Grand: Lake Granby, Mountains and History
Accommodation in Grand
Grand County combines impressive waterscapes, expansive mountain and forest areas, and a diverse history. Lake Granby represents days by the water: motorized and non-motorized boating are permitted, and Lake Granby has 40 miles of shoreline and offers fishing opportunities for kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brook trout, and lake trout. Those looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Grand can therefore first decide whether their vacation should focus on the lake, hiking trails, culture, or winter activities.
Lake Granby and the Colorado River: Nature According to Your Daily Plan
US 34 and County Highway 6 provide access to trails and boat launches at Lake Granby. The lake is surrounded by mountains and dense forests, giving the trip a clear scenic focus. The Colorado River Trailhead marks the start of a 0.5-mile hike to the Colorado River. Another trail from the same trailhead is 3.7 miles long and leads to the site of Lulu City, a mining settlement from the 1880s.
Wildlife is also among the possible sights along the trails at the Colorado River Trailhead: moose, elk, coyotes, and foxes may be encountered there. The two trails of different lengths give you a specific way to plan your outings according to your preferred distance without having to commit the day to a single experience. This allows families or travel groups with different interests to combine time by the water with nature and history experiences.
Rocky Mountain National Park and Seasonal Roads
Grand County is home to the headwaters of the Colorado River and includes the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. More than 800,000 acres of accessible public land belong to the county, including the park’s western entrance and large parts of the Arapaho and Routt National Forests. Within the Arapaho National Forest, 723,744 acres lie primarily in Grand and Clear Creek Counties.
The seasonal significance of Trail Ridge Road is important for arrival and day planning. It connects the eastern and western sides of Rocky Mountain National Park and reaches elevations of more than 12,000 feet. Depending on weather and road conditions, it is closed to through traffic from mid-October through the end of May. Park rangers are available to assist visitors at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. On trails in Rocky Mountain National Park above 9,000 feet, snowshoeing is possible when there is sufficient snow.
History in Museums and Historic Buildings
Grand also offers worthwhile destinations when not every day of the trip is spent outdoors. The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum is located 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.
The Kauffman House Museum is the only surviving log hotel in Grand Lake built before 1900. It is located in a former rustic log building in the center of Grand Lake. Because of its log-cabin architecture and its first owner’s connection to the westward settlement movement, the Kauffman House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Pioneer Village Museum’s historical presentation includes the former Hot Sulphur Schoolhouse, the county courthouse and jail, a blacksmith shop, the Horseshoe Ranger Station, and the 8 Mile School. The museum also displays 8,500-year-old artifacts from Windy Gap. Cozens Ranch was the site of the first ranch and post station in the Fraser Valley; the original house dates from 1876 and has been restored.
The Moffat Road Railroad Museum displays model railroad layouts and real trains. The centerpiece of an exhibit on the logging and sawmill industry of the 1920s and 1930s is the 1922 Shay No. 8 locomotive. The Interpretive Center also includes a 1905 passenger car, a railway handcar shed from around 1915 from Hot Sulphur Springs, and a fully wooden red UP caboose from 1923. A visitor center is available on site. The interactive Headwaters River Journey museum focuses on the waterways and ecology of Grand County.
Active Days and Different Vacation Styles
Depending on the season, you can set additional priorities in Grand County. Granby Ranch offers downhill and cross-country skiing. Winter Park Resort offers a Nature Snowshoe Tour on the resort’s snowshoe trails. Rafting and kayaking trips are offered on the Colorado River, including guided trips through Gore Canyon near Kremmling. Grand Adventures offers guided snowmobile tours on the Continental Divide; guided hunting and fishing trips are also available.
Those seeking a more relaxed change of pace will find an 18-hole mountain golf course at Granby Ranch Golf Course at an elevation of 8,000 feet, with views of the Fraser River, the Rocky Mountains, and the local wildlife. Grand County’s culinary offerings include local craft beers and spirits. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore weigh your preferred base and activities instead of committing to a single type of vacation.
Places for Your Further Search
For regional orientation, you can also visit the destination pages for Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Winter Park, Grand Lake, Granby, and Tabernash.
For the higher-level travel overview: Colorado.
More Destinations
More places within the same destination:
