Heading to RMNP on 6/9. I'll be staying just south of Granby for a week. First timer.
Looking for some specific suggestions related to the following activities.
On the agenda:
Some hiking, not real strenuous.
Kayaking, was thinking of some fishing, any suggestions ? Is the Colorado thru the park pretty calm ? Fraser River ?
Trail Ridge Road - some special places off the beaten path ?
Other areas of interest in the area ? The wife is not a real outdoor activity enthusiast.
Looking at the dinner ride out of Sombrero Ranch ?
Grand Lake Brewery ?
Has the food improved at Grand Lake Lodge ? New owners ?

All comments appreciated.

I have a great website for information on hiking in and around the park: www.thespiritoftherockies.net Very detailed trail information on the length and difficulty, great maps, etc. If you're on the west side of the park, a popular and not too difficult hike is to Lulu City. Just keep in mind if you're a "flatlander" coming to high altitude, that you should take it easy for the first day or two and drink A LOT of water - that can't be stressed enough! Also, keep on the lookout for moose that live only on that side of the park. They are amazing to see, a great treat to view them in their natural habitat.

Trail Ridge Road doesn't have any "off the beaten path" areas that I can recommend. You'll be absolutely blown away by the scenery up there (maybe even literally!) Dress warmly when you drive up there, no matter how hot it is down below - warm jacket at least.

Hello,

Where are you staying "just south of Granby?" Is it at the Silver Creek Lodge(Inn)?

It's tough to say if the Colorado is pretty calm right now. With the spring snowmelt, it should be higher than the normal summer level.

Easy hikes on the west side:
Adams Falls from the East Inlet Trailhead (0.6 miles RT)
Big Meadows trail from Green Meadows Trailhead (3.6 miles RT)
Coyote Valley loop from Coyote Valley trailhead (totally flat, about 1 mile RT)

There are more easy hikes on the east side in the Glacier Gorge area: Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, Alberta Falls, Nymph/Dream/Emerald Lake.

Not really anything off the beaten path on TRR, although the trail at Rock Cut is pretty cool. It's totally above treeline, so you're walking through (but not on) tundra. It's pretty high up though, so even though it's fairly short you'll still be out of breath.

The Colorado River in the park could be blown out by snowmelt. Stop by the Timber Ridge Campground on the west side of the park. I believe there is a day-use area within the campground. Walk west through the campground to the river and see how it's flowing.

South of Grand Lake is Shadow Mountain Reservoir. At the south end of Shadow Mt Reservoir is the Green Ridge Campground and the Shadow Mountain dam. Take the road past the campground until it ends. Park, and hike a block or two to the Colorado River below the dam. Since it's a tailwater there, the flows may be a bit more regulated. Avoid the crowds directly below the dam. Instead, walk down the riverside trail that goes all the way to Lake Granby, and pick a spot to fish.

If you want to fish Shadow Mountain Reservoir from shore, follow the road toward Green Ridge Campground. Well before you get to the campground there will be a boat launch area. Park there, and follow the path east along the south side of the lake to the dam. Cross the dam, and turn left along the trail that follows the east side of the lake. Find a spot, and throw out a line.

Heading west out of Granby, follow Hwy 40 and the Colorado River to Hot Sulphur Springs. I like to fish in the Colorado at the city park at Hot Sulphur Springs. I usually fly fish there, but it's legal to use bait also. Daily limit is 2 trout. If the wife isn't into fishing, let her soak in the hot springs pools and spa in Hot Sulphur Springs while you fish the river a block away. The Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa is one of our favorite hot springs areas. There are numerous pools, and a nice spa if you want to be pampered a little. Kids under the age of 16 are allowed only in the 3 lower pools, leaving the other dozen or so pools as "adults only".

Immediately west of Hot Sulphur Springs, Hwy 40 follows the Colorado River through the 1.5 mile long Byers Canyon. As Hwy 40 exits Byers Canyon, it crosses the river. Just east of this bridge is a dirt road on the south that leads to a State Wildlife public access along the river. On the other side of the bridge is another dirt road to the south that leads to another State Wildlife public access. East of the bridge you can fish with bait and keep 2 fish. West of the bridge is artificial flies and lures only, and catch and release. You need a State Wildlife Area sticker on your fishing license to use these areas - it's an extra $5 added onto your fishing license.

