Incredible Things to Do In Our Neck of the Woods

Herds of elk bugling down mountainsides. Wildflowers carpeting valley floors. Rivers meandering through spruce-lined meadows. No trip to Grand Lake is complete without a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. And with stunning scenic drives, you don’t even have to get out of the car to find breathtaking beauty. Must have a reservation to enter the park.

Grand Lake is Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake. Keep your gaze up and you’ll get a clear view of the Never Summer range. Cast a line below and you’re likely to encounter all kinds of fish, including rainbow trout. With a scenic lake tour or a private boat rental, you’ll have a front-row view of one of the most stunning glacial lakes in the country.

Hiking is hands-down the most popular way to experience Rocky Mountain National Park. And when you’re perched on the top of Mount Ida and feeling like you’re on top of the world, it’s easy to see why. With options ranging from half-mile lakeside walks to eight-mile mountain-summiting trails, you can find incredible scenery and a sense of accomplishment, no matter your ability level.

The waters of Grand Lake are nothing short of serene. But 45 minutes down the road in Kremlin, Colorado, you’ll find something a bit more exciting. Whitewater rafting trips on the upper Colorado River offer jaw-dropping canyon scenery and some heart-pounding whitewater. With easy-to-navigate rapids and experienced guides, the upper Colorado River is a great choice for first-time rafters and families alike.

With gentle horses and gorgeous terrain, the Winding River Trail Resort takes you on whimsical tours of Rocky Mountain National Park. Seeing marmots scampering through the brush or mountain irises soaking in the sun, it’s easy to feel like you’re buried deep in the pages of a fairytale—even though you’re just a 10-minute drive from Grand Lake Lodge.

The Arapaho National Forrest has over 130 miles of dirt roads. And with Polaris ATVs and RZR side-by-sides, Spirit Lake Rentals has some pretty exhilarating ways to explore them. Their trips are unguided, letting you chart your own course. And their staff is top notch. So if you run out of gas or wind up with a flat, they’ll be there to help in no time.