Travel Logistics for RCN Inaugural Meeting
MEETING DATES
27-30 April (Monday - Thursday) 2026 (9am-5pm local Colorado time)
MEETING LOCATION
YMCA of the Rockies, 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, CO 80511, USA
We are delighted to note that this year we will be holding the RCN meeting at the YMCA Estes Park Center, which is a beautiful retreat style facility in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We will be staying in a large lodge with additional cabin spaces nearby for break-out sessions The Estes Park Center offers access to hiking and other activities onsite and nearby. We will have wifi and full A/V capacity despite the rustic nature of the setting. Note that we will be at ~8000 feet (2400m) elevation (tips for elevation are below).
BOOKING FLIGHTS
Plan to fly to Denver International Airport (DEN).
If you are coming in person, please plan to arrive at the YMCA Estes Park Center by the evening of Sunday April 26th or feel free to come a day earlier for a 1-night stay in Denver to help with altitude.
The meeting will formally close at 5pm on Thursday April 30th. Check out will be Friday May 1st at 10am. Feel free to depart anytime thereafter noting you will need to factor in transit time (~1.5 hr) from Estes Park to Denver Airport. Participants are welcome to stay an extra day (Friday, checking out of the lodge on Saturday) to hike or see the area, but will need to book an extra day (see Hotel section below).
TRANSPORT from Denver Airport to YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park
You must book a shuttle (roundtrip preferable) from Denver Airport to the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park facility. You can do so HERE. When booking the shuttle, choose 'Estes Park: YMCA of the Rockies (Walnut Room)' for your destination in Estes Park. Note, shuttle options to Estes are limited to 4 choices on Sunday, April 26th, but you have 6 choices available for your return to Denver on May 1st. (But see shuttle website for potential changes).
HOTEL
We have booked a lodge at the YMCA Estes Park Center for all participants. You do not need to book your own lodge room (unless you want to come earlier or stay later at the Estes Park Center, then those additional days need to be booked separately by you). Once you register for the RCN meeting, we will assign lodge rooms. Check-in on Sunday is at 6pm but rooms are often available sooner, and dinner will be available from ~5-8 pm (paid by the RCN, see below).
MEALS
A buffet style cafeteria (Aspen Dining Room) is available directly on site at the YMCA Estes Park Center. There, your breakfast and lunch will be provided on behalf of the RCN Monday-Thursday, with dinner on Sunday and breakfast on Friday also included.. For 3 of the 4 dinners during the week, you will be on your own, with options to eat at the Aspen Dining Room (where you must pay at the entrance) or go into the town of Estes Park (via a 10-15 min taxi or rideshare, e.g., Lyft, Uber), with one group dinner in Estes Park provided and arranged by the RCN for all participants. There is also the Rustic Cafe located near the Aspen Dining Room (opens 7am daily) for coffee, refreshments, and snacks, but the latter will also be provided by the RCN throughout the day in our large-group meeting room.
HIKING & GETTING AROUND
There is hiking on site at the YMCA Center. Also, Rocky Mountain National Park operates a Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride Transit Hub located on Bear Lake Road. There are no other stops in the park. At the Park & Ride, riders will transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttles to get to their trailhead destinations. Visitors can easily grab an Uber or Lyft to the Estes Park Visitor Center or downtown Estes Park.
WEATHER & ALTITUDE
Coloradans like to say, "If you are tired of the weather, just wait 20 minutes." The weather can change without notice, so please be prepared. Dress in layers and have rain/snow gear in your backpack when hiking. Spring can bring very variable weather with afternoon or evening rain or snow showers possible. It is usually cold at night and warm jackets may be necessary when hiking.
Boulder is at 5430 feet (1655 meters) above sea level and Estes Park is at ~8000 feet (~2400 meters). At this elevation it is extremely important to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen and sunglasses. If you are coming from lower elevation, it is likely you will notice the effect of the altitude. Some people experience headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and/or general fatigue. It is advised to drink plenty of water, especially in the week leading up to arrival, when you arrive, and throughout your stay. For many people, symptoms can be lessened by taking over-the-counter options like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headaches, while anti-nausea meds (meclizine) can help with dizziness. You might also consult with your doctor to see if a prescription for acetazolamide (Diamox), known to speed acclimatization, might be appropriate. If taking Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, consider starting 1-2 days prior to arrival and continuing on site as needed. We will also have portable oxygen available for participants if needed.
