Arapaho National Forest contains more than 1100 square miles of recreation. It’s located in north-central Colorado, stretching from south of I-70 to north near Rocky Mountain National Park.
Activities
Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV Riding, Scenic Drives, Winter Rec – Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing
Highlights
Arapaho Nat’l Rec Area – Home to 5 great lakes north of Granby on Highway 34. There are numerous campgrounds and trails.
Berthoud Pass – Biking, hiking and backcountry skiing are common on the pass, which is 24 miles between Empire and Winter Park. Snowmobiling can be found in nearby Jonas Pass.
Echo Lake – A high-alpine lake located at the entrance to the Mount Evans Scenic Byway. Camping, fishing and hiking are the main activities.
Guanella Pass – An outstanding scenic byway, accessible nearly year round. From Georgetown to Grant, this 2WD road takes about an hour.
Saint Louis Creek – Great area by Fraser for hiking and biking.
Stillwater Pass – Dispersed camping and multi-use trails close to Lake Granby and Grand Lake.
Vasquez Ridge – A great place to car camp and hike very close to Winter Park. There is also a small fishing pond and various OHV trails.
Details
Nearby Towns:
Map: Arapaho (shown in red) (.png)
Motor Vehicle Use Maps: Large, PDF’s from the USFS. They show forest service roads and where dispersed camping is permitted.
- Clear Creek – Loveland Pass, Empire, Georgetown, Idaho Springs
- Sulphur North – Grand Lake, Granby
- Sulphur South – Hot Sulphur Springs, Fraser, Winter Park
Arapaho Campgrounds: Reservations
Website: fs.usda.gov/arp
