How to Enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park With the Kids

Most kids are bound to have a great time exploring the park, looking for elk and bighorn sheep and hiking the trails (many of them appropriate for young kids). If that doesn't keep them busy, go into the town of Estes Park for organized fun and games.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Child's Backpack
• Hiking Boots
• Jackets
• Sporty Hats
• Sunscreen
• Internet Access
• National Park Passes
• Backpacks
• Bicycle Helmets
• Camping Gear
• Children's Bicycle Helmets
• Children's Bicycles
• Jackets

1. See "How to Enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park," under Related eHows, for general information about the park and the activities available there. Many of these are appropriate for children as well as adults.

2. Check for special children's programs at your hotel or lodge. For example, the Aspen Lodge at Estes Park has a full program of summer children's activities, including climbing days, pioneer days, teen adventure programs and campfire programs.

3. Get your kids involved with ranger-led activities within the park. There are special programs for kids 6 through 12 that include hands-on activities.

4. Enroll kids from kindergarten through eighth grade in the Junior Ranger program, which earns them a badge after they've completed the Junior Ranger booklet available at the visitors center.

5. Take kids to Sheep Lakes in the spring so they can observe the bighorn sheep coming down to the lake with their lambs. Ask a ranger for the best viewing time and place.

6. Go hiking on the Gem Lake Trail, which has lots of rocks that kids will love to climb, or walk on the Beaver Boardwalk, where they'll see a colony of beavers at work.

7. Join the "Rocky After Dark" hikes, where a ranger will tell you about animals that see in the dark.

8. Go into Estes Park for some family fun at Estes Park Ride-a-Kart (rideakart.com). There you'll find go-carts, bumper cars and boats, two miniature golf courses and a miniature railroad. The park is open every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

9. Contact Colorado Bicycling Adventures (ColoradoBicycling.com) for a 10-mile downhill ride for the whole family.

10. Take a breakfast horseback ride with Sombrero Ranches, Inc. (sombrero.com). The ride starts early, then you'll stop for a hearty cowboy breakfast in the mountains, returning before noon. Be sure to reserve ahead.

11. Check the schedule at the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EstesValleyRecreation.com). Golf, boat rentals, fishing, tennis, swimming, baseball, softball and playground fun are just a few of the options available.

12. Stop in at the Moraine Park Museum to see exhibits that teach about the area's natural history. The museum is inside Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Moraine Park Nature Trail provides a great follow-up to the museum experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Some of the activities listed are available only during the park's peak visitor season, or may cut hours in the off-season. Call ahead to find out what to expect before you make your plans. Some activities may also require pre-enrollment or reservations.
• If you're not sure whether a trail is appropriate for younger children, ask a ranger before you set out. Kids taxed beyond their abilities may grow tired and cranky.
• Make sure kids know the rules about wildlife viewing. They may be tempted to get close to some animals, but should be cautioned to leave lots of room between themselves and any wild beast.