Winter / Spring Private Rocky Mountain National Park Guided Tour

Riley provided us the best tour we could have imagined! Was able to provide us all kinds of information and facts about Estes Park and RMNP…..plus some folk lore plus some true crime stories! He was great at pointing out all sorts of wildlife. Best of all he took all the pictures we wanted of us in the park. For 2 non-hikers, this was the best way to visit the park without having to study maps forever to make sure we were going the right way. We could just sit back and enjoy the tour! I highly recommend this tour!!

We booked a private tour and Riley was just fantastic! We learned so much about the history of Estes Park and he took us to the best spots in RMNP. We were able to borrow microspikes and gaters from him which were very useful in the short hikes we did. We spotted coyotes too thanks to Riley and his binoculars! The car ride was also very comfortable - there were bottles of water and even hand warmers ready for us. Highly, highly recommend!!! ⭐️

Amazing trip. Full indepth knowledge of the park. Riley went out of his way to look for elk for us. He was awesome.

Explore Estes Manager - Mariah (just like the song!) - was extremely helpful and professional. I would highly recommend Explore Estes for your transportation needs.

Riley was an excellent tour guide! We enjoyed the history of Estes and RMNP, the educational info of the wildlife and the trees! Loved having the private tour because he tailored it to what we wanted to see! He had a great eye for wildlife and we saw a moose, elk, deer, pika, and magpies! He had a spotting scope that helped to see the wildlife up close, but stay at a safe distance. His car was super clean, and comfortable. You have your own controls in the backseat, including heated seats! I would definitely suggest Explore Estes and Riley to anyone!

Riley was great. He was very nice, knowledgeable. He took some beautiful photos for us and showed us some hidden gems in the park. We really had a great experience. This tour was a driven tour with optional short walks. Perfect for families or if the weather is iffy.

Riley was a very informed gracious tour guide for me. He wanted to make sure I saw everything that I was expecting He was very attentive to my limitations as a 78 year old woman. He continually checked in with me about how I was and if I had questions. He had wonderful stories about the history of the park , the geology ,the habits of the animals. He continuously pointed out the animals and would stop so I could view them. His binoculars were a valuable addition to the experience of the animals. I saw multiple areas of the park that would have taken days to explore. I definitely got my money’s worth.

What a fantastic tour. Riley was so knowledgeable and fun. I especially enjoyed the hike in snowpack around Bear lake. Riley supplied cleats and poles, making the hike easy. We saw all the sights including alluvial fan, several overlooks, trail ridge road. Great.

What a great day with Riley! He and his wife are lovely people who are obviously well-known and respected in town. Riley is knowledgeable about Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and is enthusiastic about sharing his love for the area. We had a fantastic time walking trails that we would never have found on our own, and his insights and suggestions enabled us to add unexpected adventures to our Estes Park visit. Plus, Riley was a great sport about taking photos of us, which means we have pictures that are so much nicer than any selfies we could have managed!

Riley our guide was very personable, knowledgeable and fun to ride with. We learned alot about the park and its history. We will be back.

Amazing experience! Most definitely a must do for someone that has never been to Rockies. We will be back for a summer trip!

If you want to see the park with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide, it’s got to be Riley. My family spent an entire day in Rocky and he had my two girls (7 & 5) attention the whole time. From looking through his telescope at wildlife and views, to learning about the various landmarks, and the Jr Ranger station, we didn’t want the day to end. Thank you Riley, you were wonderful! P.S. their stickers are awesome, my kids have had them on their water bottles since we got home.

This is a very good well-rounded tour of RMNP. Riley is super knowledgeable, not only about the history of Estes Park but also about the natural events that shaped the terrain. He also knows about the flora and fauna of the area. He was super personable and made the day fun and interesting.

Had an amazing time! In Rocky Mountain State Park. Going back in the fall to see the entire park. Riley was an incredible guide.

Incredible private tour. Riley was so knowledgeable about the Park and took us to some great locations for picture taking and admire the beauty of nature. Strongly recommend.