27-30 April (Monday - Thursday) 2026 (9am-5pm local Colorado time)
MEETING LOCATION
YMCA of the Rockies, 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park, CO 80511, USA
We are delighted to note that this year we will be holding the RCN meeting at the YMCA Estes Park Center, which is a beautiful retreat style facility in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. We will be staying in a large lodge with additional cabin spaces nearby for break-out sessions The Estes Park Center offers access to hiking and other activities onsite and nearby. We will have wifi and full A/V capacity despite the rustic nature of the setting. Note that we will be at ~8000 feet (2400m) elevation (tips for elevation are below).
BOOKING FLIGHTS
Plan to fly to Denver International Airport (DEN).
If you are coming in person, please plan to arrive at the YMCA Estes Park Center by the evening of Sunday April 26th or feel free to come a day earlier for a 1-night stay in Denver to help with altitude.
The meeting will formally close at 5pm on Thursday April 30th. Check out will be Friday May 1st at 10am. Feel free to depart anytime thereafter noting you will need to factor in transit time (~1.5 hr) from Estes Park to Denver Airport. Participants are welcome to stay an extra day (Friday, checking out of the lodge on Saturday) to hike or see the area, but will need to book an extra day (see Hotel section below).
TRANSPORT from Denver Airport to YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park
You must book a shuttle (roundtrip preferable) from Denver Airport to the YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park facility. You can do so HERE. When booking the shuttle, choose 'Estes Park: YMCA of the Rockies (Walnut Room)' for your destination in Estes Park. Note, shuttle options to Estes are limited to 4 choices on Sunday, April 26th, but you have 6 choices available for your return to Denver on May 1st. (But see shuttle website for potential changes).
HOTEL
We have booked a lodge at the YMCA Estes Park Center for all participants. You do not need to book your own lodge room (unless you want to come earlier or stay later at the Estes Park Center, then those additional days need to be booked separately by you). Once you register for the RCN meeting, we will assign lodge rooms. Check-in on Sunday is at 6pm but rooms are often available sooner, and dinner will be available from ~5-8 pm (paid by the RCN, see below).
MEALS
A buffet style cafeteria (Aspen Dining Room) is available directly on site at the YMCA Estes Park Center. There, your breakfast and lunch will be provided on behalf of the RCN Monday-Thursday, with dinner on Sunday and breakfast on Friday also included.. For 3 of the 4 dinners during the week, you will be on your own, with options to eat at the Aspen Dining Room (where you must pay at the entrance) or go into the town of Estes Park (via a 10-15 min taxi or rideshare, e.g., Lyft, Uber), with one group dinner in Estes Park provided and arranged by the RCN for all participants. There is also the Rustic Cafe located near the Aspen Dining Room (opens 7am daily) for coffee, refreshments, and snacks, but the latter will also be provided by the RCN throughout the day in our large-group meeting room.
HIKING & GETTING AROUND
There is hiking on site at the YMCA Center. Also, Rocky Mountain National Park operates a Hiker Shuttle from the Estes Park Visitor Center to the Park & Ride Transit Hub located on Bear Lake Road. There are no other stops in the park. At the Park & Ride, riders will transfer to the Bear Lake or Moraine Park shuttles to get to their trailhead destinations. Visitors can easily grab an Uber or Lyft to the Estes Park Visitor Center or downtown Estes Park.
WEATHER & ALTITUDE
Coloradans like to say, "If you are tired of the weather, just wait 20 minutes." The weather can change without notice, so please be prepared. Dress in layers and have rain/snow gear in your backpack when hiking. Spring can bring very variable weather with afternoon or evening rain or snow showers possible. It is usually cold at night and warm jackets may be necessary when hiking.
Boulder is at 5430 feet (1655 meters) above sea level and Estes Park is at ~8000 feet (~2400 meters). At this elevation it is extremely important to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen and sunglasses. If you are coming from lower elevation, it is likely you will notice the effect of the altitude. Some people experience headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and/or general fatigue. It is advised to drink plenty of water, especially in the week leading up to arrival, when you arrive, and throughout your stay. For many people, symptoms can be lessened by taking over-the-counter options like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for headaches, while anti-nausea meds (meclizine) can help with dizziness. You might also consult with your doctor to see if a prescription for acetazolamide (Diamox), known to speed acclimatization, might be appropriate. If taking Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, consider starting 1-2 days prior to arrival and continuing on site as needed. We will also have portable oxygen available for participants if needed.