20 Attractions to Explore Near Granby Ranch

A beautiful lake, which encompasses 7,256 surface acres, and is the third largest body of water in Colorado. The lake offers 40 miles of shoreline and along with its two sister lakes, Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake, offers more than 150 miles of scenic shoreline for camping, fishing or hiking.The lake is popular with anglers and is continually stocked with rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. The Lake is also home to the Lake Granby Yacht Club.

Willow Creek Reservoir is an earthen dam was constructed between 1951 and 1953 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. It has a capacity of 10,553 acre-feet of water, 7 miles of shoreline, 303 surface acres and a maximum depth of 124 feet. Recreation includes camping and fishing.

Arapaho National Recreation Area is comprised of five lakes and 36,000 alpine acres north of Granby.The recreation area includes five major reservoirs: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Reservoir, and Meadow Creek Reservoir.

The Monarch Lake Trailhead is located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area amd serves as a major access portal for the Indian Peaks Wilderness.Monarch Lake is a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking, and access to the Indian Peaks Wilderness area. Explore the full Monarch Lake Loop hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and many of the details you need to enjoy this adventure in Grand County, Colorado.

Monarch Lake is one of the prettiest lakes in Colorado with hiking trails, mountain views and camping nearby. Located at 8,400 feet above sea level, it is one of Colorado’s five “Great Lakes” within the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Surrounded by rushing creeks, mountain views, seasonal wildflowers, and wildlife viewing opportunities, the lake is accessible at the ​​Monarch Lake Trailhead, which is located just upstream from Lake Granby.

Cozens Ranch Museum brings to life pioneer times of the late 1800s at the first homestead of the Fraser Valley. Travel back to the days of stagecoach travel and pioneer ranching. Exhibits at the Cozens Ranch Museum include a broad range of artifacts, photographs, and stories dedicated to the Cozens family as well as other early settlers local to the area.

Byers Peak is an iconic mountain just west of Winter Park and Fraser that climbs to 12,804 feet. Discover this 14.6-km out-and-back trail near Winter Park, Colorado. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 46 min to complete.he best times to visit this trail are June through November. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.

Arapaho National Forest is a National Forest located in north-central Colorado, United States. The region is managed jointly with the Roosevelt National Forest and the Pawnee National Grassland from the United States Forest Service office in Fort Collins, Colorado. It has a wildlife refuge which manages a protection for all birds and mammals. The forest includes part of the high Rockies and river valleys in the upper watershed of the Colorado River and South Platte River.

Shadow Mountain Damis a zoned earth-fill dam on the Colorado River, which is located approximately .8 miles upstream from the alpine glacial limit. It is a holding reservoir for water pumped up from Lake Granby just to the south through the Granby Pumping Plant and Canal. Shadow Mountain Lake is connected by a short channel to the natural Grand Lake.

Byers Canyon stretches a breathtaking 8 miles between Hot Sulphur Springs and Kremmling, Colorado.The canyon is approximately 8 miles long and is located in the headwaters region of the Colorado between Hot Sulphur Springs and Kremmling. U.S. Highway 40 passes through the canyon between Hot Sulphur Springs and Kremmling.

Arapaho Pass is 11,906 feet above sea level, but a manageable 1,800 feet above the trailhead. Meander to the north side of the ridge to look down on Caribou Lake. Due west is Lake Dorothy. Keep an eye out for backcountry skiers taking runs off Mount Neva. Follow the same route back to the trailhead. It is also one of the iconic location which offers beautiful views of this area.

Shadow Mountain Lake is a high-elevation reservoir offering breathtaking views. The lake forms a continuous body of water with Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado; they are separated by gates. It offers plenty of outdoor activities, including boating, jet skiing and kayaking.

Devils Thumb Lake is located in Indian Peaks Wilderness north of Boulder Colorado.This slender 11-acre lake is hemmed by the north valley wall and bound by krummholz near the outlet, but opens along the south and west shores to big, level meadows under the Continental Divide. It was surrounded by Wildflowers, alpine meadows, small waterfalls, and cascades all beckon those who have the stamina to explore these heights in the Front Range near Denver.

Lone Eagle Peak lies in the rugged Indian Peaks Wilderness, roughly south of Rocky Mountain National Park. To the enthusiastic adventure climber, it’s a veritable playground encapsulated in stone and surrounded by pristine, rugged beauty.The approach out to the peak via the Monarch Lake trailhead, located just outside of Granby, CO, in itself can prove to be a splendid outing.

The Moffat Tunnel is a railroad and water tunnel that cuts through the Continental Divide in north-central Colorado. Named after Colorado railroad pioneer David Moffat, the tunnel's first official railroad traffic passed through in February 1928.

Winter Park's alpine slide, said to be the longest in Colorado, starts at mid-mountain from Arrow chairlift, then travels over 3,000 feet while dropping over 600 vertical feet.

Winter Park is another big ski town that’s home to year-round fun in Grand County. The resort consists of three interconnected mountain peaks — Winter Park, Mary Jane, and Vasquez Ridge — which share a common lift ticket.It features numerous awesome restaurants and shops, although it’s not walkable like some other mountain towns. It offers skiing, snowboarding, tubing, fat biking, and even more activities in the summer months, like biking, hiking and the alpine slide.

Apache Peak, is the highest peak in the Whetstone Mountains. The summit, located in the Coronado National Forest, is a popular local hiking destination. It is located near the Kartchner Caverns State Park, the city of Benson, Interstate 10, and Arizona State Route 90. Trails include the east side French Joe Canyon route and the west side Empire Ranch route.

North Arapaho Peak is the highest mountain in the IPW and highest mountain on the Continental Divide north of Denver. The 13,508-foot thirteener is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, 7.8 miles west-southwest of the Town of Ward, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide separating Roosevelt National Forest and Boulder County from Arapaho National Forest and Grand County. This impressive collection of jagged peaks includes 35 named peaks.

South Arapaho Peak is in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. It also holds claim to being the highest summit on the Continental Divide north of Denver. The easier of the two climbs is certainly South Arapaho Peak, which has the added bonus of getting better views of the glacier and North Arapaho Peak. There are several ways to summit South Arapaho Peak, but the longest route and arguably the most scenic is the Arapaho Glacier.