USA Guide
The Rockies
Arrival
Coming from the east, you barely penetrate the foothills of the Rockies before arriving at the unattractive but bustling gateway town of Estes Park. At the end of the nineteenth century, Estes Park was the private hunting preserve of the Irish Earl of Dunraven; once he was squeezed out, the town took on the more democratic function it still serves: providing visitors with food, lodging, and other services. Public transportation to Estes Park from Denver International Airport is provided by Estes Park Shuttle (3–6 trips daily, $45 single, $85 round-trip; 
970/586-5151 or 1-800/950-3274, 
www.estesparkshuttle.com ). The park headquarters and Beaver Meadows Visitor Center (daily 8am–5pm; park admission $20 per vehicle, good for seven days; information 970/586-1206, www.nps.gov/romo ) is a couple of miles north, on US-36.
To reach the western entrance, 85 miles from Denver, turn north off I-70 onto US-40, which negotiates Berthoud Pass en route to Grand Lake, a more low-key version of Estes Park. This unlikely yachting center, high in the mountains, consists of one main boardwalk-lined street featuring family amusements, lodgings, and restaurants beside the lake. The Kawuneeche Visitor Center of Rocky Mountain National Park is a mile north of town (daily 8am–4.30pm; 970/627-3471).