Estes Park CO Real Estate

Some of the best hiking in the United States can be found in Estes Park, Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park offers more than 350 miles of trails that wind around rivers high mountain peaks, majestic waterfalls, colorful, fragrant fields of wildflowers, forests, meadows and alpine tundra. Whatever your age or ability, there is a hiking trail available to match your talent and strength. Besides Rocky Mountain National Park, Roosevelt National Forest surrounds the eastern area, offering lower elevation and hiking trails through forests and up mountains.

This incredible mountain meadow stands at an elevation of 7522 feet and is surrounded by the continental divide and back-range, tree-covered mountains. Estes Park Colorado real estate data confirms the value of life in this beautiful region where the biggest inconvenience is waiting for the elk to cross over to the other side of the road. According to Estes Park CO real estate figures, for the week ending July 21, 2010, the median sales price of a home was $266,600, with an average of $226 per square foot.

Shopping is a unique experience in Estes Park, Colorado. The Wynbrier Wildlife Gallery is a prime example, as it offers very different wild-life-related items, like knives made from obsidian, soapstone carvings, limited edition framed wildlife prints and sculptures, tables and wall lamps carved from antlers. The gallery has a solid reputation as a place for fine quality art, which is created by many nationally-known wildlife artists.

Originally the sacred hunting grounds of native Americans, the area was first discovered by the outside world in 1859 when while on a hunting trip, a man named Joel Estes first visited the valley and believed it was the perfect setting for a cattle ranch. Moving his family there into two log cabins, soon others followed and by the 1870s, Estes Park had its very own hotel built by the Irish Earl of Dunraven that catered primarily to European visitors. By 1900, ranching and tourism provided a living for most of the citizens of Estes. The scenery, moderate climate and abundant wildlife remain unchanged to this day.

Estes Park provides a full range of dining, lodging, and entertainment options. For visitors and locals with a sweet tooth, the salt-water taffy is very appetizing and the buffalo burger is a healthy and very popular alternative to the traditional American hamburger. Shops and art galleries are scattered along all the main thoroughfares and one local not-to-be-missed attraction is the luxurious 138-stateroom, Stanley Hotel, which was built in 1909 and inspired Steven King’s classic tale of horror, The Shining. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Stanley Hotel is less than six miles away from the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Other fun annual events and places bring color and character to Estes Park including street sculptures and several pioneer and western history museums.

Unspoiled beauty and magnificent vistas all combine to make Estes Park CO a wonderful place to raise a family and live a healthy lifestyle.

Estes Park, Colorado: The Gutsiest Town in Colorado