Plein Air Painters of Estes Park - Wednesdays 

2025 Locations

Contact: Connie Schmidt 314-504-4296, cjschmidt.art@gmail.com

We meet at 9 a.m. and critique at noon. Bring a sack lunch. NO RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED IF YOU ARRIVE AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK BEFORE 9 A.M. AND DO NOT GO ON THE BEAR LAKE ROAD CORRIDOR. . If you arrive after 9 a.m., you will need a reservation. One of our locations (Sept 10) is on the Bear Lake Road corridor and you will need a reservation for that day... make it on Aug 1st at www.recreation.gov .

May 7 – Hall Ranch Open Space. Located 1 mile west of Lyons on the north side of Highway 7 (South Saint Vrain). The upper parking lot has covered tables and bathroom. This is a Boulder County Open Space and there are no fees.

May 14 – Pella Crossing, Longmont. Located on N. 75th St., approximately 1 mile south of CO Hwy 66 (UTE Hwy). Ponds, mountain views, picnic tables, facilities.

May 21 – Golden Ponds Nature Area, Longmont. Golden Ponds is located on the St. Vrain Greenway in Longmont on the west side of Hover Street. Take 3rd Avenue west of Hover Street to the main parking area. It has 4 ponds, covered tables and restrooms.

May 28 – Mary’s Lake. This is a Town of Estes property – no fee. Located on Mary’s Lake Rd. From Hwy 7 in Estes Park, turn right onto Mary’s Lake Rd, drive around the lake past the campground to the second road on the left – new picnic area with covered tables, restroom.

June 4 – Apple Valley Farmstead. Apple Valley Road is just above Lyons on Hwy 36. Turn on Apple Valley Rd at arched bridge if coming from Estes. Coming from Lyons take first left at Apple Valley Rd. The farmstead is near the Lyons end of the road. Has sign, parking and restroom.

June 11 – Fisherman’s Nook on the north side of Lake Estes. Turn off Hwy 34 on Lakefront St. (next to the Quality Inn) and go to the edge of the lake. Covered picnic table, ample parking, restrooms.

June 18 – Lily Lake. Located on Hwy 7 about 7 miles south of Estes Park. Parking, facilities. Lake, mountains, aspen grove, wildflowers.

June 25 – Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. Entrance off Devil’s Gulch ½ mile past the MacGregor Ranch gate. Signs, parking, facilities

July 2 – Sleepy Hollow. Picnic area on the Big Thompson River approximately 7 miles east of Estes Park on Hwy 34. Facilities, tables.

July 9 – H-BAR-G-Ranch. Turn north off Hwy 34 to Dry Gulch Rd. Go to its end and turn right at the T (CO 61). Go up H-Bar-G Rd., follow signs. Be sure to close the gate after entering. Views of the Continental Divide, historic cabins, restrooms, tables.

July 16 – Alpine Visitor Center, RMNP – Enter RMNP before 9 am and you don’t need a reservation. Get an early start onto Trail Ridge Road – it’s about 45 minutes from either entrance station to the visitor center. Great views of Old Fall River Rd, Never Summer Range, Ute trail. Trail Ridge Store, restrooms. Meet at the west end of the visitor center for critique. If weather looks too bad, alternate location: Endo Valley Picnic ground, RMNP – Enter through Fall River Road entrance. Turn right at Endo Valley sign toward Old Fall River Rd. Endo Valley is at the end of the pavement. Take the loop almost all the way around and park where you can. Stream, path to open meadow, facilities.

July 23- Lake Estes Marina. Entrance on Hwy 34 (Big Thompson Ave) about 2 miles east of the Hwy 34/36 intersection. Lake Estes, picnic tables, boats, restrooms. Parking fee $5.

July 30 – Wild Basin/Copeland Falls. Take Hwy 7 from Estes Park about 12 miles to the Wild Basin Entrance to RMNP. Go past the lake to the end of gravel road, about 2 miles. Parking, facilities. Nice at base, middle, and top of the trail. Arrive early as parking fills up quickly; reservation not needed before 9 AM.

August 6 – Cynthia Reedy’s cabin, 1551 Devils Gulch Rd., 2 miles from town. Cabin is on left side of Devil’s Gulch Rd. BRING A DISH TO SHARE FOR A POTLUCK LUNCH.

August 13 – YMCA. Take Hwy 36 west of Estes Park, then turn on Hwy 66 at the Y in road (sign indicated for this left turn), proceed to YMCA. Meet at the Administration Bldg parking lot. Paint anywhere on grounds. Lunch and critique at the Administration Bldg. Restrooms, coffee shop.

August 20 – Alluvial Fan, RMNP. Take the Fall River entrance, turn right after sheep crossing sign, meet at west (second) alluvial fan parking lot. Spread out to many spots. Facilities. Critique and lunch at tables just past the Fan.

August 27 – Upper Beaver Meadows, RMNP. Beaver Meadows entrance, go past Bear Lake Rd. and take the next left (sign, dirt road). There is a nice picnic area on the left with facilities about half way down the road OR drive to the end of the road (parking, facilities). Reservation not needed before 9 AM. Return to picnic area for critique.

September 3 – Tregent Park. Small downtown park by the water wheel on West Elkhorn in Estes Park at Spruce Street. Mrs. Walsh’s Garden is across the street too. There are mountain views, flowers, Fall River, bridges. Free parking at the upper lots, restrooms.

September 10 – Sprague Lake, RMNP. ON BEAR LAKE RD just past the major park and ride lot. Lake, Glacier Creek, picnic tables, restrooms. REQUIRES TIMED ENTRY + BEAR LAKE ROAD RESERVATION. Make your $2 reservation on August 1 on www.recreation.gov

September 17 – Hermit Park. 3860 Hwy 36, east of Estes Park. Turn south at the top of Pole Hill Road before the big drop into Estes. Go several miles in to meet at the Pavilion. Paint aspen, cabins. Parking, facilities. Fee is $10 per car so carpool if you can OR Larimer County has free passes available at local libraries for one-week check out.

September 24 – St. Bartholomew’s Church. 880 MacGregor Ave, approximately one-half mile from the roundabout at Hwy 34 (Wonderview bypass) and MacGregor. Park in the church parking lot, restrooms available inside. This site has beautiful stands of aspen and cottonwoods which we hope will be turning plus a stream and views of the Twin Owls and Lumpy Ridge.

October 1 - St. Bartholomew’s Church. 880 MacGregor Ave. We’ll do this again if weather permits. Park in the church parking lot, restrooms available inside. This site has beautiful stands of aspen and cottonwoods which we hope will be turning plus a stream and views of the Twin Owls and Lumpy Ridge.