📍 Destination: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado
🗓️ Dates: Thursday Jul 3 → Sunday Jul 6 (3 days in park + travel)
✈️ Flying from: Chicago, IL (ORD/MDW → DEN)
💰 Est. Budget: ~$500–600 total (excluding flights)
🚗 Car: Rental from DEN — splitting costs welcome!
Already have Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservations for Jul 3 AND Jul 4 (early 5 AM window both days) plus a hiker shuttle ticket for Jul 3. Staying at Estes Park Adventure Hostel in downtown Estes Park. Plan includes Bear Lake corridor hikes, alpine lakes, possible Trail Ridge Road, and July 4th fireworks at Lake Estes.
The Itinerary (rough plan, nothing set on stone)
Day 1 (Fri Jul 3): Hiker shuttle → Emerald Lake → Alberta Falls
Day 2 (Sat Jul 4): Early entry → Trail Ridge Road → Sky Pond/The Loch
Day 3 (Sun Jul 5): Gem Lake or Estes Park → Boulder → DEN
Looking for:
A hiking buddy to split car rental costs (~$90–120 split two ways). I drive, you contribute to gas/rental. Same hostel preferred but not required. Moderate pace, 8–10 km/day, no rush