ARCHIVED March 15, 2005 12:00:00 am

Estes treks put visitors in touch with art

By Sue Lenthe

ESTES PARK — Enjoy Northern Colorado’s longest-running and highest altitude art walks in Estes Park.
The mountain town has been offering the self-guided tours of galleries, exhibits and studios for 14 years, according to Lynda Vogel, executive director of the Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park.

“We’ve been doing art walks a lot longer than a lot of other Front Range communities,” Vogel said. “The big one down in Fort Collins, the one in Longmont – they were all fashioned after our art walk.”

The events, which may be a few days long, a month long or last the entire summer season, take place four times a year in Estes Park.
The walks are free and typically offer an itinerary of one to two dozen stops.

“It’s a great way for visitors and residents to experience the diversity of our visual arts community,” Vogel said.
A month-long holiday art walk is planned during December, she said. That walk has been extended for the entire month of December to allow plenty of time for people to come up and visit Estes and its galleries and artists during the holiday season.

“And hopefully do some of their Christmas shopping by purchasing unique and one-of-a-kind art objects for the holiday giving season,” she added.
May in Estes Park is the time for the town’s original and oldest art walk. The 2005 event will be the 15th annual. The two-day walk takes place in conjunction with the Estes Park jazz festival.

The town’s summer art walk extends from June through Labor Day. An autumn walk follows in September.
Vogel said the art walks began as a way to foster collaboration and support between the nonprofit arts council and privately owned galleries in Estes Park.