Amazing experience ! Loved Riley he was so knowledgeable and fun! Took our photo every time we asked . Couldn’t ask for a better day .

Riley was seriously the best tour guide. He fed us so much knowledge on RMNP history, wildlife, and story telling! There were high winds on the day we went but he managed to put in all the effort to show us around. We got to see Elks and bighorn sheeps! This tour was honestly the best part of our first trip to Colorado. Thank you Riley!

Great experience touring RMNP! Riley is awesome and really brought the park to life for us. Very personable and great stories!

Riley was incredible! Super personable and knowledgeable!! He showed us so much of the park ! He shared personal stories stories of the park . Thank you Dawn and Gabi

What an exceptional adventure we had with Riley as our tour guide. He was knowledgeable about the town and park and flexible to meet the needs of our group. He was quick to spot wildlife and point it out to us (even getting a scope set up for us). He was an outstanding guide and host. We wanted to go sledding with our teens and he hooked us up. He knew how to get the views and avoid the crowds. He was patient while we shot photos of the park. Don’t hesitate to book if seeing the best park from a comfortable ride and learning about the area. I’d give the experience and Riley ten stars if I could!

We loved our day with Riley. We enjoyed all he shared about the park and appreciated his flexibility in the itinerary to help us get the most out of our time together. Our family all felt like we left Estes with a new friend!

We enjoyed a beautiful day in RMNP. It was great just sitting back and letting Riley show us the park. Riley gave us great suggestions for places to explore on our own like best sunrise and sunset locations plus restaurant choices. He truly loves the park and is a great caretaker of this beautiful place.

Riley’s tour was a great introduction to the beauty and awe of Rocky Mountain National Park. His enthusiasm and respect for the park is evident in all the facts and stories he shares throughout the tour. His vehicle is comfortable and clean. He entertains as well as educates on his drives and stops through the park. He was able to turn a February day, in the dead of winter, into a fun day of exploration. He was attentive to all of our questions and needs. The knowledge we gained on the tour enhanced the rest of our stay in the park. Time spent with him was a pleasure.

Such a great tour! Riley was absolutely delightful! Professional, factual, great story teller and humourous! He went above and beyond in this tour to give my son and I the incredible experience we wanted. He was also very passionate about the environment and how best to protect and preserve such a sacred and beautiful National Park. Definitely recommend this tour. Thank you Riley and also to Mariah for pointing out where the elk were!

Riley was an incredible guide. Super friendly and made us immediately comfortable. His knowledge of the parks was very extensive and made for a perfect tour. Also a great camera man as well! Definitely worth the time

What an awesome tour!! Riley was friendly, funny, and knowledgeable. Our kiddos (10&12) had a blast playing and exploring RMNP. Riley Provided everything we needed for a winter wonderland exploration of the Park. Kids went sledding and walked on a frozen lake!! Had snowball fights and saw a frozen waterfall!! The sleds, microspikes and poles were much appreciated. Thank you again for teaching us so much about Colorado and RMNP. He was patient when my kids wanted to just play in the snow, while they struggled to put on their gloves and gear plus he answered all their questions and listened attentively. It is a must see tour of a magnificent Park !! Hope to return during spring. Thanks for everything.

Riley was an amazing guide for this unforgettable tour of RMNP. We were fortunate enough to have great weather and even spotted wildlife along the way. The views of the mountains were unbelievable at each stop. Riley has such a wealth of knowledge of the park history and all it has to offer which keeps it interesting. Driving through on our own would not have been the same experience. I was even able to plan a surprise proposal for my GF at Bear Lake with an amazing background thanks to Riley and Mariah. Truly cannot thank them enough for their help. I would certainly recommend their tour to anyone visiting the area.

