Roads into Estes Park
 

How are the roads into and around Estes Park holding up after recent rains? We are planning a stay in a couple of weeks.

Highway 34 from Loveland has been in great shape all summer. Not so the North Fork spur through Glen Haven, however, still missing pavement and slow going.

Highway 36 from Lyons was apparently reopened yesterday, after having been closed for much of the past month or so. Presumably it's now good.

Highway 7, also from Lyons, a longer but more scenic drive, has been in good shape as well. This according to hiking buddies I've met in Estes in recent weeks. I use Highway 34.

Of course, one never knows when the construction gods deem it's time to wreak havoc on unsuspecting motorists, so keep an eye on this site for current information:
http://www.cotrip.org/roadConditions.htm

Thank you, Nelson, for your reply. This is exactly the information we needed. I am hoping that you and others can please give updates up till August 30, when we will leave? We are truly grateful for the information given by previous travelers and locals on these boards.

You're welcome, meggies.

I'll give you an update next Friday. My wife and I will be coming back over Trail Ridge Road and down CO-34 then. I'll also meet a hiking buddy this Sunday who will probably use CO-36, and I'll report what he has to say.

That is very kind of you, Nelson. Thanks.

meggies, here's the promised update:

My wife and I returned today from a few days in the Grand Lake area, coming down Highway 34, Estes -> Loveland. Road is totally fine, unless you are paying attention you could miss that there was major destruction a year ago. That said, when you enter the canyon there is a sign saying "Temporary Road Open". Presumably they are going to start doing some more work. I have no idea when, keep an eye on the CDOT site mentioned above.

This past Sunday the 17th I met a hiking buddy in Estes who drove up the recently opened Highway 36 from Lyons. He said there were several miles of unpaved gravel. Due to that, and a music festival in Lyons, he decided to return via Highway 7 past Allenspark, then down to Lyons. That is normally longer, but now might be faster. It's also far more scenic.

I'll share a photo from our hike in Glacier Gorge:
http://nelsonchenkin.zenfolio.com/p9...3652#h12e23652

Have a great trip.

Thank you, Nelson. We do want to avoid gravel roads, as well as roads in disrepair and those that are winding and narrow with steep drop-offs. That said, we will be traveling to Estes Park from Boulder. Since we do have those concerns, can you or other readers please suggest the safest, most efficient route from Boulder to Estes Park? Thanks, Nelson. Your picture from your hike in Glacier Gorge is beautiful.

If avoiding curvy roads is top priority, then from Boulder take: Highway 119 east -> Longmont -> Highway 287 north -> Loveland -> Highway 34 west -> Estes Park.

However that is largely a boring drive by comparison to Highway 7, which is the route I'd recommend. The road has curves, it's in the mountains after all, but has a wide shoulder and is nothing to worry about, IMHO.

Two options from Boulder:

Option 1) Highway 119 west (Boulder Canyon) -> Nederland -> Highway 72 north -> Highway 7 -> Estes Park

Option 2) Highway 36 west -> Lyons -> Highway 7 -> Estes Park.

Option 1 is a bit longer but very scenic and you could check out the little mountain town of Nederland. Option 2 is more direct but also quite scenic.

Thanks for your comment on my photo. It's hard to take a bad shot in a place like that.