Private Three Hour Afternoon Custom Tour of Rocky Mountain National Park
Description
Custom tour designed for you and where your interests are. We are not on a schedule and can even adapt as we go depending upon what we find on your special day. I am a local historian and naturalist who has lived in the area for over 50 years. I consider myself an interpreter of nature adding color to the already stunning beauty you'll see. We'll concentrate on the myriad wildlife, the diverse biology, and incredible geology of the Rockies. We'll also get insight into what it might have been like for early pioneers and lodge keepers as well as indigenous people like the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute. My tours are completely flexible so if you want to hike for 3 or 4 miles, great! Or if you just want sit back and relax and enjoy the view that's fine too! Either way we'll stop often to photograph and talk about the amazing sights.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour begins with meeting your party at your lodging in Estes Park or at the Estes Park Visitor Center on 500 Big Thompson Ave. We'll make a few short stops to view historical sites and look for wildlife in the Estes Valley before heading into Rocky Mountain National Park. In winter our destination is Bear Lake for breathtaking snowy scenery or maybe a short snowshoe walk in the forest! In summer our destination is Trail Ridge Road the highest continuous road in the US. Both tours include plenty of stops for wildlife viewing, photography and a short hike as you and the time allow.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(147)
Bruce gave us an amazing tour of Rocky Mountain National Park. He was so fun and what a wealth of information he has! Our party ranged in age from 14-78 and we were all interested and engaged!
Great experience from check in to finish. Our driver/guide, Aaron was great and very knowledgeable. They have a nice waiting area with fine seating, snacks(free), refreshments(free), a clean restroom and some supplies to purchase like hats, coats, sunscreen at a very reasonable price. The tour was great! We enjoyed the views and encountered 3 moose, including a calf. Having a retractable roof makes taking pictures and sightseeing so much better! The bus itself has comfortable seating and there are more complimentary snacks and refreshments on board. We made a number of stops along the way to take in the sights and were allowed to walk around or hike down a waterfall. It did get cold at the very top and they can close the roof for you and/or provide you with warm, clean blankets. Overall recommend!
We are a couple visiting from Kansas. We had a wonderful time on our private tour with Sarah up to the Alpine Visitor Center at Rocky Mountain National Park with stops along to the way to see the wildlife and plants from the alpine tundra to the forests below. We appreciated that she often stopped so we could take photographs, and shared her knowledge of the area. She was very flexible with the itinerary and asked us about our specific interests.
Bruce was an excellent tour guide. He was very informative & accommodating. We were able to learn so much about the environment, ecosystems, & wildlife of the Rocky Mountains. We saw many species of animals. It was very exciting & relaxing at the same time. Our photographs could not capture the awe inspiring beauty of the National Parks. Everyone should experience it. I highly recommend Bruce!
Excellent 5-star 3hour experience by expert naturalist Bruce in a private, and very safely driven SUV tour of all sections of the Estes Park side of the RMNP - an amazing afternoon trip! We saw a moose, dozens of elk in herds (many up at the 11,000 foot Park highway with 8-16 antler points), mule deer, deer, marmots, pikas, hawks, raptors, many local birds. If that's not enough, we were treated to an A+ outdoor classroom instruction about the biological balance issues of this unique ecosystem, the history of these national parks, the local evolution and cultural challenges of western settlers and existing indigenous first peoples, and more. Bruce showed us examples of land ravaged by fire, flood, and early glacial creation still visible today in the Rocky Mountain National Park, but mostly how resilient Nature is to survive, heal, and grow. He knew the National Park staff all over and got us open access to timed entry, visitor stations, solo turn off view stops, and many times avoiding crowded lines. He's a kind, smart, friendly man who is easy to be with and talk to. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED without hesitation. Many thanks to Bruce and his 2 other expert guides!
Wow, thank you so much for your wonderful endorsements. It's really a pleasure to share our corner of the world with our guests. Especially those that appreciate the time that we have put into learning about all the amazing environments, plants & animals, and the amazing people that came before us that make up Rocky Mountain National Park and the west. So glad you enjoyed or time together!
Our Estes Park Rocky Mountain National Tour was a great time - well worth the cost. Bruce was very informative about everything we could want to know about the history, the geography, and the flora and fauna of the area. We were fortunate to get to see a couple bull elks and a moose. Got lots of great photos as well. Highly recommended!
So glad you enjoyed our time together and that you see the value of what we provide. We love to interpret what our guests are seeing and take away the stress of trying to figure out where to go to see wildlife and the hidden spots. Many thanks @
Sarah gave us an amazing tour. She is very knowledgeable about the area. We are extremely happy and highly recommended.
Bruce was an amazing guide. He had a wealth of knowledge about the area. You can tell he was passionate about what he does and about taking care of the Earth. 10/10 experience. We would love to tour with him again and would 100% recommend this tour to anyone and everyone!
Bruce likes to tailor where he takes you based on what you have already seen and what you would like to see. We wanted to go "off the beaten path @RMNP as we already toured the main areas on our own and wanted to avoid the touristy crowds. Bruce delivered! Great scenery, history and catered to our hiking abilities. Also very personable and communicative prior to the tour. We got to see some elk, not alot of other wildlife as it was too early in the day-we knew that when we booked, still a great tour I would highly recommend!
We love it when our guests ask us to show them something different and off the beaten path. We're so glad you enjoyed your afternoon with us!
We had a wonderful private tour of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park with Bruce. Before our trip, he was quick to respond and took the time to answer our questions about the weather and what to expect, which helped us feel well prepared. Since we were visiting from Florida and wanted to save our energy for family activities later in the week, Bruce tailored the tour to be relaxed and comfortable. We didn’t have to do much walking, but we still experienced the beauty of the area. He shared fascinating information about the park, local history, wildlife, and the surrounding communities. Bruce made several stops at scenic photo spots and wildlife viewing areas, giving us plenty of opportunities to take pictures and enjoy the incredible scenery. One of the highlights was seeing so many elk in their natural habitat. He also took us up to 12,000 feet, where we got to see snow on the mountain, an unforgettable experience for us. Bruce’s knowledge, friendly personality, and flexibility made the entire day both fun and educational. We would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Estes Park who is looking for a personalized and memorable tour experience.
