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Grand Lake, Colorado

Top Spots in and near Grand Lake

  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Catch the Fall Colors on the West Side of Rocky Mountain NP

    4.0
    A Fall adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park is among the most spectacular experiences Colorado has to offer. The change of the seasons offers an amazing change to the landscape that makes taking a bad picture darn near impossible. The light is perfect, the elk are in rut, and the mountains o...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Hike to Cascade Falls, Rocky Mountain NP

    5.0
    6.8 mi / 425 ft gain
    Cascade Falls is accessed through the North Inlet Trail on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead, North Inlet Trailhead, is north of the main town area of Grand Lake. Parking at the trailhead is limited, so hikers can also park along the road leading to the trailhead. Th...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Backpack the CDT Loop in Rocky Mountain NP

    24.3 mi / 4000 ft gain
    This section of the CDT begins at the North Inlet trailhead, located on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead is north of the main town area of Grand Lake. Parking at the trailhead is limited, so hikers can also park along the road leading to the trailhead. The hike foll...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Hike to Big Meadows and Granite Falls

    5.0
    10.3 mi
    The Green Mountain Trail is part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) which is a foot path from Mexico to Canada. Big Meadows is a great place to view elk, moose, and deer. Other animals you can see in the area are abert squirrels, river otters, weasels, and black bear.Big Meadow...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Backpack to Lake Verna

    5.0
    13.5 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Want to get away it from it all and enjoy some high alpine lakes? The East Inlet Trail is just outside Grand Lake, on the westside of Rocky Mountain National Park, 2.35 miles east of Highway 34 on West Portal Road. From the trailhead, one can access 8 different campsites. The campsites are as ...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Verna, Spirit, Fourth, and Fifth Lakes

    19 mi / 2460 ft gain
    This summer backpacking trip provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and endless moments to take in awe-inspiring scenery. On our visit, after setting up camp at the Lake Verna backcountry site, I quickly made my way to the next lake (Spirit Lake) to photograph the sunset. The symmetry a...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Spirit Lake

    15.8 mi / 2000 ft gain
    One can reach spirit lake as a day hike, however it is most often visited as part of backpacking trip. Either way the route is the same and it starts at the East Inlet trail. To park you are supposed to pay or show your park/national lands pass. From the East Inlet trailhead you will soon pass Ad...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Adams Falls

    4.8
    1 mi / 113 ft gain
    Adams Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the Grand Lake area, and one of the easiest. If you are just hiking to the falls, you will not need to bring much with you besides a camera, due to the distance.  If you plan to venture past the falls, pack accordingly.  Once you park in the trail...
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  • Allenspark, Colorado

    Hike to Lone Pine Lake (Grand Lake, CO)

    5.0
    10.44 mi / 1494 ft gain
    Starting at the East Inlet Trailhead, with an elevation of 8,391 feet, the trail is on a nice dirt path and you're immediately greeted with the sight of Adams Falls on your right, just 0.3 miles in. After continuing on after Adams Falls, the next 1.5 miles lead you out into the sunlight with brea...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Camp at Stillwater Pass

    4.6
    Some of my best nights in Colorado were spent in Stillwater Pass. There are numerous campsites with remade fire pits. I found this site when the Timber Creek Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park was full and I did not want to head back to Denver. There is a photo of a white plastic horse a...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Car Camp at Timber Creek Campground

    3.0
    This campground just 10 miles north of Grand Lake is a prime example of the amazing campgrounds you can find in Rocky Mountain National Park. Located along the Colorado River, Timber Creek has 98 campsites that are all first-come-first-serve. If you're on top of it and show up at a decent time, y...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Photograph Moose in Rocky Mountain National Park

    4.3
    Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can stand over 6ft tall at their shoulders and weigh over 1500lbs. Males have antlers which can reach 6ft across and weigh up to 40lbs each. Amazingly these impressive creatures are strictly herbivores and will eat several dozen pounds of veg...
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  • Grand Lake, United States

    Hike to Timber Lake

    4.5
    9.6 mi / 2050 ft gain
    I love Timber Lake! I never see that many people on the trail and I can't figure out why. The hike starts at the Timber Lake trailhead and climbs gradually through Pine and Aspen trees on the way up. We saw a few elk on the way up that didn't seem to be bothered by our presence. We also started h...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Hike the Colorado River Trailhead Loop

    5.0
    13.6 mi / 1245 ft gain
    Since this hike is 13.6 miles (according to my watch the hike was more around 14 miles, but it's in that range), I'm going to break it down into four different parts.  To Lulu CityTo Little Yellowstone / Thunder PassThe Grand Ditch  Red Mountain Trail  The first 0.5 miles and the last 0.5 miles a...
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  • Granby, Colorado

    Ice Fish on Lake Granby

    Looking to catch some fresh trout? This might be the place to get it! If it's your first time fishing Lake Granby, here's some pointers:Those of you coming from Denver, take US 40W past Winter Park, Fraser and Tabernash until you hit Granby. After you pass through the town of Granby, turn right o...
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  • Grand Lake, Colorado

    Doe Creek Trail

    7.13 mi / 1617 ft gain
    Doe Creek Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Granby, Colorado.
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Camping and Lodging in Grand Lake

Green Ridge
Grand Lake, Colorado

Green Ridge

Cutthroat Bay Group
Grand Lake, Colorado

Cutthroat Bay Group

Willow Creek Group
Granby, Colorado

Willow Creek Group

Arapaho Bay
Granby, Colorado

Arapaho Bay

Glacier Basin Campground
Larimer County, Colorado

Glacier Basin Campground

Moraine Park Campground
Estes Park, Colorado

Moraine Park Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Grand Lake

7 Backpacking Trips in Rocky Mountain NP for Your Summer Bucket List

7 Backpacking Trips in Rocky Mountain NP for Your Summer Bucket List

The Outbound Collective

8 Awesome hikes on the East Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

8 Awesome hikes on the East Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

Michael Fricke

Rocky Mountain National Park's Subtler Side

Rocky Mountain National Park's Subtler Side

Adrien Patanè

The Three Types of Rocky Mountain National Park Hikers

The Three Types of Rocky Mountain National Park Hikers

Lysianne Peacock

Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell Complete an Insane Linkup in Rocky Mountain National Park

Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell Complete an Insane Linkup in Rocky Mountain National Park

Kyle Frost