- Enjoy fishing, boating and breathtaking scenery at Grand Lake
- At the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park not far from Winter Park
- Accessible year round
- Use the boat ramp on the southeast shore to launch the vessel of your choice
- Jet ski the blue waters
- Fish for trout and salmon
Overview
Grand Lake is the largest natural body of water in Colorado, 400 feet in depth, 1.5 miles long and a mile wide. It sits at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and is only a short drive from Winter Park. Here you will find some fabulous fishing and boating on lovely sunny waters in the Rockies.
Location & Information
From Winter Park, Colorado, drive north on US Highway 40 to Granby, Colorado. On the west side of town, turn north on US Highway 34 to Grand Lake.
Grand Lake is accessible year round.
Contact information:
Grand Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Visitor Center
Corner of West Portal Road and Highway 34
970-627-3402
or 800-531-1019
Activities
There are a multitude of activities you can enjoy at Grand Lake, but the most popular are boating and fishing these mountain waters.
- Boating
This jewel of a lake is perfect for boating, and all types of boats are permitted. Jet skiing is a real treat here! There’s one ramp on the southeast side of Grand Lake, allowing you to launch without a problem. Along with neighboring lakes (Shadow Mountain Lake and Lake Granby), you have over 150 miles of shoreline to explore. - Fishing
The waters of Grand Lake are considered one of the best trout fisheries in the state. Your catch may weigh more than 20 pounds! You’ll find browns, rainbow, cutthroat and Mackinaw trout as well as large Kokanee salmon.
Fun Facts
Native Americans came to the area around Grand Lake every year during the summers to hunt and fish. The Ute tribes have stories about the lake that have become legend.
One tale tells of a time when the Utes were camped along the shores of what is today Grand Lake. The Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians launched a surprise attack. During the battle, women and children of the Ute tribe used a raft to escape, pushing it out onto the lake with long poles. However, a dangerous wind upset the raft and all the Native Americans on board drowned.
The surviving warriors thereafter witnessed ghostly forms rising from the mist over the lake in the summer, and in winter it is claimed they could hear cries of women and children from below the ice. This incident was only one of a few that gave birth to the Indian name for this body of water – Spirit Lake.
