One of the most visited parks in the US and rightly so. Drive the Trail Ridge Road through the montane with its sweet smelling ponderosa pines and many fruit and flower shrubs through the sub-alpine going above the tree line to the summit at 3713 metres. To say the views are spectacular is stating the obvious, the surprise is the amount of wildlife you see on the road.  Even at the very top you can see marmots and bighorn sheep whilst lower down you might see elk, moose, black bears, beavers and otters.  The elk rutting season is from mid-September  which is also when you see the glorious colours of the aspens.  There is only camping accommodation in the park but several good hotels in Estes Park.

TIP - In September weekdays are best as the weekends are popular with the locals.