Estes Park is a small, scenic town nestled at 7545 feet in the Rocky Mountain National Park of Colorado.
It is a great place to stay if you are exploring the area and is often known as the base camp for the Rocky Mountains.
The village offers picturesque mountain views as well as multiple outdoor activities to try your hand at.
Estes Park also has a great shopping scene, with multiple areas selling a wide variety of products. There are more than 300 shops in Estes Park, so there’s plenty of variety to choose from!
Whether you want to find out what you can buy in Estes Park or learn about some of the best stores in the region, this guide will provide relevant information to help you on your trip. We will cover:
- Popular items to buy in Estes Park
- Where to shop in Estes Park
- Tips for shopping in Estes Park.
Let’s get into it!
Popular things to buy in Estes Park
Estes Park has a wide variety of products available to purchase, as well as a wide range of shops.
From glasswork and candles to soaps and jewelry, there is bound to be something for everyone! Below is a list of common items you will find in Estes Park shops:
- Handmade pottery and ceramics
- Woodwork
- Hand blown glassworks
- Art and crafts from local artists
- Rocky Mountain souvenirs and memorabilia
- Estes Park branded apparel
- Locally produced honey, candles, and soaps
- Specialized food products
- Native American Jewelry.
Many shops will sell lots of the items listed above, while there are also a few specialty shops for unique products such as jewelry or glasswork. Let’s take a look at which shops are the best for certain items!
Where to shop in Estes Park
Now that we know some popular things to buy in Estes Park, we will go through some of the best shops available.
There are lots of truly unique stores in Estes Park – and while this list covers multiple options, it is by no means complete and there are many more to explore!
Brownfield’s
Hours of operation: Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm
Located at: 350 East Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Brownfield’s is a souvenir and outdoor gear shop. With an emphasis on hiking, the shop’s outdoor gear is of high quality and lasts a long time so it’s well worth the investment.!
Brownfield’s has great prices and a wide variety of clothing for sale, making it the perfect stop to make sure you have everything before heading for a hike in the mountains.
In terms of souvenirs, you can buy Rocky Mountain hats, hoodies, postcards, patches, and more!
The Old Church Shops
Located at: 157 West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
The Old Church Shops are a cute little collection of unique shops tucked away in an old church. Originally a community church in the early 1900s, it was converted in 1982 into a shared space for business owners.
Now the home of coffee shops, clothing stores, galleries, and even a hot sauce shop, the Old Church Shops are well worth a visit!
It’s particularly great if you want to escape the crowds as it is often a less crowded destination. It’s also a nice location to do your shopping if it is raining outside.
The Taffy Shop
Located at: 121 West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Do you have a sweet tooth? Then this is the place for you!
The Taffy Shop is a candy store that makes delicious taffy in a variety of different colors and flavors.
The taffy machine can be seen hard at work through the window – always exciting for kids and adults alike!
Village Goldsmith
Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm – 5 pm
Located at: 235 West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
The Village Goldsmith specializes in custom gold jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Established in 1976, this shop has been serving customers with rings, necklaces, earrings, and more for over 45 years.
The artists design pieces inspired by Colorado and Estes Park, so each piece is quite special and unique.
Trendz at the Park
Hours of operation: Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 7 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 8 pm
Located at: 100 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Trendz is a boutique home decor and gift store. Super quirky and cool, you can be sure to find something here that’s simultaneously out of the ordinary and a must-have!
Their inventory is always changing, so even if you have visited before there are bound to be items you haven’t seen before.
Trendz has the largest variety of products when compared to other boutique shops in Estes Park.
The Ore Cart Rock Shop
Hours of operation: 9 am – 6 pm, 7 days a week
Located at: 119 West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
The Ore Cart Rock Shop sells jewelry, rocks, and minerals – a very exciting shop to visit for rock lovers out there!
They stock lots of different crystals and rock types, as well as some fossils on occasion.
This family business has been in operation since 1972 and is definitely a shop out of the ordinary with some fantastic finds waiting for you inside.
Estes Park Mountain Shop
Hours of operation: 8 am – 8 pm 7 days a week
Located at: 2050 Big Thompson Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
This is your one-stop outdoor shop, selling everything from clothes and climbing gear to camping and snow sports equipment!
They also offer rentals for a variety of outdoor pursuits like skis, snowboards, and tents.
Estes Park Mountain Shop sets itself apart from other outdoor stores by providing guided trips in the Rocky Mountain region, as well as offering a climbing gym inside its shop.
It’s certainly worth a visit if you are planning to spend time in the great outdoors!
Thirty Below Leather
Hours of operation: Closed Sundays and Tuesdays, all other days 10 am – 5 pm
Located at: 356 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Thirty Below Leather sells everything leather; purses, wallets, bags, gloves, belts, and more.
Everything is less than $30 – hence the name – so it’s a great place to pick up a leather souvenir for a great price!
Patterson Glassworks Studio and Gallery
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 9 am – 4:30 pm, Friday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm
Located at: 323 West Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
A shop with a show, the Patterson Glassworks studio and gallery displays some amazing glass pieces from local artists who create onsite.
