Michelle & Keith
Things To Do
Hiking Heaven!
If you want to get out and enjoy nature, there are SO many amazing hiking trails in and around Grand Lake! Hike just under a mile to see Adams Falls and keep going for expansive meadows filled with wildflowers and wildlife. Rocky Mountain National Park is just 10 minutes from Grand Lake Lodge and offers over 300 miles of hiking trails. In addition to alpine lakes, this time of year you might see deer, elk and beautiful wildflowers. The AllTrails app is free and is an excellent way to find hiking trails nearby. Find out the difficulty, elevation gain, etc. If you would like recommendations just let us know! There are beautiful trails literally everywhere!
Rocky Mountain National Park
The gates of the world-famous Rocky Mountain National Park are a short 10-minute drive from the Grand Lake Lodge. Drive through the park and enjoy the scenery of meadows, alpine lakes, mountain peaks and a plethora of wildlife! There are also over 300 miles of hiking trails and abundant campsites on varying terrains. Looking to visit another mountain town after the wedding celebration? Drive gate to gate of RMNP, starting by the Lodge and ending up in Estes Park. Timed Entry Permit Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1.
Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park Scenic Byway
Want to see some snow in the middle of August? Trail Ridge Road is the name for the 48-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. Together with the connecting 6.9-mile Beaver Meadow Road (U.S. Highway 36), Trail Ridge Road forms the 55-mile Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, an All-American Road. The road crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass (elev. 10,758 ft), with a high point at 12,183 feet elevation. Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America. Timed Entry Permit Reservations to enter the park will be available through www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday, May 1.
Horseback Riding
Want to get out and explore the area on horseback? Grand Lake offers several places that will take you on a ride or tour of the area! Yee Haw!
Boating & Kayak Rentals
Feel like a day out on the water? Explore both Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake by boat! There are several marinas that offer a variety of watercraft, including pontoon boats, sport fishing boats, lunds, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats! Fish from the boat or just relax and float around both Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake, two massive lakes connected by a narrow waterway.
Fishing
Feel like fishing? There are plenty of areas to fly fish or to rent a boat and explore Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake. There are also chartered/guided tours! Try your hand at catching brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon in Colorado's largest and deepest natural lake.
ATV/UTV Rentals
Feeling adventurous? There are over 130 miles of dirt roads to explore by ATV/UTV in the Grand Lake area!
Shops & Dining on Grand Ave.
Feel like a relaxing day perusing the shops, restaurants and bars that Grand Lake has to offer? Head to the town's main street, Grand Ave. A little history of the town of Grand Lake: In the mid-1800s, European hunting parties discovered Grand Lake. Some hunters constructed summer lodges and hired local mountain men as guides. The area was permanently settled in 1867. Grand Lake Village’s first full-time, year-round residents were an intriguing mix of miners (who participated in a brief mining boom) and hunting guides. In the late 1870s, silver was discovered in the rivers and mountains near Grand Lake. Prospectors bought supplies in local stores and established small mountain mining communities. Almost overnight, the town of Grand Lake transformed into a bustling economy. Many of the original buildings and boardwalks remain to this day. There is even a saloon in town (The Lariat)!
Renting Electric Bikes
Want to explore the town of Grand Lake and/or the surrounding mountains by bike? Renting an electric bike in town might be the way to go! These bikes can either be ridden as a normal bike, or, at the hit of a button, turn to electric, giving you a little help going up those inclines...great, ecpecially for those coming from below sea level!
Relaxing at the Beach on Shadow Mountain Lake
It's definitely not a Gulf Coast beach, but if you're in the mood for catching some rays, watching the variety of boats go by while picnicking or swimming around in the lake, be sure to check out the beach by the boat dock on Shadow Mountain Lake. Located just a block off of the main street in town, there are ice cream shops and arcades for the kids to enjoy as well!
Radium Hot Springs
Just 50 minutes from Grand Lake, these natural, undeveloped hot springs are located right on the Colorado River near Kremmling. You can relax in the warm, mineral-rich water to rejuvenate your skin or, if you're feeling daring, take a plunge from a 45-foot cliff. The water temperature can vary anywhere from 85 to 95 degrees.
Golden
Looking for somewhere to visit before or after Grand Lake near Denver? Known as the Gateway to the West, the town of Golden gives you all of the mountains feels while being just 20 minutes from Denver. Rent some tubes and float down Clear Creek, which runs right through town, take a tour of Coors Brewery, shop, dine, hike, fish, rent bikes...the options are endless!
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Want to explore somewhere else before or after Grand Lake near Denver? Red Rocks is a world-renowned open-air amphitheater that is built into a rock formation in Morrison, CO. It has hosted world-famous musicians such as The Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Stevie Nicks, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, and many more. Even if you don't catch a concert there, exploring around the area and taking in the beauty of nature, hitting up the museum or catching a Movie on the Rocks are all iconic Colorado experiences! The town Red Rocks is located in, Morrison, is also worth visiting. The quaint foothills community has a relaxed mountain feel with eclectic shops and restaurants.
Dinosaur Ridge
Looking for something to do before or after Grand Lake near Denver? Kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy Dinosaur Ridge, located in Morrison, CO. The #1 dinosaur track site in the nation is the home of the world’s first Stegosaurus discovery, has more than 250 amazing Cretaceous dinosaur tracks, dozens of Jurassic dinosaur bones, and many other trace fossils. You can either walk it on your own or participate in the full walking tour where you can choose from a volunteer guide (plan on 1.5-2 hours) or a geologist guide (plan on 2-2.5 hours) who interprets the dinosaur tracks and bone fossils, local history, and geology during this outdoor one-way, 1.5-mile tour on a paved trail. Double-down on your dino-experience and get a discount pass to visit both Dinosaur Ridge and Morrison Natural History Museum. The quaint mountain town of Morrison, where Dinosaur Ridge is located, is also worth the visit, boasting a small mountain feel with eclectic shops and restaurants!
Pearl Street Mall
Want to explore a different area before or after Grand Lake that is near Denver? Look no further than Pearl St. in Boulder, CO! Getting its start in the mid-1800's as a mining supply town, Boulder is set against the Rocky Mountain Foothills. Pearl St., a pedestrian mall paved in cobblestones, is home to numerous restaurants, bars, pubs, shops, bookstores, coffee houses and much more! Catch a street performer or musician or rent a bike and head down the path following Clear Creek, stopping to have a picnic on the serene shores along the way!
Evergreen
Looking for somewhere to go before or after Grand Lake that is close to Denver? Though just a short drive from Denver, Evergreen is a picturesque mountain town in the foothills. Visitors can paddleboard, fish, golf, or wander the quaint downtown area. In summer, one of the best farmer markets in the area sets up in Evergreen each week. Dating back to 1859, Evergreen still boasts many of its original buildings and boardwalks. Stop by the Little Bear Saloon for a true Western feel and some live music!
Breweries
Beer fans? You have come to the right place! With over 150 breweries in the Denver-metro area and over 400 total state-wide, Colorado certainly does not have a shortage of locally made brewskies!
Golfing Galore!
With over 300 days of sun and mild temperatures in Colorado, bringing your clubs or renting some here is highly advisable. There are over 300 golf courses in the state, with 94 of them being within 20 miles of Denver! Plus, the higher altitude might give you a little more distance on that drive!
White Water Rafting
Feeling adventurous? You can choose from a range of mild to wild - family, beginner, intermediate or advanced - rafting trips and explore some of Colorado's most amazing waterways. Along the way, enjoy not only the rapids, but wildlife, rock formations, gorges and just amazingly beautiful scenery!
Ski Towns in Summertime!
You might not be able to ski or board down the slopes in August, but Colorado's ski towns are equally as fun the summertime! Head to Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte, Telluride or Winter Park (just under an hour from Grand Lake) to explore the slopes summer-style! Rent mountain bikes, speed down alpine slides, enjoy the wildflowers, hot springs, hot balloon festivals, farmer's and art markets and hiking to waterfalls!