A tour through Grand County in any season offers endless adventure, activities and a crisp mountain climate. We're smack in the middle of the Rocky Mountains starting just 76 miles northwest of Denver. Along your journey you'll find many smiling faces and storybook legends filled with cowboys and Indians, prospectors, trappers, railroad pioneers and determined frontier settlers. Hang on to your hat and get ready for an authentic ride through the classic American West. (Map of Grand County)
Beginning at the east end of the county the quest starts off in Fraser and Winter Park. These communities put skiers and snowboarders in the shadow of Winter Park's slopes and minutes from Silver Creek Resort, an great area for family skiing . In summer, access Arapaho National Forest and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area from the many trail heads and fourwheeling roads that lace the Fraser River Valley.
Now, it's off to the "Heart of Something Grand" where sprawling ranch land, rolling hills, dude ranches and enormous blue skies encompass the centermost town in the county: Granby. Enjoy neighborly hospitality with a generous variety of places to stay, eat and play -- all riddled with nostalgia. The jangle of the real west rings out in the summer months. Horseback rides to pristine lakes are just one way to discover Granby's wide open landscape.
If you're looking for cool mountain lakes, head north through one of America's most scenic lake regions, on your way to the historic village of Grand Lake -- the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Grand Lake is only one of three lakes in the area. Name a watersport other than surfing and we've got it. Play the championship golf course or tie up to a hitching post on the boardwalk in town. In summer, enjoy live professional repertory performances at the Historic Community Theater as well as festivals, fireworks and barbecues. In winter, nature rolls out the white carpet on 300 miles of trails, creating what is known as the "Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado."
Follow the chilly waters of the Colorado River west to reach Hot Sulphur Springs. The Indians referred to the 110 degree, hot mineral baths as "Big Medicine"-- we think you'll agree. On a colder note, it just so happens that ski jumping got a big start in Hot Sulphur Springs as early as 1911. This was an early training ground for America's Olympic Ski Jumping Team. Visit the Grand County Museum here in Hot Sulphur Springs to find out more.
Western Grand County has been referred to as a Sportsman's Paradise and at its center is Kremmling. Gold Medal fishing, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and wildlife watching surround the town. The area has miles of mountain biking trails that connect you to Winter Park and the rest of the county. The authentic western heritage grabs you by the boot heels in the Town Square. There's even a log cabin jailhouse which today, is a museum. Five miles north is the new Wolford Mountain Reservoir -- 1,440 acres of water in a mountain setting. Picnics, hiking and mountain biking trails, fishing and boating will create plenty of adventure with access for physically challenged guests.
In any season, Grand County has plenty to offer.