Entry No. 81 — the Boulder file — filed under: ruins

The Birch Ruins

Perched on a 75-foot rock outcropping overlooking downtown Estes Park, these are the stone remnants of Albert Birch's 1904 bungalow, nicknamed 'Jacob's Ladder.' The rustic summer home was tragically destroyed by a fire on a bitterly cold night in December 1907, leaving behind only its massive stone fireplace and outer masonry walls. Today, the ruins are preserved within the Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows, offering visitors a window into early 20th-century mountain retreat history.

The move: Take a scenic, easy 0.4-mile loop hike up to the ruins to enjoy panoramic views of downtown Estes Park and the Continental Divide, then read the interpretive signs together from the safety of the metal viewing platform.

📍 Before you go The ruins are located within the publicly accessible Centennial Open Space at Knoll-Willows and can be reached via a sanctioned 0.4-mile roundtrip trail. A metal viewing platform with railings allows visitors to safely view the structure without climbing on the fragile historic masonry.

• 📍 Estes Park
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 300-396 MacGregor Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Atlas Obscura · history.colorado.org

last checked: 2026-07-20