Hiking around RMNP with guide, Riley was a blast! He drove us around Estes Park and pointed out interesting places, like The Stanley Hotel (which was the inspiration for the movie, The Shining). He told us the good restaurants in town. He was very personable and informed about the park - where to spot Big Horn Sheep, Elk, Wild Turkeys - even Marmot! He took many pictures of my beloved and me. Riley had many interesting stories about true crime and the like. He provided us with micro-spikes (not sure if that's the correct term) which are like tire chains, but for your feet! It was slushy and melting and those suckers allowed us to walk up to Bear Lake with ease. Riley was good about asking if we wanted to stop to take pics, too. Our tour was quite long - he even gave us advice on what to explore the next day on our own. We recommend Riley and his expertise - he was GREAT!

The tour was amazing,and breath taking Riley took us to the places described on their page there was a park that wasn't accessible due to accumulative snow sorry I can't remember the name we couldn't pick a better day to visit Rocky Mountain we loved it

We have often taken private/small group tours when traveling and Exploring Estes did not disappoint! We had a delightful 5 hours with Riley and saw so much! I was concerned that the excursion might be too much for 79 year olds and expressed that to Riley. He kept the walks at a manageable pace and the grips that fit over our shoes made walking on packed snow so easy! As we drove, Riley shared lots of interesting tales about the people, geological history, plants, and animals of the area. He definitely “knows his stuff.” We were fortunate to see quite a bit of wildlife. We highly recommend Exploring Estes to anyone who wants an individualized tour. Our daughter & son-in-law were impressed with our knowledge when we returned to their home in Golden!!

We had a wonderful time and the weather could not have been more perfect. Riley was a fantastic tour guide and we had a blast.

My wife and I booked a private tour with Riley. He was right on time at the designated pick up point. What stuck out to me was his knowledge of the area and its history. He told some great stories and was very engaging the entire time. You can tell he has deep love for the park and ensuring that it’s preserved for future generations. He made sure we were comfortable, had additional equipment to keep us warm and safe, and really created a great experience. I’d 100% use his services again for future visits. I’m looking forward to his future star gazing tours 😉.

Guide Riley was very knowledgeable about RMNP history, geology and wildlife. He was attentive to our party’s particular interests and needs, especially by providing traction accessories that slipped over our boots to make visiting the sites safe and easy on snowy and icy trails. The tour vehicle was comfortable and made viewing wildlife and landscapes effortless. Riley’s clear commitment to the “leave no trace” philosophy to preserve the natural environment is commendable. I recommended this tour and this provider highly.

Riley provided an EXCELLENT guided/narrated tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park!! We were very lucky to see several bull elk up close, a herd of female elk, and lots of mule deer. Also had nice hikes to the Alluvial Fan and Bear Lake. The provided ankle gaiters and ice cleats were GREAT! My wife and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Explore Estes!

Feb 2023 Riley was an excellent tour guide; friendly and very knowledgeable about the Park and we loved the tour ! We highly recommend this tour for anyone coming to Estes Park!

Absolutely the best tour guide around! Riley was prepared and on time to pick us up. Comfortable ride, water and hand warmers ready for us. He was so knowledgeable, entertaining, engaging, and adapted to our needs and wants. We learned so much about Estes Park, RMNP, history etc. The experience was way beyond any expectations we could imagine! If you plan a trip to Estes park, this is the BEST experience ever!!

Riley was an awesome guide, loved every minute of the tour! Looked after us so well and also extremely knowledgeable about the Park and the flora and fauna. Highly recommend to anyone coming to Estes Park!

Riley was THE BEST tour guide. He was very knowledgeable on all things RMNP and had great stories. We were very lucky to have a perfect clear day. No fog as you can see in the pics. We had a fabulous time and will absolutely be back in the summer/fall sometime soon and book another tour with Riley. Thanks again.

Fantastic tour! Riley was very knowledgeable and fun. Great stories and he seriously wants you to be comfortable and have a good time. He adjusts based on what you want to see and do, which he can do since it is a private tour. It was really cold so it was great to be in his 4 wheel drive car, but we still saw lots of wildlife and scenery. Highly recommend!

