Public Lands

Grand County's expansive wilderness areas and national parks offer you spectacular options in exploring Colorado's back country all year 'round. Our four designated wilderness areas are carefully maintained to protect the natural beauty and wildlife in the area. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed. . . just the pure enjoyment of simple pleasures like hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camping or cross-country skiing. Try the Vasquez Peak area, Byers Peak, Never Summer Wilderness or Indian Peaks. Group sizes are limited and camping permits may be required, so a call to the U.S. Forest Service will be helpful in planning your visit.

Automobiles are allowed in our Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest. The drive over Trail Ridge Road, which begins in Grand Lake, is truly spectacular. This 50-mile road is the highest continuously-paved highway in the United States, winding around alpine tundra, glacial lakes and spectacular mountain peaks! Because of its elevation, Trail Ridge Road is closed during the winter. It usually opens in late May and stays open through October, weather permitting. Continue 70 miles west on this newly named Scenic Byway all the way across the county to State Bridge. You can call the Kawuneeche Visitors Center for up-to-the-minute road and weather information from Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park: Information and Road Conditions Kawuneeche Visitors Center (Grand Lake): (970) 627-3471

Colorado Division of Wildlife: (970) 725-3557

Bureau of Land Management: (970) 724-3437

Arapaho National Forest: (970) 887-4100

Medicine Bow/Routt National Forest: (970) 879-1870

United States Forest Service Department of Agriculture (USDA)

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