Plein Air Painters of Estes Park - Wednesdays 

2026 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. 

I'm looking forward to another year of plein air painting with you.  Attached is the schedule for 2026.  You'll see we have some old favorites and a couple of new locations.  Let's hope they work out for us!

I will be arriving in Estes around May 10, slightly later than normal, so I will miss the first scheduled date. 

See you in soon!

Connie Schmidt

314-504-4296

314-504-4296, cjschmidt.art@gmail.com

May 6 – 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 13 – 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 20 – 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 restroom. This is a Boulder County

Open Space and there are no fees.

May 27 – 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 3 – 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 10 – Sleepy Hollow. Picnic area on the Big Thompson River approximately 7 miles east of

Estes Park on Hwy 34. Facilities, tables.

June 17 – Lily Lake. Located on Hwy 7 about 7 miles south of Estes Park. Parking, facilities.

Lake, mountains, aspen grove, wildflowers.

June 24 – Tahosa Coffee House. Located on Hwy 7 about 9 miles south of Estes Park at the St.

Malo Center. Paint the Chapel on the Rocks or the views of Mt. Meeker. Parking at the chapel

and at the coffee house. Indoor restrooms. Tables on the patio at the coffee shop. Plan to buy a

drink or snack while we’re there.

July 1 – 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.

July 8 – 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 15 – 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 22- 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 29 – 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 5 – 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 12 – 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 19 – 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.

August 26 – 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

picnic tables just past the Fan.

September 2 – 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 or September 1 on

www.recreation.gov

September 9 – 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 16 – 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 23 – 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.

September 30 - – Lily Lake. Located on Hwy 7 about 7 miles south of Estes Park. Parking,

facilities. Lake, mountains, large aspen grove at the parking lot across the highway.

October 7 - 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.