US 36 (between Estes Park & Lyons)  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  124,669. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  John McNamee on Mar 2, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 75° | 46° 75° | 43° 75° | 43° 70° | 41° 66° | 43°

Description 

US 36 is a popular through road connecting Denver to Estes Park and continues into Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the stretch from Lyons to Estes Park is a canyon littered with rocks that draw the eye, that is covered under the North Fork of the St. Vrain River. Many of these crags lie on private property or are only reasonably accessed through private property, so check first.

There are crags at the upper end here near Estes Park which have had little documentation.

Apparently, some will never be climbed legally, according to their owners, like Mt Olympus (towering above US 36 just east of Estes Park).

Getting There 

To get there, you can go east from Estes Park along US 36 or west from Lyons along US 36. To access this area from Denver, head north on I-25, go NW on US 36 through Boulder to Lyons and go to just east of Estes Park. To get there from the NE, you can go west on US 66 to Lyons and then up US 36 or go west on US 34 to Estes Park and then east on US 36.

Food 

Options are limited along this stretch but a couple fairly high-end restaurants oddly sit along this stretch in Pinewood Springs. These are the Villa Tatra (with smoked delights) and the Le Chaumiere (French Cuisine)....

Other activities 

There is a Ciatano Winery located along the St. Vrain River at the Rock'n River just outside of Lyons with wine tasting from grapes grown from the Western Slope. Nice Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and Viogner. $3 for 5 tasting. They have a picnic area with large trout in their pond. 11-5 F-M in Winter & 10-6 daily in Summer. 303.823.5011. Nice for apres climbing or early rainout days.