Great forums! Looking for some help. Going to CO for 4 days during 1st week of Nov with my brother and looking to experience RMNP for the 1st time, most of my research has led me to think Estes Park. Looking to do some hiking and hopefully a guided 1 day fishing trip (would prefer on a boat on a lake as we have never gone fly fishing before). Would Estes Park be our best bet or is there a better option to experience mountains and fishing in early Nov? Appreciate the help!

Check the weather before you finalize any plans:

https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/10/...tional-park-2/

Thanks for the tip. I do realize the trail ridge road may be closed by the time we go, but we would be fine with some of the hikes on just the east side of the park as long as we can find somewhere to fish for one of the days. From what I've seen there is really only fly fishing in the Estes Park area, so would the best option to be to come down from the mountains to find a lake to fish on? Any recommended lakes for this time of the year?

Mary's Lake is near Estes Park and offers fishing, but only through October.

https://www.allestespark.com/lakes_r...marys_lake.php

And details on fishing in RMNP:

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fishing.htm

We would be going the first week of November so I think that will not work, thanks for the info.

Go to Silverthorne and fish Lake Dillon. There are outfitters in town. We fished in the Dillon Dam tailwaters directly behind the outlet shops!! Absolutely amazing 24" trout biting on the tiniest shrimp/fly you have ever seen.
How many are you to want to go in a boat? The outfitter will rent you equipement of course. I don't know about times for lake fishing. When we fished it was mid-October and I might mention we wore neopprene waders because it was 15* with snow on the ground.

Just keep in mind that it is winter in the mountains by that time and the possibility of snow, maybe lots of snow, could be a major concern. And even if there is no snow during your week, earlier snows can make the hiking trails muddy and a bit more dangerous, The reservation system for RMNP has been suspended at the moment. Currently the smoke from a huge forest fire in the area is causing the park to be closed from time to time.

There will just be the 2 of us, I will look into Lake Dillon, thank you. With it being a bit of a distance from Estes Park, is there a better area to stay to be closer and still have hiking opportunities, weather permitting?

Thank you for the concern, I do realize this is not the ideal time of the year for hiking in RMNP, and we will of course be monitoring the weather and will make decisions to remain safe, this is partly why I made the post to have alternate options in the event the weather is bad in the park and we can't make it to the trails. Was hoping to find suggestions for any lakes we could come down from the mountains to fish on if the weather is horrible.

I've spent a lot of time in RMNP, but I don't fish. Maybe contact these guys:
https://www.kirksflyshop.com/

Looks like you can fish in Lake Estes too:
https://www.visitestespark.com/blog/...on-lake-estes/

Yes, November can be a weather concern but "most" of the time you'll be able to find a dry or at least dry-ish nice trail. The Park elevation you can easily drive to year round is roughly from 7,500-9,500 feet, so highly variable conditions, Trail Ridge Road will most likely be closed, probably at Rainbow Curve.

This year the fire effects are totally unpredictable and another thing you'll have to keep an eye on. This is the fire of concern, though smoke from the Mullen fire in Wyoming can be issue. Yesterday the AQI was 350 in Fort Collins, but today it's good.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/map/6964/0/101019

Good luck.

Sorry I wasn't able to reply due to my beginner account status, would the Breckenridge/Frisco area be a better option? With the Dillon Reservoir that was mentioned being very close, just unsure of the hiking opportunities in that area and if the weather/fire issue would be any better there?

At the moment the Lake Dillon would be a better choice. Many more options. You could easily drive west or south for an hour or two for better conditions if Breckenridge. It is just a toss up time of year for the mountains. The snow guns are running, the ski areas are trying to open, and the whole business related to the virus. Difficult time.

Thank you, that is what we are leaning towards now taking everything into account. I know this is a very challenging time, we just want to experience some of what the mountains have to offer to change up our scenery as we have been cooped up for so long. Thank you for all the help. We will just have to make another trip to experience RMNP another time. Is there a good time of the year for weather and not to be super packed with tourists?

Generally I'd agree with fmpden right now. But there is a NEW fire, called "East Troublesome" that is producing a huge smoke plume near I-70 near Dillon, according to someone who came over this morning. There has been no lightning in the area for a long time, appears that someone was careless. Don't know what to tell you at this point, but keep an eye on that one.

Oh, dang. That is awful. Stupid.
I am just re-reading OP's original post and it is two guys. I'd like to encourage you to do a fly fishing trip/learning on one of the streams the outfitters would know. Silverthorne is on the Blue River with trophy trout in it, and the tail waters of Dillon dam. I have dreamed of fishing on the Blue about 7 miles up from Silverthorne--the streams are so open (a fly fisher's dream scenario!!). But the lake could be great also.

Wow, that is unbelievable how much destruction can come from someone's irresponsibility...

Generally I'd agree with fmpden right now. But there is a NEW fire, called "East Troublesome" that is producing a huge smoke plume near I-70 near Dillon, according to someone who came over this morning. There has been no lightning in the area for a long time, appears that someone was careless. Don't know what to tell you at this point, but keep an eye on that one.

Geez, will this ever end?

Ya, just like the virus. It is over on election day. Very wishful think. It is been a bad year. We need a lot of water and soon. A lot can change in two weeks so I would just wait.

You may want to consider putting your trip on hold. It is getting worse. As of this AM the entire town of Estes Park is under evacuation. Trying to hold a line just north of the town. Till today the issue has been enormous winds. Three nights ago one of the fires made a 18 mile run overnight. Today is very cold with heavy snow expected in most of the fire areas. Denver is bracing for maybe a foot with 18 to 24" in the mountains. Snow is very light with little moisture but every little bits helps. Will not put out the fires but will buy some time. The winds are killing us. Impossible to control spot fires and the winds are keeping air support on the ground. The fire jumped the continental divide into the east side of RMNP. Something that they thought was impossible. At the moment the largest and second largest fire in CO history are running side by side with the fear that they might combine.

Several other towns are threaten including Grand Lake on the west side. Access to most of the national forest in central Colorado have been closed. The smoke in Denver has been bad for several weeks. Hopefully the snow today will clean the air. At the same time our infection rate is going up. We have never had a year like this. And we probably do not need additional tourists at this time.

Inquiring minds what to know --- what did you decide???? If you come you may have luck on your side. Buy some Lotto tickets. The weather is terrific -- near 80s on the front range. The fires are mostly contained but not out or growing. Still a little smoke but nothing like the past few weeks. From our deck we can clearly see the foothills and the mountains behind. The only negative is the big spike in the virus along the front range. Don't know the situation in Breckenridge. Have a good week.