VISITOR GUIDE 125 Roosevelt 287 National Walden Forest 25 Routt National Forest Fort Collins 14 40 Steamboat Springs Loveland 125 34 34 Rocky Estes Oak Creek Mountain Park Grand Lake National 36 40 Lyons Park 72 287 Yampa 7 Longmont Hot Sulphur Springs 134 Granby Ward 25 Kremmling Boulder 131 Fraser Nederland 3 9 Winter Park Arapaho 72 National 40 Central 76 BLM Forest 93 Empire City 46 70 6 DENVER Georgetown Idaho Springs 103 70 Avon Vail Silverthorne 74 470 Eagle Dillon Frisco Minturn 73 70 Breckenridge Redcliff 85 285 Blue River White River 24 National Forest 91 Alma Pike National Forest 67 105 Aspen Leadville Fairplay 82 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Rocky Mountain National Park ................3-4 Table of Contents.... 24 Winter & Spring Recreation ......................5-6 Summer & Fall Recreation ........................7-8 285 Water Recreation ....................................9-10 Crested Butte Art & Culture ..........................................11-1224 Buena Vista Events ............................................................13 Trip Ideas & Itineraries .........................14-32 Gunnison Lodging .................................................... 33-36 National San Isabel Getting To and Around Granby .......... 37-38 135 Forest National Forest Travel Tips ...............................................39-40 Pitkin Downtown Map ....................................41-42 Business Directory ................................43-46 Gunnison 50 Salida 50 WELCOME TO GRANBY, COLORADO WHERE ADVENTURE AWAITS Granby, Colorado has come a long way from its roots as a logging and railroad community to become the perfect vacation destination for you and your family. Founded in 1905, Granby is known for its friendly atmosphere, great climate, and close proximity to Denver. At 7,935 ft. above sea level, Granby offers the ultimate Colorado Rocky Mountain experience. Here you’ll find miles of trails to traverse, rivers to fish, lakes to play in, mountains to ski, and golf courses with the most beautiful views. Not to mention Agate Avenue, our town’s Main Street, which boasts restaurants, shopping, and other local discoveries. When you arrive, begin your visit at the Granby Information Center at 516 E Agate Ave. It’s your one-stop shop for information, maps, and brochures about the Granby area. Use this Visitor Guide to explore recreation ideas, suggested itineraries, travel tips, and more. For more detailed information, make sure to visit our website at www.destinationgranby.com. 2 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK The majestic Rocky Mountain National Park, home of some of the most beautiful mountains in the United States, is a place that visitors to Granby won’t want to miss. People of all ages can enjoy countless activities, including breathtaking drives, hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and much more! Travelers to Granby can access the park via the Grand Lake/West Entrance, which is just a 20-minute drive from town. RECREATION The sheer number of things to do in Rocky Mountain National Park never fails to amaze. Enjoy its 355 miles of beautiful hiking trails year-round, and depending on the season take summer strolls, winter treks, or intensive hikes. In the summer and fall, enjoy wildlife watching, camping, fishing, and horseback riding. In winter and spring, when snow falls are frequent, you can gaze at snowy mountain peaks and lakes, go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and take winter treks along the park’s trails. WILDLIFE Rocky Mountain National Park is home to a diverse range of animals, including significant populations of large animals, including herds of moose, elk, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. Watching these stately animals run free is a truly incredible sight to behold. If you want to catch a glimpse of wildlife in the Kawaneechee Valley, dusk is the perfect time to look out for a few critters easily seen from the road. SCENIC DRIVES No trip to Rocky Mountain National Park is complete without taking a scenic drive, including a drive along Trail Ridge Road, the legendary “highway in the sky.” This 48-mile road is the highest continuous paved road in the country that eventually ends up in the picturesque mountain town of Estes Park. At its highest elevation, Trail Ridge Road reaches 12,183 feet. The cliff-hugging highway is as impressive for its engineering as for its stunning vistas. The road is entirely paved, but is only able to be fully accessed during the months of May or June through October due to snow in the winter months. Opposite page: Park signage (lower left) and snowshoe tour (lower right) images courtesy of Grand County Colorado Tourism Board. 