Spend A Fun Weekend At The YMCA Of The Rockies

Plan a trip to the YMCA of the Rockies

My favorite part about living in Colorado is the amount of places there are to visit. In the last three years, I have been on countless hikes, seen historical landmarks, and visited new states. I never considered myself someone who loves to travel, but I have enjoyed exploring this place.

One of my bucket list travel items was to stay in a cabin. Especially during the winter when I can cozy up to a fire and read. Then randomly one day, my roommate and I decided to book a last minute spring break trip to the YMCA of the Rockies.

Even though it was early March, it was the perfect time to see snow covered mountains and sit by the fire reading. While also having nice enough days to get out and explore.

Here is everything you need to know about the YMCA of the Rockies

Getting there & lodging

Where is it

The YMCA of the Rockies has two locations. One in Estes Park, Colorado, and a second in Granby, Colorado. Both locations have similar amenities but do provide different activities. When planning your trip, view the separate locations and make sure you are choosing the one that best fits your vacation goals. I hope to visit Granby at some point for the outdoor ice skating rink.

For this trip, I went to the Estes Park Center right past downtown Estes. The location is only 10 minutes from downtown Estes Park but still feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. I love how this location is surrounded by trees and mountains at every angle.

Where to stay

There are many options for lodging in the YMCA. You can choose from hotel-styled lodges or cozy cabins. They offer several room sizes depending on your group’s needs.

For this trip, my roommate and I chose to stay in a cabin with a fireplace. Since the trip was beginning of March, we wanted a cozy option in case it was cold and snowy.

The cabins came with two bedrooms, a bathroom with a full-sized tub, a kitchen, a gas fireplace, and a deck. Even with the chilly temperature outside, these cabins were still warm inside.

The cabins are a good distance from neighbors so you get privacy. But they are also close enough to each other that you don’t feel isolated at night. You are near enough to the base camp that you can walk to all the activities.

Discounts

Before booking, make sure to check out the packages sections. There are many discounts for school staff, military, single-parent families, and more. The YMCA does a great job of trying to make your stay as affordable as possible.

Things to do

YMCA amenities

There are so many things to do that you won’t feel bored. Even though we went during chilly temperatures, we were able to experience several great amenities.

• Countless outdoor trails: there are so many walking trails around the property including a story walk and fitness equipment.
• Pool: there is an indoor pool for use all year round
• Game room: this is a great option for rainy days or cold weather. It was closed by the time we went there but staff said it included pool tables and various other games.
• Roller skating rink: another thing we didn’t get to see. But many events were held there during our stay.
• Library: the perfect cozy place to sit and read with fireplaces. Anyone lodging can check out books during their stay.

There are also other amenities we didn’t see such as archery, bonfires, ariel climbing challenges, and a climbing wall.

Activities

Along with the things to do, the camp also offers several activities. Activity schedules are released about 2 weeks before your date. You will also be handed one with a map when you arrive to check in.

Some of the activities they offered during our stay were

• Making survival bracelets
• Glow roller skating party
• Community campfires
• Nature walks
• Learn how to take nature photography
• Yoga
• Swim parties
• Bingo and trivia
• Guide hikes

There are countless family activities and activities of adults.

Eating and shopping

There are several options for eating on the property. The main lodge has a coffee shop with sandwiches and soup. There are also two dining halls on the property that offer a buffet-style service. Or you can’t rent a cabin with your own kitchen to do cooking.

There is also a gift shop with basic snack options. There you can purchase tees, stickers, or other random souvenirs from the place.

Wildlife

Walking into our cabin there was a big sign about how to protect our food from bears.

There is lots of wildlife around the park. While we didn’t see any bears, there was still plenty of elk, owls, and deer to watch. Be sure to check out the activities for nature walks or to learn more about local wildlife.

Make sure you view wildlife from a distance. It is their home you are visiting!

Explore outside of the YMCA

Estes Park

You are not expected to stay on the property during your stay. This location is 10 minutes from downtown Estes Park. This is a great place to walk around and visit local shops or get a bite to eat.

Other great places to visit are the Stanley Hotel, Estes Park Museum, and the Birch Ruins.

Rocky Mountain National Park

You are also within minutes from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. There are so many great hikes to take and views to see. If you have time, I highly recommend scheduling a hike.

If you plan on visiting in the summer, make sure you reserve an entrance to the park. You can reserve in advance, or grab a limited entrance pass the night before.

The YMCA of the Rockies is a great place to visit

This was a great last minute trip to take for spring break. There are so many beautiful views and fun things to do. I love that I could sit and be away from everything for a few days. If you are wanting to go and stay at a camp this summer, I highly recommend this spot.