Located just south of the center of town, the Estes Park Aerial Tramway is a popular tourist attraction in Larimer County, Colorado. Operating primarily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the tramway gives visitors a chance to ascend Prospect Mountain for stunning views of the town of Estes Park and the neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park.
As a “free span” aerial tramway, most visitors are able to enjoy a very smooth ride for a reasonable, round-trip ticket fee. The journey takes approximately 5 minutes to reach the summit and visitors can return to the bottom whenever they wish.
At the top, there is a restroom, a coffee shop with drinks and snacks, as well as a souvenir/gift shop. Surrounding the top terminal, visitors also have the opportunity to explore a few light hiking trails to take in the views and enjoy possible wildlife encounters.
History
Opening its doors in 1955, the Estes Park Tramway has safely transported millions of Rocky Mountain visitors as a family-owned tourist attraction. The Estes Park Aerial Tramway was designed and built by Robert Heron, who worked with the 10th Mountain Division to construct alpine trams during World War II.
Aside from the Estes Park Tramway, Heron also constructed the first United States double chair ski lift.
Visiting the Estes Park Aerial Tramway
While in operation, the Estes Park Aerial Tramway can be heavily trafficked, with significant wait times during peak tourist seasons. For this reason, visits early and late in the day are recommended to avoid the crowds. The tramway is open daily for the majority of the year but also remains open on weekends outside of the regular season.
During inclement weather, the tramway may close for safety reasons. Roundtrip ticket pricing varies for adults, seniors, and children, and the Estes Park Aerial Tramway is handicap accessible. Group rates are also available and no pets are allowed on the tram cars, which hold approximately 8 to 10 people each.
Details
Address: 420 East Riverside Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone: 970-475-4094
Season: Memorial Day – Labor Day (or later)
Hours: 9 am – 6 pm | Daily
Fees: Round trip tickets
Website: estestram.com
