Magical Grand Lake at Rocky Mountain National Park’s West Entrance

At the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park sits a town that feels a bit like a snowglobe–a perfect moment carved in time where people are friendly, the sense of community is strong and small businesses and the arts thrive. Grand Lake, Colorado’s gorgeous waterfront views, featuring the largest and deepest natural lake in the state, plus 130 inches of snow each winter don’t hurt the image either. It’s the perfect spot to basecamp for your adventure to the national park.

Spend Time Outside in Grand Lake

Rocky’s Kawuneeche Entrance, just five minutes from downtown Grand Lake, is less crowded than its eastern counterparts, offering quieter trails and frequent moose sightings. Plus, you’ll be staying close enough that it’s easy to get into the park early before timed-entry requirements start at 9 a.m. If you plan to sleep in, or want to come back to Grand Lake for lunch, be sure to make a timed-entry reservation at Recreation.gov during the summer and fall. If you forgot, stop by the Grand Lake Visitor Center the day before you want to enter the park and staff at the kiosk can assist you in getting a last-minute reservation if there’s availability.

While the park is a big draw, Grand Lake itself offers tons to do from outdoor recreation to live theater, art classes and shopping. Spend some time strolling the town’s historic boardwalk, popping in and out of shops and grabbing breakfast at Sagebrush BBQ & Grill. Sit down to a huge breakfast menu featuring everything from wild game sausage, to Benedicts topped with house-smoked barbeque meats, to pancakes. If you’re looking for an option to eat on your way to the trailhead, order a breakfast burrito or egg sandwich, crafted to be portable.

From downtown, it’s just two blocks to the picturesque shores of Grand Lake. You can rent boats from one of two marinas right in town whether you want to paddleboard, kayak or canoe under your own power, or take a motorized boat out farther. Grand Lake connects to Shadow Mountain Reservoir, making it easy to spend the whole day out on the water.

Despite sitting at more than 8,300 feet in elevation, Grand Lake in the summer often feels like a day at the beach. One Love Rum Kitchen keeps that vibe going, offering Caribbean inspired sandwiches, salads and rum cocktails for a fun lunch or dinner option. If you’ve rented a boat for the day, grab your order to-go and enjoy it on the water. After lunch don’t miss Miyauchi’s Snack Bar, a Grand Lake staple for ice cream. Flavors change daily and often lean inventive like sage-salted pecan or lemongrass basil.

Visiting in the winter? It’s arguably even more beautiful when it snows. Book a beginner friendly snowshoe excursion into the park with Kaiyote Tours, or rent gear at Never Summer Mountain Products to hit the trails on your own. If you’d like to go cross-country skiing, Grand Lake Nordic Center offers groomed trails and rentals.

See a Broadway Show at 8,300 Feet or Learn to Ice Sculpt

When you’re ready to get out of the sun, check out the events calendar at the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre downtown. Starting in 1966, the theatre brings Broadway hits to the Colorado mountains. David Hasselhoff got his start here as a young actor. Check the calendar and book your tickets in advance for a lovely evening. The theater is just one part of the Grand Lake Creative District, a designation that shows the community’s commitment to arts and culture. Another is the Rocky Mountain Folk School, which provides hands-on learning experiences for locals and visitors alike in traditional crafts like pottery, weaving, glass fusing and even ice sculpting. See what classes are occurring during your visit and book ahead.

At the end of the day check into the historic Western Riviera, right in the heart of town offering easy, walkable access to both shops and restaurants, and the lake. It’s one of the only properties in town that faces the water.

Learn more at GoGrandLake.com.

For More Information:
Grand Lake Visitor Center
14700 US-34
Grand Lake, CO 80447
gograndlake.com