Estes Park - Loveland

For those going to Loveland, spend time in town. The sculpture gardens are just outstanding and it it so friendly in this area.

We are heading there right now. Will arrive in Loveland Thursday. The sculpture garden is wonderful. We especially love the children's area; the bronze sculpture of children playing Ring Around The Rosy is delightful and the artist left room for a child, or a playful adult, to join the game.

Be aware that there is a flash flood watch.

Lauren wrote:
As many of you know, we lived in Estes for 8 years, leaving in 2003. But have been back and have stayed in touch with people as well.

We have heard, local and from travelers, and have personally witnessed what I feel is the "demise" of the RV parks in Estes ...... deteriorating / lack of maintenance and getting more and more expensive.

I have recommended staying at Riverview RV Park down in Loveland - on the far west side and just the drive up the beautiful Big Thompson Canyon from Estes.

Yes, it was the Big Thompson that got the brunt of the last flooding and Riverview suffered a lot of damage.

But the road (Hwy 34)is fine now I am told.

More importantly, Riverview - and I talked to them just now - is nearly back to complete on the re-building.

As such, I would highly recommend people look to them when staying in the area.

(For the record, I have no ties - financial or otherwise - with Riverview.)

Being a local boy, I heartily agree with what Lauren has posted. The quality in Estes Park venues has declined in recent years, and prices have gone up.

Last weekend we were up in Estes, and went by the Riverview CG. It does look like they are trying to get back in business. Since they were heavily hit by the floods, they now have a "clean slate" for starting over, and it looks like they are taking their time in doing it right. From appearances, it looks like they've got the back side of the park operational, but still doing some work along the riverbanks. Still, since it was a better park in the past, it's one to consider today.

In Loveland, the Sculpture Invitational is coming up in August. It is definitely worth a stop to spend at least a day, or the whole weekend there. So much to see! Check this out:

Sculpture Invitational

This is also monsoon season. Aside from the floods of last September, the worst flooding in the state has occurred this last week of July and first couple of weeks of August (Big Thompson Flood of 76 and the Spring Creek Flood of 97). Right now, there is a flood advisory for all of Larimer County and particularly the High Park burn scar area near the Poudre Canyon. We had heavy rain for part of the day today, and more to come on Wednesday. This pattern is expected to continue for the next 7 days. Keep an eye on Wunderground.com or weatherbug.com for local conditions. Wunderground is best for Estes Park and RMNP.

I agree with the opinion shared regarding parks in Loveland. And, have stayed at Riverview, thinking it was the best alternative in the area. Glad it's coming back after the flooding.

Just to further address the situation in Estes Park itself, and it's campgrounds, for me at least, the best value in camping AT COMMERCIAL CAMPGROUNDS in Estes Park is the Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake. It's formerly a privately owned campground, now owned by Larimer County, and has always been clean and reasonable in prices. The bath houses are ALWAYS clean, though they do have pay showers ($2 in quarters for 6 minutes), which are also always clean. The sites are priced at $37/night for either full hookups or water/electric hookups. The sites are different for each, the FHU being more of the row type pull through sites, and the W/E being mostly back in sites. There is no cable here, but there is good WIFI and Verizon is excellent here as well. The sites are mostly level, though they are dirt/gravel, and there is a nice pool there as well.

Seeing as how most of the other campgrounds are usually $20 more/night more, this is a value in Estes Park. Of course, there are the campgrounds in RMNP and they are even cheaper, but they are also harder to get reservations, and walk ins can be difficult as well. Mary's Lake, while usually full on weekends, has had sites available without reservations during the week.

Like Lauren, I have no vested interest in recommending a campground, the Mary's Lake Campground! It is simply the best value in an area where value is not a proven commodity in some of the other camping venues.

The Mary's Lake advice I got here last year served us well on our Estes Park visit of 8-2013.

Thom02099 makes good points.

In all fairness I should have stated that I have not see Mary's Lake since the County took it over; my thoughts were based on private ownership. And I have heard nothing but favorable comments like his since County takeover. And he states it fair and gives very good info.

And, my comments were based on commercial campgrounds. The ones in Rocky are very nice but limited in facilities and hard to get. And I am not sure the extent of flood damage in that last major storm or the repair / reconstruction to address it.

Thanks for pointing this out.

Thom02099 wrote:
Just to further address the situation in Estes Park itself, and it's campgrounds, for me at least, the best value in camping AT COMMERCIAL CAMPGROUNDS in Estes Park is the Estes Park Campground at Mary's Lake. It's formerly a privately owned campground, now owned by Larimer County, and has always been clean and reasonable in prices. The bath houses are ALWAYS clean, though they do have pay showers ($2 in quarters for 6 minutes), which are also always clean. The sites are priced at $37/night for either full hookups or water/electric hookups. The sites are different for each, the FHU being more of the row type pull through sites, and the W/E being mostly back in sites. There is no cable here, but there is good WIFI and Verizon is excellent here as well. The sites are mostly level, though they are dirt/gravel, and there is a nice pool there as well.

Seeing as how most of the other campgrounds are usually $20 more/night more, this is a value in Estes Park. Of course, there are the campgrounds in RMNP and they are even cheaper, but they are also harder to get reservations, and walk ins can be difficult as well. Mary's Lake, while usually full on weekends, has had sites available without reservations during the week.

Like Lauren, I have no vested interest in recommending a campground, the Mary's Lake Campground! It is simply the best value in an area where value is not a proven commodity in some of the other camping venues.

Just a clarification on Mary's Lake Campground and East Portal Campground. The land is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation which built and operates the Big Thompson Project which includes Adams Tunnel and Mary's Lake.

Previously, Mary's Lake Campground and the East Portal Campground land was leased by the Estes Valley Park and Recreation District which then concessioned to a private operator. When the leases came up for renewal the EVPRD elected not to renew because of the extensive upgrades needed and required management oversight. The campground was closed for one or two years until Larimer County could negotiate an operating agreement with the Bureau.