Some of our best adventures happen when we’re not really planning one at all.
It was our last day in Breckenridge, and the vacation rental checkout was at 10am. Our flight? Not until 11pm. That left us with a glorious 13 hours of mountain time to fill, and since we’d already done the Denver tourist circuit on a previous trip, we needed a new plan.
The “Why Not?” Decision
We tossed around ideas — Golden has some nice hikes, Boulder is always fun — but then someone said, “What about Estes Park?” We’d spent several days there on our Colorado family vacation and absolutely fell in love with it. Sure, it was about 3 hours from Breck through the passes, but… why not?
And honestly, “why not” might be the most powerful phrase in adventure travel.
We grabbed coffee at Abby’s in Frisco (highly recommend), then hopped on I-70 where we spotted the bike path we’d taken out of Vail on a previous adventure. At Idaho Springs, we peeled off onto the Central City Highway to cut across the range — and stumbled upon what might be the largest cluster of casinos outside of Vegas. Not exactly what you expect in the Colorado mountains!
Fuel Stop: The Best Corned Beef Sandwich Ever
We pulled into Busy Brews for a late breakfast, and let me tell you — if you’re ever passing through, their corned beef sandwich is absolutely incredible. Properly fueled, we continued our scenic route. This eastern side of the Continental Divide seemed to have more snow than the western side we’d been staying on, which should have been our first hint of things to come.
As we pulled into Estes Park, the peaks loomed ahead of us with a fresh dusting of snow. They looked absolutely magical, and on a whim, we decided to head into Rocky Mountain National Park to visit some of our favorite spots.
The Plan That Wasn’t
Our first thought was Bear Lake — it’s iconic, accessible, and we knew the kids would love it. But when we arrived, the parking lot was completely full with nearly an hour wait. Classic Rocky Mountain problem.
So we punted. “Let’s hike up to Bear Lake from Bierstadt Lake instead!” The trailhead parking was manageable — we found some roadside spots just off the trail — and we started up.
The climb to Bierstadt Lake was short but sweet — about 1.5 miles up. From there, it’s another 2 miles to the ridge overlooking Bear Lake. Our plan was simple: hike up, take in the view, backtrack. Easy.
If You Give Him a Trail Map…
Here’s where the adventure took a turn — the kind my husband is famous for. You know that children’s book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”? Well, our version is “If You Give Him a Trail Map…”
We made it to the ridge, but there was no view. Clouded in. So we decided to head down toward Bear Lake. Reasonable enough. But once we were down, looking back up at that slippery, snowy trail, it became abundantly clear that backtracking wasn’t an option — especially since half the family was… let’s say, not optimally prepared in the footwear department.
”We’ll just hike out to the road and walk back to the car,” we reasoned. “The snow should be lighter at lower elevation, right?”
Wrong.
The Glacier Creek Trail: An Unexpected Gift
What followed was seven miles of absolute beauty that I wouldn’t trade for anything. The Glacier Creek Trail hugged the creek, winding past waterfalls and over charming bridges. The evening light filtered through the trees and bounced off the snow in ways that made everything feel enchanted.
Yes, our feet were cold. Yes, some of us were definitely questioning our life choices around mile five. But the scenery was so spectacular that complaining felt almost disrespectful.
The snow-covered trail, the sound of rushing water, the golden hour painting everything in warm tones — it was the kind of unexpected magic that only happens when plans go sideways.
Golden Hour Magic
As we continued along the trail, the late afternoon sun created the most incredible lighting conditions. Every snowy meadow, every creek crossing, every peek at the surrounding peaks felt like a postcard moment.
Seven miles later, we stumbled back to the car just as the light was fading completely. We’d used up every single minute of our 13-hour layover in the most perfect way possible.
The Perfect Ending
A quick stop at In-N-Out in Longmont (because tradition), and we were off to the airport to drop the car and catch our late flight home. Tired legs, full hearts, and phones full of photos we’re still sorting through.
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you didn’t plan.
Tips & Info
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Getting There: From Breckenridge, it’s about 3 hours to Estes Park via I-70 and the Central City Highway. The scenic route adds maybe 20 minutes but is absolutely worth it.
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Coffee Stops: Abby’s in Frisco for the start, and grab lunch at Busy Brews for that legendary corned beef sandwich.
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Bear Lake Alternative: If the lot is full (it often is), hiking from Bierstadt Lake is a great option — just be prepared for it to turn into a longer adventure!
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Glacier Creek Trail: About 7 miles if you’re doing the full route we accidentally did. Beautiful creekside hiking with waterfalls and bridges.
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Footwear Warning: If there’s any chance of snow, bring proper hiking boots. Trail runners and casual shoes will leave you cold and slipping. Learn from our mistakes!
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Timing: We started our hike mid-afternoon and finished at dusk. Earlier is better, especially in shoulder season.
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Park Entry: Don’t forget you’ll need to pay the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fee or have an annual pass.
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Post-Hike Fuel: In-N-Out in Longmont is about 45 minutes from Estes Park and conveniently located on the way to Denver International Airport.