Grand Lake

The gateway to the Rockies is a fantastic weekend destination

by Debra Goldyn

Grand Lake is aptly named, as it is the largest natural lake in Colorado and the headwaters for the Colorado River. It’s a great destination in summer or winter, and it offers something for everyone: hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and horseback riding, along with plenty of shopping, restaurants, and its own theater company.

If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate the fourth, Grand Lake is an excellent choice. There’s a great fireworks show over the lake at dusk, which can be viewed from the shore or from a boat. If you plan ahead, you should be able to rent prime viewing space in one of the hotels or cabins that border the lake.

It won’t take you long to get there, as it’s just 100 miles from Denver. Grand Lake is located just one mile from the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, and a drive through the park will land you in Estes Park, another fun destination. July is a great time to visit, as the national parks are offering free admission the weekend of July 18 and 19.

There are plenty of other events to enjoy throughout the summer. There’s a wooden boat show on July 11, the Western Weekend and Buffalo BBQ on July 18 and 19, and the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre has three shows in rotation through August 22 and a fourth, “The Andrews Brothers,” opens on August 28. There are free concerts on Thursday evenings in the Town Park through September 3, and the summer season finishes with a flourish during the Fall Festival, which takes place September 19 and 20.

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