Grand Lake is a town in the Colorado Rockies that will literally take your breath away. At an elevation of 8,300 feet, the town is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and is set on the shores of shimmering Grand Lake"”the largest in Colorado. The beauty and recreation here compete with the best in the state, where biking, hiking, golf, and fishing are just a few of the popular activities. In summer, the town is abuzz with outdoor enthusiasts all heeding the call of the mountains, and since Grand Lake sits at the National Park entrance, it also teems with visitors driving the famous Trail Ridge Road. When staying in Grand Lake, make a stop in the Kauffman House Museum for a dose of Colorado heritage. This classic log cabin opened as a hotel in 1892, and housed thousands of frontier travelers and settlers up until 1946. At night, catch a show at the legendary Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater, where it's surprisingly possible to find Broadway shows in a town of only 500 people.
Practical Info
Grand Lake Colorado is approximately two hours and 15 minutes from Denver. Snow is possible at any time of year due to the town's high elevation, and Trail Ride Road is usually closed from the middle of November-May. In summer, the full loop from Denver, to Grand Lake, to Estes Park, to Denver, is approximately 200 miles.
Even though Denver is the "mile high city," the city itself is set in the plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Denver ski resorts are often over an hour away from the city, and Winter Park is one of the closest at only 80 minutes from downtown. It's also the oldest and one of the largest ski resorts in the state, and one of its mountains"”Mary Jane"”is often considered to have the best moguls of any resort in the country. Like many other parts of Colorado, Winter Park is graced with over 300 inches of snowfall and 300 days of sunshine"”thereby creating ideal conditions for an active resort in the mountains.
The resort's elevation is notably high"”with a base at 9,000 feet"”and the summit trails officially top out at just over 12,000 feet. Aside from the 143 runs"”some of which are five miles long"”the small community of Winter Park is one of the nation's highest. Here you'll find dining, lodging, golfing, and a comfortable family amenities, and even when the snow stops falling in summer, the lifts keep running for mountain bikers looking to gain some speed down the trails.
Practical Info
Winter Park is located 67 miles to the north and west of Denver. Ski season is usually from November-April, with most years offering at least 150 days of skiing and snowboarding at the resort.
Address: 100 Winter Park Dr, Winter Park, CO, USA 80482, USA