Go along and watch them work, blowing glass into a range of colorful shapes! The prices for items are quite reasonable and are brilliant to look at.
Trading Post of the Rockies
Hours of operation: Sunday – Thursday 9 am – 8 pm, Friday and Saturday 8 am – 8 pm
Located at: 450 Moraine Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
The Trading Post of the Rockies is one of the best gift shops in Estes Park for Native American jewelry and artifacts, peddling jewelry, blankets, rugs, dream catchers, leather goods, hides, and more!
You can also purchase Rocky Mountain and Estes Park souvenirs such as T-shirts. This beautiful, rustic shop is a must-do to immerse yourself in the history and culture of Estes Park.
Earthwood Artisans
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 10 am – 6 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 7 pm, Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Located at: 360 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Earthwood Artisans is another beautiful gallery in Estes Park with work from over 240 different artists.
Here you can find woodwork, pottery, glasswork, jewelry, photography, prints, metal art, and more. The best part is that there are often demonstrations from artists on site so you can see them showcase their passion.
Once Upon A Hive
Hours of operation: Closed Tuesdays. Monday Wednesdays Thursdays 10 am – 4 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, Sundays 11 am – 4 pm
Located at: 145 East Elkhorn Avenue, Estes Park (Get Directions)
For all things honey, this is the place to be!
Once Upon A Hive sells honey, wax melts, candles, as well as other beeswax body products such as soaps and lip balms.
Their products are hand-poured in Estes Park and the honey is locally sourced in the area.
With unique ingredient mixes like wildflower or pine, this shop’s products will invigorate your senses!
Kirk’s Flyshop and Mountain Adventures
Hours of operation: 7 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week
Located at: 230 East Elkhorn Avenue, Unit B, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Estes Park has plenty of niche shops, and Kirk’s Flyshop is just one of them!
This proudly family owned and operated store offers everything fly fishing from gear and tackle to guided fly fishing trips in the Rocky Mountains.
If you are looking for something exciting to fill some time, jump on a guided trip and try your hand at fly fishing in a truly stunning environment!
Estes Park Village Thrift Shop
Hours of operation: Closed Sunday – Tuesday, Wednesday – Saturday 11 am – 3 pm
Located at: 1138 Manford Avenue, Unit A, Estes Park (Get Directions)
For those who love thrift shopping, the Estes Park Community Thrift Shop will scratch that itch.
This Op shop sells clothes from $1, and on some occasions holds “$5 fill a bag” events!
All profits are donated back to the community, so you will be supporting Estes Park while also unearthing some great thrift shop finds.
The Community Thrift Shop provides a great sense of place and works at bringing people together – locals and tourists alike.
Cliffhanger Used Books
Hours of operation: 10 am – 4 pm, 7 days a week
Located at: 191 Riverside Drive, Estes Park (Get Directions)
Last but not least is Cliffhanger Used Books!
This spectacular bookstore has thousands of books to browse but is still organized in a way that makes it easy to find a specific tome.
This store also supports the community by offering free books to students and teachers in the Estes Park school district during the back-to-school period.
Parking and Logistics
The main issue with shopping in Estes Park is figuring out where to park and how to get to the shops listed above!
Estes Park becomes very busy in peak tourist times and parking can be a bit of a nightmare downtown.
Most of the shops listed above are located in downtown Estes Park on either East or West Elkhorn Avenue.
Most shops open around 10 a.m. on average; however, it is recommended that you get there earlier to score a park.
You can then fill in the time by going for a lovely walk along the Fall River walkway or getting a coffee at one of the many cafes downtown.
There are several locations to park at in downtown Estes Park; around 18 parking lots in total, with 10 free and 8 paid.
Logically, the best place to park would either be at the west end of downtown in the performance parking lot (which gives you all-day free parking) or the east end of downtown in the town hall parking lot (although this is paid).
You can then wander along East and West Elkhorn Avenues and browse all the shops before making your way back to the car!
Alternatively, park between East and West Elkhorn Avenues – but keep in mind that most of this parking is either paid or only allows 3 hours free of charge.
The following link provides an excellent map for parking in Estes Park.
If braving the downtown hustle and bustle isn’t your idea of a fun shopping day, then there is always Stanley Village Shopping Centre too.
This shopping mall has over 40 businesses and plenty of shops that sell popular Estes Park products like those discussed at the beginning of this article.
If you prefer shopping in a mall, then this is a great alternative to downtown! Stanley Village has ample parking and is located on East Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park.
Tips for shopping in Estes Park
To get the most out of your shopping experience in Estes Park, here are a few tips to remember:
- Get there early to find parking, then spend time on the Estes Park riverwalk while you wait for shops to open!
- Make sure to check the operation hours for the shops you want to visit so you are not caught out by closing times.
- Explore multiple local boutiques and gift shops for unique souvenirs and Rocky Mountain-themed items before buying.
- Check out the Estes Park Farmers’ Market for local produce and goods. The market runs on Thursdays 8 am – 1 pm.
- Visit multiple shops to see if you can find a better price on an item before buying.
- Spend a whole day to get the most out of your shopping experience and not feel rushed!
