I've heard that the handsomest route to get from Estes Park to Boulder is to go to Nederland (Peak to Peak Hwy, etc.) Can someone suggest, please, several walks along the way? I.e. are there pleasant places to stop and stroll or hike (short and not steep)?
Also: Any great places for lunch on the way?

Thanks!

I'm only familiar with the portion of the drive from Estes to Allenspark. 2 easy hikes on CO 7 are Lily Lake just a little ways south of Estes (it's 0.5 miles around the lake, almost perfectly level). A bit south of that is the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain NP, and a short, easy hike there is to Copeland Falls (about 0.6 miles roundtrip, and not much up and down).

Thanks! (Do you have a favorite lunch place in the area?)

Oskar Blues in Lyon

Lyons isn't really on the way, but you could continue on Hwy 7 to Lyons, eat, and go back to Hwy 72 and on to Nederland.

I don't think there's a "great" place for lunch between Estes and Nederland. Ward and Jamestown are very small towns and I don't recall seeing any restaurants in either town last summer when we went through.

When you get to Nederland, there is the Black Forrest Inn if you like German food.

Sorry, I can't help with any walks along the way. Your best bet might be to ask in Estes about trails along the route you're going to drive.

Copeland Falls at the Wild Basin entrance to RMNP is a MUST. It's a really rough, narrow road back to the parking lot, but it was definitely worth it.

Why not eat in Nederland? They have lots of little shops and restaurants.

From Nederland to Boulder, there's a wonderful waterfall - you pull off on the right, cross the road (carefully), and it's a very very short walk to the waterfall. Definitely recommend it.

I'm not sure if this would be too far out of you way, but the Gold Hill Inn has long been highly recommended by our friends who live in Boulder. I was there once, for a business dinner, and it was excellent.
http://www.goldhillinn.com/welcome.html
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Thanks for replies, everyone! We're back from our fine fine trip out that way, and now I'll be happy to answer questions from other posters.
Didn't much enjoy the Lily Lake walk (not unpleasant, of course, just not memorable), but LOVED the walk up to Copeland and Calypso Cascade. (I guess maybe our favorite hiking in the couple of days we were in the area was the Bear, Nymph, Dream, Emerald Lakes hike-- so lovely!)
In Lyons we ate at a little place called Stone Cup cafe-- it was ok.
Thanks again for your responses-- always very much appreciated.