We have the opportunity to spend 3 days mid-October in Colorado. We have never been to RMNP so we thought we'd head that direction. We love wildlife viewing, the outdoors and mild-moderate hiking. Just doing nothing by a fire sounds good too.

Can anyone tell me whether this sounds like a good plan and time to visit RMNP? Snow an issue? We are from the northeast, but don't have mountains like the Rockies.

We are looking to stay outside the Estes Park area.

Any input/help/suggestions are very much appreciated.

It is always beautiful there, any season. Snow could be falling, or it could be shirtsleeves warm and sunny. The wildlife watching should be very good, and there will be no crowds at all. You'll probably only be able to go partway up Trail Ridge Road. Many places to stay in the area; I think along Fall River road, between the park and Estes Park, has many nice options, tho many close for the season before then, of course.

sylvia 3, I'm so glad to hear it will be nice. We've never been to that area of Colorado, and I was concerned with the time of year. I figure we are past the peak autumn season, but we love to see the National Parks.

Do you have any favorite suggestions for me for lodging? I've only ever stayed with family outside the Denver city area.

Hi Fairway.

RMNP is great - hopefully most of trail ridge road will still be open for you. Its a fun drive with great views. Even part way up is good though.

Not sure why type of lodging you are after - there are several higher end condo type places along fall river road - they will be reasonable in october. McGregor Mountain Lodge is a favorite of many I know -its a little more basic, but they take great care of you and the grounds are great - wildlife on site often, etc.

If you can give me some idea of how long of hikes you like, I can give you some suggestions of what not to miss in that department.

gofrank150 - I was just reading on this forum about the rmnpforums.com - with posts about heavy snow in mid-October - is thsi more unusual? I'm trying to find the altitude for various places as well.

I am unfamiliar with the Trail Ridge Road and just found a map so I can see it. We like shorter hikes - maybe no longer than 10 miles so we can take our time and enjoy the surrounding beauty. The altitude will make for slower/shorter hikes as well.

I have been looking on past posts about lodging on Fall River Road - seems like a great location between the park entrance and Estes Park and a relative short drive back to DIA. Cabins sound wonderful and we are just fine with cooking our own meals. More relaxing that way. Question: I am reading on one website that Fall River Road is a one-way dirt road... but others don't mention that fact. Can you clarify that for me? I thought this was route 34...

Thanks for the help!

You just never know about mid-october - from what I hear... I've never been there that late myself, so sorry, I don't have first hand knowledge.

Everyone says you can get anything in october...from summerish like weather to heavy snow. You have to be prepared for anything...

If you have found rmnpforums, then you have found the definitive source of all things RMNP... those folks there will answer any questions you like and in more depth than here... I'd suggest posting there for suggestions on mid-october hikes and for a better idea of what to expect in october... for hikes - look at the loch and maybe onto sky pond, black lake, emerald lake and anything in wild basin area for options.

and oh... trail ridge road is the road that drives through the park at high altitude with great views all the way.. if its open, its a must do.

I would look into staying in Grand Lake instead of Estes Park. I think it's a more charming town. You'll see lots of wildlife in Oct. Elk on the East side, maybe moose on the West side. Hopefully Trail Ridge will still be open.

My husband and I have spent the second weekend in October in Estes every year for the last seven - it's our favorite time to be there! Every year except one, we've stayed at the Woodlands on Fall River Road - excellent condo-like lodging right on the river.

Some years, we've hiked in t-shirts and shorts, then have had a snowstorm the next day! Heavy blizzards are definitely not the norm - if it snows, it will be mostly light and mangeable. Trail Ridge Road (Hwy 34) has been open every year we've been there and we've taken a day trip to drive across to the west side of the park several times. It's not to be confused with OLD Fall River Road, which is a dirt road only open until Labor Day. The "other" Fall River Road is paved and open year-round. This is the elk-rutting season and the sights and sounds associated with this spectacle have to be experienced - nothing like it! Sometimes, you'll still have fall colors to enjoy, but it is usually too late for peak color. Rates at most hotels/lodges do come down by this weekend, so it is a great time to take advantage of the lesser crowds, better prices, yet totally awesome experience that the park has to offer!

