Motorized and non-motorized boating are permitted on Lake Granby. Its 40 miles of shoreline and fishing for kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout, and lake trout give the lake several dimensions. Mountains and dense forests surround the water. US 34 and County Highway 6 provide access to trails and boat launch sites at Lake Granby. Check current boating regulations before your trip.

Water, Trails, and Elevation

Trail Ridge Road connects the east and west sides of Rocky Mountain National Park and reaches elevations of over 12,000 feet. The road is seasonal: it is closed to through traffic from mid-October through the end of May, depending on weather and road conditions. Weather and road conditions can affect the dates. Check current conditions before driving.

The Colorado River Trailhead provides access to numerous trails in the northwestern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. A 0.5-mile hike from there leads to the Colorado River; a 3.7-mile trail leads to the site of Lulu City, a mining settlement from the 1880s. Moose, elk, coyotes, and foxes may be seen on the trails. Sightings are not guaranteed; keep the required distances.

At the nearby Kawuneeche Visitor Center, park rangers are available to assist visitors. Snowshoeing is possible on Rocky Mountain National Park trails above 9,000 feet when there is enough snow. A seasonal offering is also available: the Nature Snowshoe Tour from Winter Park Resort on the resort’s snowshoe trails.

Nearby Pine Beach Picnic Site is on the shore of Shadow Mountain Reservoir; from there, visitors can look out over its islands and Rocky Mountain National Park. From the intersection of U.S. Highways 40 and 34 in Granby, reach the site by driving 12 miles north to the Pine Beach turnoff. Road conditions may vary.

Other activities offer different experiences: Grand County offers rafting and kayaking trips on the Colorado River, including guided trips through Gore Canyon near Kremmling. Granby Ranch offers downhill and cross-country skiing. Granby Ranch Golf Course is an 18-hole mountain golf course at 8,000 feet, with views of the Fraser River, the Rocky Mountains, and local wildlife. Tee time availability varies.

Local Museums and History

The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum is housed in a room of the former Rocky Mountain Airways terminal at Granby/Grand County Airport. Its exhibits, photographs, and artifacts tell the story of aviation in Grand County. In Grand Lake, the Kauffman House Museum is located in a former rustic log cabin in the center of town. The house is the only surviving log hotel in Grand Lake built before 1900. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; cited reasons include its log-cabin architecture and its first owner’s connection to westward settlement.

Pioneer Village Museum includes the former Hot Sulphur Schoolhouse, the county courthouse and jail, a blacksmith shop, Horseshoe Ranger Station, and 8 Mile School. It also displays 8,500-year-old artifacts from Windy Gap. At Moffat Road Railroad Museum, the 1922 Shay No. 8 locomotive is the centerpiece of an exhibit about the logging and sawmill industry of the 1920s and 1930s. The museum also features model railroad layouts and real trains and has a visitor center. The Interpretive Center includes a 1905 passenger car, a railroad handcar shed from Hot Sulphur Springs dating to around 1915, and a 1923 red UP caboose made entirely of wood.

Cozens Ranch also offers a glimpse into the history of Fraser Valley: it is the site of the first ranch and post office there. The original house dates to 1876 and has been restored. Headwaters River Journey offers another way to explore regional history: it is an interactive museum about the waters and ecology of Grand County.

Grand County at a Glance

Grand County is home to the headwaters of the Colorado River and has more than 800,000 acres of accessible public land. This includes the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and large parts of the Arapaho and Routt National Forests. Arapaho National Forest covers 723,744 acres and lies mostly in Grand and Clear Creek Counties. Grand County’s food and drink scene also includes local craft beers and spirits; businesses and offerings may change.

Discover More Destinations

Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Winter Park, Grand Lake, Granby, Tabernash, La Plata, Cheyenne County

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