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.
Most Denver residents will utilize the Arapaho National Forest the most. It’s located just west of the capitol city with access points off I-70. Arapaho Basin Ski Area is located with the Arapaho National Forest. Guanella Pass is one of the post popular scenic drives and camping spots in the region.
Activities
Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV Riding, Scenic Drives, Winter Rec – Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing
Main Attractions
 Granby |
 Winter Park |
 Evergreen |
 Fraser |
 Grand Lake |
 Winter Park |
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
