Fall in Estes Park

Elk bugling calls, beautiful Aspen trees changing leaves and a haunted ghost tour of one of Colorado’s most famous hotels are good enough reasons to leave Denver behind for the weekend.

With smaller crowds than the summer and almost all of the same attractions open, Estes Park is a great place to be this time of year. Plus, fall brings added bonuses to the small mountain town that are hard to find anywhere else.

“It’s still a relaxed, laid back kind of place to go with lots of things to do,” said Suzy Blackhurst, spokeswoman for the Estes Park Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re a national destination, but I think our Front Range friends find us attractive in the fall.”

Elk bugling

Estes Park in late September is an ideal place and time to see the elk bugling. Bugling, the name given to the call of the bull elk as part of the mating ritual, is one of those things you have to see and hear in person to believe, Blackhurst said.

During September, elk herds descend from the high country to lower elevations. As the mature bulls try to compete for mating with the harems of cows, they let out deep, resonant tones that rise rapidly to a high-pitched squeal before dropping to a series of grunts.

“It’s so enthralling and so vivid,” said Blackhurst.

According to the Estes Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, the best time to see and hear the elk bugling calls are at dawn and from late afternoon until dusk. The best places to go in the Estes Park area to hear and see elk bugling are Moraine Park, Upper Beaver Meadows and Horseshoe Park.

Tree changing

The enormous Aspen trees around Estes Park are a good opportunity to see the leaves change colors.

Blackhurst recommended Hermit Park, 1,362 acres of open space 2 miles southeast of Estes Park, as a good place to explore. The area is open to the public for the first time since 1965, and has some of the tallest and healthiest Aspen trees in the area, according to Blackhurst.

Stanley Hotel

After a day spent watching the leaves change and elks bugling, stop by the Stanley Hotel, 333 E. Wonder View Ave., for a good scare and sleep.

The famous inspiration for Stephen Kin

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g’s “The Shining,” the Stanley is a top-of-the-line resort that features a haunted ghost tour, great place to eat, spa and luxurious rooms.

A historic ghost tour runs every day at the Stanley Hotel except for major holidays. Resident historian Billy Ward takes guests around the hotel and tells of the ghost stories and sightings at the hotel, the Stanley’s most haunted rooms and places, and, of course, “The Shining’s” connection to the hotel.

For more information about the fall in Estes Park, and lodging in Estes Park, visit our website.