We booked a winter private tour on Nov/26/2022. It was fantastic, and I must point out this is a private tour, which means they only accept one group of tourists. Riley was very knowledgeable, and we saw deer and elks even before we entered the national park (because he knew where to see them). The snow was still thick that day. However, Riley brought crampons for us, making walking very easy. Although more than half of the national park was closed, Riley still drove to almost all opening areas in the national park. We had a short break at the visitor center and got our cancellation stamps!

I booked the Winter tour for two people and it was an excellent experience. Riley was a truly great guide- professional, knowledgeable and very kind. It is apparent that his customers’ comfort and satisfaction is top priority. Booking the tour was a significantly better way to see the park than driving to all the spots myself- I wouldn’t have known how to get the best views and it was great to learn about each location.

I am writing this review on behalf of my visually impaired friend from Germany that visited Colorado and toured with Explore Estes. His name is Nils. These are his words: We joined the winter private Tour in March 2022 and it was awesome! We have seen so many areas of the National park and learned a lot about the park background, the animals and the trees cause the tour guide Riley shared so many interesting stories with us. The tour was excellent prepared with many stops and different experiences. But, additionally we were also able to customize the tour completely on our own interest. There was no hurry and we had time to extend the tour as well. We also highly recommend this tour to disabled people. The tour guide customized the Trip on each ability. For instance, as a blind person I enjoyed it so much getting the chance to touch all the trees, barks, leaves, pinecones etc. he explained. The guide also brought all the needed gear and equipment like sleds or snowshoes to borrow and helped to put them on. The tour is open to all, kids, senior and disabled friendly. We would definitely do this tour once again!

Riley was fantastic! I was very timid about going on Trails Ridge Road but Riley was reassuring and very patient. We got to the top - the Alpine Visitor Center - and it was well worth the effort! Riley knew the best places to find various species and we saw a coyote with 9 pups, marmot, chipmunks, and even the elusive pika! Riley entertained us with great stories about things that happened in the Rocky Mountain National Park over the years; both natural and man-made. He also offers pickup at your hotel and delivers you back there, which is an appreciated bonus. I recommend this tour… entertaining and informative with lots of wildlife.

Riley was an awesome tour guide. He promptly picked us up at our condo on Fall River and showed us the park! Trail Ridge Road was closed which was a big disappointment but Riley more than made up for it by showing us some of the best parts of the park, taking us on a hike and seeking out tons of wildlife; bighorn sheep, elk, deer and tons of elk. He taught us a lot of the history of the park in addition to interesting stories of Estes and RMNP. We highly recommend this tour.

Riley was a great guide! He was knowledgable and personable. It was so nice to tour RMNP and not worry about the driving.

Riley and Marriah made the highlight of our trip out to Estes Park. A spring snowstorm changed plans a bit, but they were great in communicating and accommodating the tour for another day. Riley picked us up from our vacation rental and took us on a fun filled, informative trip through Rocky Mountain National Park, and spots outside the area. Along with taking great photos that my wife and I will enjoy for years to come. If this is your first time to Estes Park, or have never had a tour through the national park, this should be your first choice.

Our guide Reilly was outstanding, accommodating and knowledgeable. Saw awesome places and wildlife. A great tour if it’s your first trip to RMNP.

This was a perfect way to celebrate my 50th birthday. Always and forever an avid fan of the outdoors who enjoys hiking and soon backpacking the AT and hope to explore the Continental Divide in the near future. Such a peaceful and majestic place to be on a special day. Riley was awesome and forever grateful for this wonderful experience. Riley was great guide and learned a lot from the history of the park, even learned about the different tress. My husband and I were in awe, such a great adventure and highly recommend if you're in Colorado. From pick up to the hotel to drop off, overall, an excellent and awesome experience. Thank you for making the day extra special!!!!

The background stories of the people who have been instrumental in the park's history are intertwined with the spectacular views and knowledgeable natural history of the park in an interesting and entertaining way.