Grand Lake Day Trip

Most visitors stay on the Estes Park side of Rocky Mountain National Park, but the west side has its own character. Grand Lake, at the park's western gateway, is a lake town built around the largest natural lake in Colorado, with a wooden boardwalk, old-fashioned shops, boat rentals and restaurants overlooking the water. The journey there is the highlight for many people, since it uses Trail Ridge Road, crossing the tundra and the Continental Divide before dropping through forest into the Kawuneeche Valley. This is the headwaters of the Colorado River, a broad valley where moose browse in willow thickets, elk graze in meadows and the river begins as a small stream. A guided Grand Lake day trip from Estes Park handles the driving and gives you time in town. The format works for visitors who want to see both sides of the park in one day, but do not want to drive 48 miles of mountain road twice. Guides add commentary on the geology, ecology and history, and stop at the best viewpoints along the way.

Trail Ridge Road is seasonal, so the Grand Lake day trip operates in the warmer months, normally from late spring or early summer until the road closes for winter. When the high road is closed, the west side can only be reached by a long drive around the park, and tours do not run the same route. Check the operating season when you book, and be prepared for the possibility that weather will force a change of route.

Plan your time in Grand Lake. The boardwalk and the shops are the center of town, and the lake offers boat rentals, short cruises and fishing. A walk to the water gives a view of the mountains reflected in the surface, and there are historic buildings to see. Lunch in a lakeside restaurant is a popular way to spend the middle of the day, and there is time for ice cream and browsing. The town has a relaxed, small-village feel compared with Estes Park, and fewer crowds.

On the way back, the Kawuneeche Valley is the best place for wildlife. Moose are most often seen in the early morning and evening, so ask your guide where to look. Keep your distance, because moose can be dangerous if surprised. The tour also passes several overlooks, including those on the Divide and the tundra, which are the same stops described in the Trail Ridge Road entry.

During the busy summer season a timed entry reservation applies to most of the day on this road; ask the operator how it is handled. Bring layers, water, sunscreen and a camera, and use the restroom before leaving town, because facilities along the road are limited.

If you prefer to take your time, consider staying a night in Grand Lake and returning the next day. This gives you an evening on the water, a morning for wildlife in the valley and a different view of the same road. Reserve lodging early in summer, because the town is small. Whichever way you do it, bring cash for small shops, a sweater for the evening and a sense of adventure.

Bring a printed or offline map, because mobile coverage drops in the high country, and carry a little cash for small shops. Dress for variable weather, since the temperature difference between Estes Park, the tundra and the lakeside can be large. A hat and sunglasses are useful at altitude, and comfortable shoes are a must for walking the boardwalk. Ask your guide to point out the Continental Divide marker when you cross it.