3 4 5 WINTER & SPRING RECREATION Visit Granby for an iconic Colorado winter experience. Head into the snow for everything from classic skiing and snowboarding to exhilarating rides on a snowmobile or dog sled. When you’re ready to warm up, we’ll be here to welcome you back. Winter adventures are more fun when your basecamp is an authentic mountain town. SKIING & SNOWBOARDING Just 3 miles from downtown, Granby Ranch features nearly 1,000 feet of vertical and 900 acres of skiable terrain for all ability levels. Designed and operated with families in mind, Granby Ranch is widely regarded as one of the best areas in Colorado to learn to ski or ride with their acres of beginner slopes. They have free parking just steps from the chairlifts, as well as full-service gear rentals and ski and ride lessons to complete your experience. NORDIC SKIING & SNOWSHOEING Granby is perfectly positioned in between four Nordic ski areas with maintained and groomed winter trails, ideal for any type of cross-country skiing. Some even offer equipment rentals, lessons, and guided tours. Or if you’re looking for a way to explore Granby’s extensive trail system in the winter, snowshoeing is the perfect activity. Wherever there is snow, there are snowshoe possibilities! SNOWMOBILING Groomed trails or deep backcountry powder, no matter which, your unbeatable snowmobiling adventure starts in Granby. Take a guided tour, rent a snowmobile for an unguided adventure, or bring your own sled. Our area boasts more than 1,000 miles of snowmobiling trails, nearly 150 inches of annual snowfall, and hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine terrain to explore. Opposite page: Top image courtesy of Granby Ranch. Lower image courtesy of Grand County Colorado Tourism Board. 6 7 SUMMER & FALL RECREATION Granby is about to become your favorite new basecamp for adventure. You’ll find sweeping vistas and all the outdoor experiences Colorado has to offer. From tranquil golfing to adrenaline-pumping mountain bike trails, outdoors experiences abound here. HIKING Hiking opportunities are endless in and around Granby. Trails range in difficulty from easy to difficult, providing something for everyone. Opt for a short hike or head out into the backcountry for some extended time in the wilderness. From a stroll around the lake to a vertical climb up a mountain, you can fill your vacation with a variety of stunning hikes. BIKING Located between Winter Park, Arapaho National Forest, and Rocky Mountain National Park, Granby is an ideal destination for bikers of all ages and skill levels. With over 600 miles of mountain biking trails within the county, Granby is situated in a perfect location. Single tracks, downhill bike parks, all day trails, and even lift- serviced trails; if it’s mountain biking, it’s here. Looking for something super mellow? Head into downtown Granby to rent a bike or cruiser for a leisurely ride around town. GOLFING Two of the four world-class golf courses in the county are located in Granby, which is why planning a golf outing here is the perfect way to create unforgettable memories. Grand Elk Golf Club and Granby Ranch both offer courses that any aficionado will enjoy. Located less than 3 miles from downtown Granby, both offer lessons, rentals, and of course, breathtaking views. Top image courtesy of Grand County Colorado Tourism Board. 8 9 WATER RECREATION If you thought our skies were blue, wait until you get out on the lakes and rivers. Water sports are some of the best things to do in the Granby area, so make a day of some fun on the water. With three lakes in the area, you’ll have your choice of picturesque bodies of water to plan your day around. BOATING Lake Granby is just a 10-minute drive from town, so you can easily head to its shores and get out on the water in no time. Three boat launches and three marinas make all kinds of boating possible—with a motor, a sail, or a paddle or two. And with 40 miles of shoreline, you can spread out in the summer and set up for a day at the beach. RAFTING There’s nothing better than the splash of river rapids in your face on a hot Colorado summer day while rafting along a stretch of fresh water. Unless, of course, you prefer a smooth, serene ride. Either way, rafting guides in the Granby area will show you a good time that gets your heart pounding or lets you enjoy a more relaxed ride suitable even for the little ones. FISHING Whether you want to spend some time pole fishing, fly fishing, or ice fishing, Granby is the perfect spot. Rainbow, brown, and lake trout are primarily found in the water systems around here, as well as the much sought-after kokanee salmon. Venture out on your own or hire a local guide to show you the best fishing spots in the area. Opposite page: Rafting image (bottom) courtesy of Grand County Colorado Tourism Board. 10 ART & CULTURE Granby is famous as a basecamp for adventure, but visitors will be delighted to discover an array of artistic and cultural attractions located nearby and in town. MUSEUMS There are several fascinating museums around Granby where you can discover the area’s local history and lore.