a B & B, the Anniversary Inn always looked nice to me. It's on Mary's Lake Rd. And about 2 miles up that road is our favorite restaurant--Mary's Lake Lodge.

Sue