![]() There are two trailheads for this beautiful trail: The Knoll-Willows Open Space Trail is a 1.0 mile, dirt, loop trail with a spur short trail. Today the park is home to two historic structures: the Birch Cabin and the Birch Ruins. ![]() Originally named the Knoll-Willows Open Space, the area was rededicated as the Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows during the Estes Park Centennial Celebration in 2017. A conservation easement permanently protects the open, natural character of the wetlands and rocky crest. The town of Estes Park purchased the land in 2002 to preserve its critical natural habitat and remarkable heritage. The Knoll-Willows Open Space is a 20 acre park behind the Estes Park Town Hall, Estes Valley Public Library, and police station complex with amazing views of the town of Estes Park and Lake Estes, and in the distance, Longs Peak and Colorado’s Front Range Mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. We ended up with a few hours of extra time and decided to use it to visit the Wild Basin area of the park, stop by the Chapel On The Rock, and hike to the Birch House Ruins at the Knoll-Willows Open Space. Luckily, the park crowding and closure of Bear Lake Road caused us to extend our final day in the park from a half day to a full day. We didn’t have time to hike to the ruins that day, but I saved the directions to the trailhead just in case we found time later in our vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park. While Carter was collecting pressed pennies from one of the penny machines we found, I googled the ruins and discovered that they’re not only part of a public nature preserve and open space park, but easily accessible by a short, public trail. ![]() It was a beautiful sight from the loud, touristy shopping destination and one that I wanted to explore. When we were wandering up and down Elkhorn Avenue, exploring the gift shops, art galleries, candy stores, and restaurants along Estes Park’s main street, I spotted the ruins of an old stone building on a rocky cliff overlooking the town.
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