I live an hour from Rocky Mountain National Park. Here are 5 hidden gems I think all tourists should check out in the area.

I've found that the vast majority of Rocky Mountain National Park visitors only visit the east side of the park, particularly the Bear Lake area. In fact, I've gone on hikes on the west side and have only seen a handful of people over multiple hours.

My favorite thing to check out on the west side is the Holzwarth Historic Site. Here, you can find a small village of log cabins, giving you an idea of what life looked like in the Rockies 100 years ago.

However, what really makes this stop stand out is the creek you walk over to get to the site. Although it's easy to overlook, this stream is actually the beginning of the Colorado River.

It's difficult to imagine that this babbling brook grows into the mighty river that carved out the Grand Canyon.

If you're visiting in the warmer months, Trail Ridge Road is your lifeline through Rocky Mountain National Park. The main route through the park offers gorgeous views of the Continental Divide, mountain lakes, and wildlife.

At the highest point on the road (11,796 feet above sea level), you'll find the Alpine Visitor Center. This is a great place to grab a coffee and look out over the expansive landscape below.

You also have a good chance of seeing two fuzzy critters: marmots and pikas. Both are part of the rodent family and make for some great entertainment as you sip on a drink.

The Chapel on the Rock somehow feels completely out of place yet blends in perfectly with its surroundings.

Located near Rocky Mountain National Park, the 90-year-old stone church almost startles you after seeing nothing for miles on the country highway leading up to it.

Officially named the St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, visitors are able to enter the building to pray or learn about its history, which is fascinating in itself. In 1993, the chapel even hosted a very famous guest: Pope John Paul II.

Although it's not a long stop, the Chapel on the Rock is a very unexpected landmark in rural Colorado.

Estes Park is the mountain town just outside the main entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park. The downtown is lovely to stroll through — filled with taffy stores and souvenir shops. However, the most famous landmark in the town is the Stanley Hotel.

First and foremost, the Stanley is a luxury hotel complex, complete with restaurants, a whiskey bar, and a theater. The hotel opened in 1909 and has hosted its fair share of notable guests — including Stephen King in September 1974.

King and his wife Tabby were the only guests in the entire hotel, as the property was set to close up for winter the next day. This stay inspired his bestselling thriller, "The Shining."

If you want to dive into "The Shining" lore and the hotel's ghost stories, you can book a special tour around the hotel grounds. However, if you don't have time for that, quickly stopping by to check out the beautiful buildings (and hedge maze out front) is well worth the time.

After hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, you might want to continue your dive into the "full mountain" experience. Luckily, there are plenty of activities to scratch that itch, from fly fishing to ax throwing.

The YMCA of the Rockies is a great option if you want to try several activities at a time. After buying a day pass (which costs $29 for adults), you'll have access to their entire grounds, which often have elk and other animals wandering around.