• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Caves
      • Colorado Brands
      • Escape Rooms
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Lakes
      • Landmarks
      • Mine Tours
      • Mountains
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Performing Arts
      • Public Parks
      • Rivers
      • Scenic Drives
      • Sightseeing Tours
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Winery Tours
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Jeep Rentals
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowbiking
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Boutique Hotels
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos w/ Lodging
    • Hot Spring w/ Lodging
    • Wineries w/ Lodging
    • Best Hotels
    • Dude Ranches
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
Grand Lake Colorado
Downtown Grand Lake.

Grand Lake, Colorado

4
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

Grand Lake is a charming Colorado mountain village surrounded by several pristine lakes. Downtown has an inviting boardwalk lined with colorful locally-owned shops and restaurants. Entertainment is easily found during its busy summer season and outdoor recreation is endless.

It sits at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park at an elevation of 8,369 feet. There are about 410 residents in this Grand County town and an influx of tourists in the warmer months. Winter is quieter, but snowmobiling and ice fishing still draw many to the area.

History

Black and white picture of grand lake
Historic photo of Grand Lake, CO. Photo by: Archives and Local History at DCL

European hunters discovered the beautiful Grand Lake in the mid-1800s. A number of them built houses and the area was officially settled in 1867. Because of the abundant wildlife, many hunting guides came to town. Silver deposits were discovered along the nearby rivers and Grand Lake exploded overnight.

Hotels and ranch houses were constantly constructed to keep up with the influx of new residents. Grand Lake grew enough to be the county seat of Grand County. Outdoor recreation and the beautiful mountain air made the area a popular tourist destination. Today the village maintains a “mountain rustic” aesthetic and caters to visitors from all over.

Main Attractions

Grand Lake CO Town
Town of Grand Lake. Photo by: Don Graham

โ€‹Grand Lake – Sits one block behind the main street and provides water sports galore. It’s Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake at 265 feet deep. Boating and fishing are easy to find at Grand Lake or one of the many other lakes around. Boat rentals are available at the Grand Lake Marina.

Rocky Mountain National Park – Situated between Grand Lake to the west and Estes Park to the east. Biking, camping, fishing, and hiking can be found within the park’s limits only minutes from town. This entrance is typically quieter during busy season, so it’s a good place to escape the crowds.

Read about the top things to do in Grand Lake.

โ€‹Recreation

Grand Lake Colorado Overlook
Overlooking Grand Lake, CO. Photo by: Julie Falk

Biking –

  • Arapaho National Forest offers numerous dirt roads and trails for biking. Take County Road 4 south of downtown off US-40 for a variety of trails suitable for all levels.
  • Rocky Mountain National Park to the north has lots of trails for the avid mountain biker.

Camping –

  • Stillwater Campground is right across US-34 from the Grand Lake Brewery, south of town on the way to Granby. The campsite charges a fee and is part of the Arapaho National Forest. It’s very convenient and close to the lake.
  • Another Arapaho National Recreation Area campground is at Willow Creek Reservoir.
  • An easy, dispersed camping option is to take County Road 4 just south of the same Grand Lake Brewery and Stillwater Campground on US-34. Heading south you’ll take a right very shortly onto County Road 4. After a couple of miles, you’ll reach the Arapaho NF and Stillwater Pass Area where camping is pretty much fair game at any of the pull-offs but beware of private property signs. County Road 4 continues for 21 miles to CO-125.
  • Read about theย camping near Granby, Grand Lake, and Western RMNP.

Fishing –

  • โ€‹There are three big lakes near town. Grand Lake directly borders town, to the south is Shadow Mountain Lake, and a bit further down is Lake Granby. Fishing is excellent in every one of them.
  • The Colorado River begins near town with various places to fish for trout.
  • Willow Creek Reservoir is far enough off US-34 to keep crowds low. It’s part of the ANRA, so there is a daily fee, but you can also fish in Willow Creek before the reservoir for free with a license.

Hiking –

  • Rocky Mountain National Park is the best bet for loads of great trails. On the Grand Lake side of the Continental Divide is the Holzwarth Historic Site. This short trek visits the Holzwarth Trout Lodge from the 1920s. It’s about an hour round trip with viewing.

Accommodations

Rustic mountain cabin
One of the many cabin rentals at Grand Lake Lodge. Photo by: Grand Lake Lodge

This section contains referral links. If you click through and take action, we may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you.ย 



Booking.com

Grand Lake Lodge –ย Established in 1920 on a hillside above town, this lodge has many cabins available to rent in the summer months.

Rapids Lodge & Restaurant – This spot offers a variety of accommodation options, from single rooms in the lodge and small cabins to whole cottages. Built-in 1915, the lodge sits on the edge of the Tonahutu River, part of the Colorado River headwaters.

Winding River Resort –ย A very family-friendly resort within walking distance of many shops and restaurants. The property is also horse-friendly, with stables for rent.

Read about the best hotels in Grand Lake.

Special Events

Outdoor festival at dusk
Buffalo Days performances and festival in Grand Lake, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/gograndlake

Feb – Winter Carnival –ย Get through the dog days of winter with an exciting day of unique events. There will be ice sculptures, parades, curling, and even human bowling for visitors to spectate or participate in.

Jun-Aug – High Country Stampede Rodeoย – Every Saturday from early June to mid-August, neighboring town Fraser hosts a wild evening of western rodeo performances.

Jul-Aug – Arts and Crafts Fair –ย Two weekends in Grand Lake Town Park that showcase local art and handmade crafts.

Aug – Buffalo Days –ย A community-wide BBQ to celebrate a unique culinary staple of the area: buffalo barbecue. The days will be filled with food, a 5k run, a movie screening, and a cornhole tournament.

