20 Attractions to Explore Near Arapaho National Recreation Area

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grand Lake is situated on the serene shores of the largest natural lake in Colorado, beneath a crown of majestic, snow-capped mountain peaks.Grand Lake Yacht Club is a private club that hosts sailing races on the lake, and there are also publicly and privately operated marinas, a public boat ramp, and public boat docks on the lake.

Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Known appropriately as the “Highway to the Sky,” it crosses the Continental Divide at a whopping 12,183 feet. Colorado has also designated Trail Ridge Road as a scenic and historic byway. The higher portion of Trail Ridge Road is closed from October to May.

A beautiful lake located in the woods and also there are so many leisure activities possible. Trekking is possible in this beautiful location and also you can enjoy this beautiful locations natural beauty.

The Tonahutu Creek Trail, in the general area of Grand Lake, Colorado, in both Grand and Larimer counties, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The general route was established in 1880; the trail was improved in 1924. Its main trail is about 13 miles long. Its significant built features include dry rock walls, log footbridge/ford combinations, bogwalks, log and rock water bars and drains, the Harbison Ditch, and abandoned cabins in Big Meadows.

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.

North Inlet Trailhead is located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, just off West Portal Road on the north side of Grand Lake. While Cascade Falls is the main attraction, the creek itself and large meadows along its path are equally compelling. Fishing is notably good on the North Inlet, and moose and elk sightings are fairly common.

The East Inlet Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, was established in 1913 to provide access from Grand Lake to a series of lakes 6 miles to the east of Grand Lake. The trail originates at the east stream inlet to Grand lake: confusingly, it is close to the west portal of the Alva B. Adams Tunnel which conveys water from the west side of the Continental Divide under the park to the east slope of the Rocky Mountains.

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.

Mount Craig is a peak in Colorado and has an elevation of 12011 feet. It is situated south of Lone Pine Lake, and southwest of Lake Verna. This much adored landscape graces many photographs and has been recognized as a Grand Lake symbol since the Ute Natives set up their summer camps hundreds of years ago.

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.

Lone Pine Lake is not very scenic by Sierra standards, but it's still a nice place to cool your feet off or take a swim. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and is a beautiful camping location and trekking is possible in the surroundings.

A beautiful mountain trail which gives you a best opportunity to explore the nature and also there are so many things to see and do. It offers vast wildlife habitats and also the climate and nature here is so astonishing.

The Kawuneeche Valley is one of the must-see areas of Rocky Mountain National Park. The fertile valley on the west side of the park is rife with flora and fauna, mountain scenery, park history, and lots of great hikes to boot. Here’s a quick overview of just a few of the activities in the Kawuneeche Valley. Kawuneeche means "valley of the coyote" in Arapaho language and there is a Coyote Valley Trail head by US Route 34 in the western half of the park.

Lake Verna is located 6.9 miles from East Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This large subalpine lake fills a slender, steep-walled basin midway up the East Inlet valley. The hike to Lake Verna begins from the East Inlet Trailhead near the town of Grand Lake on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lake Nanita is located 10.8 miles from North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. It lies at the head of an isolated valley framed by Ptarmigan Mountain and Andrews Peak. A good camping location and also there are so many other peisure activities possible here.

Granby Ranch is a four-season mountain community nestled in the Rocky Mountains and located just 90 miles from Denver, Colorado, and 20 miles from Winter Park, Colorado and the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It offers 35 ski trails covering 2 mountains, six terrain parks, ski and ride school, rentals, and convenient ski-in ski-out lodging.