Two of Colorado’s most treasured family vacation destinations – YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park Center and YMCA of the Rockies – Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby – announced 2024 summer season details including new Aerial Challenge Course experiences and a Summer Olympics Passport program.
Both the Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch rest on either side of Rocky Mountain National Park and feature numerous daily activities including pickleball, archery lessons, craft centers, miniature golf, roller skating, swimming, rock climbing with skilled instructors, hikes to waterfalls, the guest-favorite summer tubing hill at Snow Mountain Ranch and much more. Most on-site activities are included with a stay at the resort, in either a cozy cabin or an affordable hotel-style lodge room.
Below are several new offerings for summer 2024; for a full list of activities, reservations, events and more, go to www.ymcarockies.org
New This Summer:
- Aerial Challenge Courses: Guests can challenge themselves by navigating the brand-new Aerial Challenge Courses at both Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch. The new adventure courses, towering 35 feet above the ground in the canopy of a Ponderosa Forest, feature a suspended aerial experience with swaying bridges, tightropes and more. The roughly 1.75-hour experience includes 30 minutes of instruction with a guide and is great for groups of up to 15 people. The course was created by Bonsai Design, a Colorado-based, Woman-owned company which has designed courses all over the world. The Estes Park Center course opened for its first full season on April 15; and the Snow Mountain Ranch course is slated to open in June.
- Summer Olympic Passport to Fun Program: To celebrate the upcoming Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024, YMCA of the Rockies has created a Summer OlympicsPassport to Fun Program. Both properties offer a robust list of activities included with a stay – many of which are also Olympic sports – so guests can try their hand at a number of sports they will see during the Paris games. From June 15 – August 15, guests can pick up an Olympic passport from the Programs Building, travel around each property and collect stamps for all of the Olympic-themed activities, including archery, basketball, climbing, (mini-)golf, table tennis, swimming, tennis, volleyball, roller skating and more.
- Skip the Line for Rocky Mountain National Park: RMNP is part of the National Park Service’s “pilot reservation system,” requiring timed entry permits for visitors. However, because of YMCA of the Rockies’ prime location and exclusive access, guests at the Estes Park Center have access to dozens of hike-in, hike-out trails – and even guided hikes – accessible with a park entrance pass.
- “Arts at Altitude” Music Festival: This summer, the Estes Park Center will host the inaugural Arts at Altitude Music Festival in partnership with the renowned Cleveland Pops Orchestra. From August 10-17, the Cleveland Pops will take over the property with artist meet-and-greets, instrument showcases, music education sessions, open mic nights and solo pop-ups. The residency will be punctuated by two signature performances – a jazz evening on August 10 and a Broadway program on August 17. Tickets, lodging and ticket packages, and additional information can be found here.
Additionally, in a nod to nostalgic summer camp-like experiences, both properties offer a variety of summer activities such as daily educational sessions; naturalist workshops focused on birding, geology, plants, wildflowers, and the history of Rocky Mountain National Park; as well as a weekly schedule of organized classic games and activities for guests including kickball, capture the flag, human Hungry Hungry Hippo, dodgeball and much more.
Accommodations range from affordable hotel-style lodge rooms with common areas perfect for groups traveling together, to pet-friendly, multi-bedroom private cabins featuring wrap-around porches, full kitchens, and a variety of sleeping options. Snow Mountain Ranch is also home to a “Yurt Village” and campground in the summer months. Most lodge rooms and cabins do not have televisions, providing a truly unplugged experience.
Day Camps will be available at both properties for children ages 3 -17, Monday through Friday from early June through mid-August. Guests may register for one day, several days or a week at a time. Day camp rates start at $50/day at Estes Park Center and $140/week at Snow Mountain Ranch.
Summer reservations are now available at www.ymcarockies.org.
All images courtesy of YMCA of the Rockies
