Lake Granby - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Adams Falls is a beautiful waterfall, named after Jay E. Adams who was an earlier settler of the town of Grand Lake, that feeds into Grand Lake. Adams Falls is one of the most popular attractions to take in in Grand County.It was essentially a tumbling cascade with a cumulative drop of around 50-60ft on the East Inlet, which was one of the major streams feeding the namesake Grand Lake.