Read about the top events in Grand Lake.

Grand Lake Sunset
Sunset over Grand Lake.
Grand Lake CO Marina
Grand Lake Marina.
Grand Lake Lodge Pool
Poolside view from Grand Lake Lodge.
Grand Lake CO Rapids Restaurant
Rapids Restaurant & Lounge.
Grand Lake CO Downtown Boardwalk
Boardwalk sidewalk.
Grand Lake CO Grand Pizza
Grand Pizza.
Grand Lake CO Village Center
Village Center.
Grand Lake CO Downtown Shops
Shops downtown.
Grand Lake CO Lilliputt Golf
Lilliputt Golf.
Grand Lake CO Lilliputt Golf
Mini golf course with plenty of obstacles.
Grand Lake CO Humphrey's Gifts
Humphrey’s Gifts.
Grand Lake CO Polly's Sweet Shop
Polly’s Sweet Shop.
Grand Lake CO Park
Town park.
Grand Lake CO Community House
Community House.
Grand Lake CO Aerial View
Aerial view of town.
Grand Lake CO Mackinaw's Bar
Mackinaw’s Bar & Grill is a few miles south of downtown on Highway 34.
Grand Lake CO Grand Lake Brewing
Grand Lake Brewing Taphouse is five miles south of downtown on Highway 34.
Grand Lake CO Downtown Winter
Winter in Granby.
Grand Lake CO Boot Hill
Boot Hill.
Grand Lake Mer Co
Former Grand Lake Mer. Co.
Grand Lake CO Downtown Shopping
Shopping downtown.
Grand Lake CO Downtown Winter
Quiet winter day.
Grand Lake CO Pancho Lefty's
Pancho & Lefty’s.
Grand Lake Theater
Grand Lake Theater.
Grand Lake CO Grumpy's Bar Arcade
Grumpy’s Bar & Arcade.
Grand Lake CO Grumpy's Bar
Inside Grumpy’s Bar.
Grand Lake CO Grumpy's Arcade
Grumpy’s Arcade.
Grand Lake Brewing Downtown Bar
Grand Lake Brewing’s downtown bar.
Grand Lake CO Bears Den
Bears Den Restaurant.
Grand Lake Yacht Club
Grand Lake Yacht Club.
Grand Lake CO Roadhouse Bar
Roadhouse Bar & Grill.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Western side of RMNP is ideal for recreation.
Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado River
Colorado River begins in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Activities near Grand Lake

Amusement:

  • Grand Lake Lanes
  • Meandering Moose Mini Golf
  • Rocky Hi Speedway
  • Winter Park Alpine Slide (36mi)

ATV/Snowmobile Rentals:

  • Grand Adventures
  • On The Trail Rentals

Biking:

  • Granby Ranch Bike Park (20mi)
  • Trestle Bike Park (36mi)

Cross Country Skiing:

  • Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa (30mi)
  • Grand Lake Nordic Center (3mi)
  • Granby Ranch Nordic Trails (19mi)
  • Latigo Ranch Nordic Center (58mi)
  • Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center (23mi)

โ€‹Federal Lands:

  • Arapaho National Forest
  • Arapaho National Recreation Area
  • Colorado River
  • Monarch Lake (19mi)
  • Never Summer Wilderness
  • Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness

Hot Springs:

  • Hot Sulphur Springs (24mi)

Ice Skating:

  • Winter Park Village (36mi)

Performing Arts:

  • Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Public Parks:

  • Grand Lake

Scenic Drives:

  • Colorado River Headwaters Bywayย  (<1mi)
  • Fall River Pass (22mi)
  • Iceberg Pass (25mi)
  • Milner Pass (18m)
  • Stillwater Pass (6mi)
  • Trail Ridge Road (1mi)

Ski Areas:

  • Ski Granby Ranch (20mi)
  • Winter Park Resort (36mi)

Sleigh Rides:ย 

  • Winding River Resort Sleigh Rides

Snow Tubing:

  • Colorado Adventure Park (31mi)
  • Fraser Tubing Hill (31mi)

State Wildlife Areas:

  • Windy Gap Watchable Wildlife Area (17mi)

Towns:

  • Estes Park (46mi)
  • Fraser (31mi)
  • Granby (15mi)
  • Hot Sulhpur Springs (24mi)
  • Kremmling (41mi)
  • Tabernash (27mi)
  • Winter Park (36mi)

Train Rides:

  • Amtrak Granby Station (15mi)

Visit the town’s official website.

Latest in Grand Lake

A cow and calf moose wade in the water of Sprague Lake during autumn in Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado

Where to See Moose in Colorado

Large, majestic animals that are deceivingly hard to spot, moose are a popular animal for wildlife…

Where to See Moose in ColoradoRead More

fall colors in rocky mountain national park

Dazzling Hikes & Drives in Rocky Mountain National Park for Fall Colors

Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful, no matter the season. But come September, the park lights…

Dazzling Hikes & Drives in Rocky Mountain National Park for Fall ColorsRead More

Hot Springs Near Me Colorado Pagosa Resort

Which hot springs are near what Colorado towns?

Whether you’re shredding the local ski slopes, hiking the region’s highest peaks, or even just strolling…

Which hot springs are near what Colorado towns?Read More

image of Medano Creek at Great Sand Dunes

Colorado’s Best Beaches

Itโ€™s true, that Colorado is what people call a land-locked state, but if you look inside…

Colorado’s Best BeachesRead More

View more Grand Lake articles

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. โ€”and never miss out again.

Grand County

  • All Towns
  • Grand County
  • Fraser
  • Granby
  • Grand Lake
  • Hot Sulphur Springs
  • Kremmling
  • Parshall
  • Radium
  • Tabernash
  • Winter Park

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 ยท Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise