Jennifer & Patrick
Things To Do & Places to Eat
Hiking
Grand Lake Lodge is located just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park which is home to some of Colorado's most beautiful hikes. We have listed our favorites below, but we recommend that you check out AllTrails for a complete list. Due to the volume of visitors, Rocky Mountain National Park does require a timed permit to enter the park. Park passes can be purchased a month in advance at nps.gov. A handful of passes are also released the evening before at 5PM MST. Rocky Mountain Hikes (requiring a permit): Lake Haiyaha (where we got engaged!) Alberta Falls Gem Lake Nymph, Dream & Emerald Lakes Twin Sisters Grand Lake Hikes: Adam Falls is a short hike with great views Cascade Falls (7 miles but worth the trip!) Monarch Lake Hike Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Boat & Kayak Rentals
Grand Lake, Colorado, is a popular destination for visitors looking to explore Rocky Mountain National Park on the water. You have several options for boating on Grand Lake and nearby Shadow Mountain Lake. The Grand Lake Marina and Boston Whalers rent pontoon boats and are located on Grand Lake's Waterfront. If you are looking to use your arms or feet to power your own boat, a couple businesses on the lakefront offer kayak and pedal boat rentals. It takes about 2-hours to kayak the entire Grand Lake shoreline. Colorado's weather can be quite variable during the fall, so keep this in mind if booking in advance!
Golfing
If you're local or want to travel with your clubs, Grand Lake is home to Grand Lake Golf Course, one of Colorado's original and premier 18-hole mountain courses. Be sure to book a tee time early, as this activity is extremely popular during fall. If you don’t want to worry about your clubs, this is still a lovely spot to stop by for lunch or a Bloody Mary!
Dining in Grand Lake
While our favorite place to eat is the Huntington Tavern at Grand Lake Lodge (reservations recommended for dinner!), there’s no shortage of cafes, burger stands, happy hours, ice cream shops, bars and restaurants in the town of Grand Lake. Some of our favorites include: Mountain Market (where you can find all of the essentials) Blue Water Bakery (the best homemade bagels) The Hub (breakfast pastries & burritos) Otherside Gear & Coffee Shop Sagebrush BBQ & Grill Charlies Sports Bar & Grill (Mexican cuisine, margaritas & live music) The Historic Rapids Restaurant (if you’re looking for the best Elk / Lamb dishes in town - reservations recommended) Nacho Mamas Cantina (stop by for the homemade chips and guacamole) One Love Rum Kitchen (Caribbean cuisine) Wolfies If you're feeling thirsty, The Worlds End Brewpub in town features some of the favorite Colorado craft breweries. Extra points if you find the dollar we pinned on the ceiling when we got engaged!