There is no question that there will be snow in the mountains by mid October. The real question is how far down the mountain. Many of the ski area will be trying to open by the 3rd week of Oct. Estes Park being lower should be very nice, cool nights but warm days. The first heavy snow will close Trail Ridge. The state puts no effort into keeping it open in the winter. Grand Lake is good recommendation but you could be trapped on that side of the mountain if Trail Ridge is closed.

Fall River Road in Estes goes along the river; it's kind of a town bypass. Old Fall River Road within the park is a one-way, steep gravel road that goes up to the top of Trail Ridge Road, and will almost certainly be closed in mid-October. (It is in the trees, and the views are frankly not much until you break out on top.)
There are countless short hikes that are fairly easy (or I wouldn't do them!) throughout the east side of the park. I can't think of the name of one we just did, but it was an easy ~1.5 miles to a waterfall. The park map is very clear. Don't plan on going over Trail Ridge; you will be lucky if it is still open.
The bypass Fall River Road has many modern, albeit rustic appearing, condos, cabins, etc. You should be able to find something reasonable and comfortable right on the river.
You will love the park at that time of year.

ok, some redundant info there!

Just to clarify what a previous poster said: Old Fall River Road (OFRR) does not close on Labor Day. It will remain open as long as weather conditions allow, generally at least into early October.

Mid-September is definitely a better time to visit, but if mid-October is when you have the time then there's not much to be done about that. You'll probably not have as much color as earlier in the season as the wind will probably have knocked a bunch of them off the aspens, and snow might close TRR, but conditions should still be good enough for hiking at the lower elevations. 10 miles will get you a long way - probably the best hike is from Glacier Gorge trailhead up to Black Lake and beyond into upper Glacier Gorge. Black Lake is about 5 miles though, so you may want to stop at Mills, then backtrack a bit and go to the Loch to keep it under 10 roundtrip.

Wow! I was so excited to see all the posts to my questions this morning. You folks are great.

Yes, October is the time I have available in Colorado. It sounds like it should be great. I guess the worry with heavy snow possibility was getting back to DIA - but then if another day is needed in Colorado - so be it... that wouldn't be a bad thing.

tekwriter, I will check out Woodlands for a place to stay.

Grasshopper, I did look at Grand Lake because it looks really nice... but we thought that might be better during summer?

Thanks again. Love hearing all the recommendations from everyone.

It would be a big fluke snowstorm to actually cause you an issue getting from Estes to DIA in october.

Grand Lake is great - more charming / less touristy than estes, but smaller... but given the time of year, you could risk trail ridge road getting closed on you and having to go around the long way. Plus more of the shorter great hiking destinations are on the east side. (Theres a lot of great hiking on the west, but the destinations tend to be further away from the trailhead).

And what Bib said about black lake...oh yeah, great great great hike - especially if you venture up above the lake.

tekwriter - We have been debating between The Woodlands, Boulder Brook and a few others. What can you tell me about Woodlands in particular vs. Boulder Brook? I'm just assuming you've seen BB, but may not have stayed there.
Thanks.

Hi Fairway, actually I have stayed at both Woodlands and Boulder Brook - Woodlands is always our first choice, but one year we waited too long and couldn't get a reservation. Boulder Brook is very nice, similar in many ways to Woodlands, just more expensive! I think the units are little bigger at Woodlands and the one thing I really like better is that they have wood fireplaces - when I go to the mountains, gas fireplaces just don't do it for me! Given they are right next door to each other, the scenery and location are identical. It's not that Boulder Brook was bad, it's just that Woodlands is better (we're actually going to be there next week for one night with an out-of-town visitor!)

I wouldn't agree that Grand Lake is more charming, though the lake itself is nicer.

If there is a big snowstorm you're more likely to get stuck there having to come down I-70 than the roads out of Estes Park.

Another option to Fall River are cabins (no so much condos) along the Big Thompson in town and west of town. There aren't many, but here are a few-www.vrbo.com/138908, www.ponderosainc.com--Riversong, Water Dance, Park River and some others--and www.keytoestespark.com (#3). These vary in price and size. Glacier Lodge too, has cabins on the water on Spur 66 before the Y Camp. Also check out more on VRBO.com.
I know for sure that Riversong and vrbo #138908 have wood-burning fireplaces.

Sue