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About Scot's Sporting Goods

Scot’s Sporting Goods has always been a family oriented and education based business. We cater to families and anyone that wants to enjoy the beautiful mountains and make life long memories. We provide quality gear and services at reasonable prices and our staff is eager to make your stay in Estes comfortable and fun. At Scot’s we have everything you could need for an outdoor adventure. The employees at Scots are also long time local residents that know the area well and can answer any question you might have about camping, fishing, hiking, or even favorite spots to grab a bite to eat in town. We also offer guided trips if you want to learn how to fly fish or are already a seasoned angler that wants to know where all of the hot spots are and fine tune your skills at small stream or high alpine lake fishing. We practice catch and release on and teach “Leave No Trace” principles on all of our trips. If fishing isn’t your thing, we would also love to take you out on a guided hiking or snowshoeing trip where our guides will teach you about local flora, fauna, geology and the history of the Estes Valley.

Inside the retail shop we have the best selection of outdoor gear in town.  We carry everything from sleeping bags, tents, rain jackets, hiking boots & socks, camp stoves, fly fishing and spin fishing rods & reels, plus terminal tackle and live bait.  We have the largest selection of artificial lures in town and our flies are tied by local tiers that know the entomology of the area and what the fish are biting on throughout the year.  Stop in and chat with our friendly and knowledgeable staff and grab a free map where we will point out fishing spots and some of the best hikes in the area.

If you aren’t in the market to buy gear, we also carry items that will make your outdoor adventures more enjoyable, safe and affordable. At Scots we believe that the outdoors should be fun, but at the same time teach our customers how to be safe and prepared in the backcountry.  It is a laid back vibe at Scots, where everyone is welcome and we are eager to answer any question you might have about our gear, services, and anything else that Estes Park has to offer. We believe in supporting small businesses and many of the brands we carry in the store are Colorado based companies.  We are open year round and can get you outfitted and prepared for all of your outdoor adventures.

Scot's Sporting Goods Equipment Clothing and Gear showing inside the store
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Scot's Sporting Goods History

Scot’s is an outdoor shop specializing in fishing, hiking, camping, backpacking supplies, outdoor clothing & footwear, and hunting & shooting sports. We carry a wide selection of outdoor gear from well-known and respected brands at competitive prices. The noticeable A-frame building has been a landmark on the West side of Estes Park since 1967, when Scot’s parents ran a liquor store out of a portion of the building. The rest of the building was a small grocery store that was known for their outstanding deli and bakery. Scot’s Sporting Goods was founded in 1971 by Scot Ritchie and started out as a 650 square foot retail shop. It was well known for having a wide variety of items that outdoorsmen staying in and around RMNP could stop by and grab. Its close proximity to the National Park and a large number of the RV parks in Estes Park made it easily accessibly without having to drive back into downtown Estes Park. Eventually the liquor store sold and moved to the building just West of Scots and the sporting goods store expanding into another 650 square foot portion of the building as the demand for outdoor gear grew. Along with offering more camping and fishing gear Scot began taking people out on guided fly fishing trips. Scot and his wife Rhonda ran the shop for 49 years and in 2019 sold it to Brian George.

Brian’s love for the outdoors began in 1979 when his parents brought him out to Estes for a family vacation when he was 6 months old and carried him in a child carrier on many hikes throughout RMNP. It then became a family tradition to spend at least one week a summer in Estes Park. Brian continued his passion for the outdoors by fishing, camping, backpacking, and hunting in the areas surrounding Estes Park. He was involved in Boy Scouts of America and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1993 and eventually moved to Estes Park full time on 2002. When Scot wanted to retire Brian recognized a need to continue the Scots tradition and purchased the business from the family in 2019.

Get to Know Our Guides

  • All
  • Fly Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Snowshoeing
Scot's Sporting Goods Fly Fishing, Hiking, and Snowshoeing Guide Mike
Mike Caldwell
Fly Fishing, Hiking and Snowshoeing Guide
I’ve lived, fished and climbed in Estes Park since 1982. Professionally I taught middle school in Loveland for 31 years. Teaching is my passion and guiding fly fishing, climbing and winter sports keeps me pretty busy. I love beginners! There is a special honor in helping someone catch their first trout on a fly. Days with me are apt to be rather vigorous. We cover a lot of water and explore some secret spots. Lotsa laughin’, lotsa learnin’ and generally lotsa fish.
Scot's Sporting Goods Fly Fishing Guide Rob
Rob
Fly Fishing Guide
Rob grew up in Longmont, CO and enjoyed a childhood of hiking, camping and fishing all over Colorado. He joined the Scot's crew to share his passion for the great outdoors and fly fishing. He enjoys spending time in the high country exploring alpine lakes and anywhere there are good fish to be found. Rob specializes in an education-first approach to guiding and enjoys teaching anglers of all ages and skill levels.
Scot's Sporting Goods Hiking and Snowshoeing Guide Rebecca
Rebecca
Hiking and Snowshoeing Guide
I love waterfalls, wildflowers, remote Wild Basin summits and Longs Peak. When I'm not guiding, you can find me hiking to secluded alpine lakes in search of solitude and monster trout! I have a passion for getting my clients off the beaten path while keeping them safe and helping them to build confidence in the mountains. My favorite summer hike is Ouzel Falls and my favorite snowshoe destination is Lake Haiyaha
Scot's Sporting Goods Fly Fishing Guide David
David Francis
Fly Fishing Guide
David has lived in Colorado since July of 1976, the same month and year of the Big Thompson flood. He wrapped his own flyrod at thirteen years old and started tying his own flies at fourteen years old. He especially enjoys teaching others the amazing activity of flyfishing and being an interpretive guide of the cold-water stream ecology. Taking a complete beginner and showing them how to catch trout on a fly in a couple of hours is what motivates him. He often tells his clients “By the time we are done today, you will have the skills to fish any river in Colorado.” He also believes you do not need the most expensive gear to get started in the sport. Being on the river is almost sacred to David. He believes the beauty of the environment in which trout live is the most therapeutic setting there is and he loves sharing it with young and old alike.
Scot's Sporting Goods Hiking and Snowshoeing Guide Wayne
Wayne Hinkley
Hiking and Snowshoeing Guide
My name is Wayne Hinkley and I've been in Estes Park for 10 years now. These mountains are exactly where I belong and I hope to share my passion and love for them with you on an adventurous snowshoe or hiking trip. Let me take you to a magical subalpine lake or majestic mountain peak, and along the way, I'll give you the human and natural history of Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. I'll point out to you the local Flora and Fauna and ecosystems, identify the mountains, and tell you local and historical stories as only a mountain man can. If you prefer a more leisurely tour, I can also take you on a plant walk. On that tour, we'll take a walk, at our own pace, around a mountain lake or through a subalpine meadow; and I will identify wild edible and wild medicinal plants. If medicinal, I'll give you their properties. If edible, I'll tell you the choice parts and how to prepare them.
Scot's Sporting Goods Fly Fishing Guide Bob
Bob
Fly Fishing Guide
I am honored to be chosen to guide for Scot’s Sporting Goods in Estes Park, Colorado. Bob has been fly fishing since retiring and moving to Estes in 2010. He has fishing in many locations throughout Colorado, but his love for fishing Rocky Mountain National Park and the Big Thompson is unsurpassed. Bob was an elementary school teacher for 30 years, and because of this, he has an expertise in teaching young people the joys of fly fishing. I love to share my excitement for the outdoors and fly fishing with you whether you are 8 or 88, whether a novice or well-practiced. I hope you will learn fly fishing skills you need to be an independent angler wherever you live.
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