The Fraser River has very little public access, and most of it is upstream of Winter Park where the river is just barely a creek.

If you don't mind a level hike of about a mile to a nice fishing river, try the Williams Fork River. On hwy 40, about a mile west of Byers Canyon, and before you get to the town of Parshall, you will see a sign for Grand County Hwy 3. Turn left (south) onto Hwy 3. It immediately drops down to a bridge that crosses the Colorado River, then climbs a small bluff up the other side. As you reach the top of the bluff on the other side of the river, you'll see a small parking area on the right hand side of the road and a sign indicating the Kemp-Breeze State Wildlife Area. There is a porta potty at the south end of the parking area. Turn into the parking area and hike the easily seen old dirt road directly west for about a mile to a bluff overlooking the Williams Fork River, a great tailwater whose water flow is usually pretty well regulated. You'll pass through a torn-down barbed wire fence, a small swale, and another downed barbed wire fence before reaching the bluff overlooking the Williams Fork Valley. Walk down the 100 yard bluff, but watch for loose rock. The Williams Fork is also flies and lures only, catch and release but there are some nice trout in there. Take lots of water, some sunscreen, and a hat.

If dinnertime finds you in Hot Sulphur Springs, let me suggest the restaurant inside the Riverside Hotel. Ibrahim is the owner/operator of the hotel. He is also the bartender,....the chef,.... and most evenings he is also the waiter and the busboy. The hotel is a quaint, yet well maintained older structure, and the restaurant overlooks the river. If the restaurant is serving dinner. don't be surprised if there are only a few other customers. After all, this is Hot Sulphur Springs, and not a lot of travelers know the quality of Ibrahim's fare. We have always found the food to be very good ($12 - $25 per person), and because the owner is usually our waiter....the service has always been impecable.

At the Timber Ridge Campground you can follow a trail along the Colorado River that goes north and south. I was fishing this stretch one day, walked around a brushy bend and found myself 15 yards from a herd of elk. I told them I was here to just fish a little, and they calmly went back to eating.

There are also moose in that part of the park. I'd give THEM a wide berth though.

Thanks all for the info, great stuff.
GJLinda: yes, we are staying at Silvercreek (The Inn of..) Any take on the resort ?
One other item. What's the best way to get to the east side of the park. I know TRR will get you there, but it seems like doing TRR & the east side if pushing things. Am I better going back to I-70. I though I saw a map that may have some rough roads going east out of Winter Park; but am I jeopardizing my safety ?

IMHO
From Granby, the quickest, safest, and most efficient way to get to the east side of the park is over Trail Ridge Road. Taking Hwy 40 back over Berthoud Pass to I-70, Golden, Boulder and Estes Park is a much longer drive. There are no other roads that cross over to the east from Winter Park except the old Rollins Pass road, but that has been closed to vehicular traffic for several years.

Furledleader gives you great advice-- the way to Estes from Granby is as he advises, which puts you over beautiful Trail Ridge Road. It would be better to stay a night or two in Estes, if you can.
You aren't far from Winter Park, if you want to go there, too, for a day or evening. (Pizza at Hernando's is excellent.)
Red Tail Rafting-- http://RedTailRafting.com/-- is a very good, reputable rafting company based in Fraser. They provide transportation from their location in Fraser, which is about 15- 20 minutes drive from Silvercreek.
It's also fun to rent a motorboat and go out on Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake for a half-day or so. Best in the morning, in case of afternoon clouds and storm.
It's a shame if Grand Lake Lodge has lost its reputation for dining. We were there last summer, when they were doing the buffet style. It was ok, but not like it used to be. However, the wonderful porch seating makes anything taste fabulous, with the gorgeous view of Grand Lake. Great gift shop there, too, for Colorado memories.
Have fun!

Hello again,

My sister and I stayed there a couple of weeks ago. It is a nice place, not fancy but nice. However, the standard room was very tiny, even smaller than many of the rooms we had in Great Britain and Ireland when we were there a couple of years ago. Of course, we needed two beds and that always crowds a room a bit.

Ate in the bar as the restaurant wasn't open. Decent bar food and reasonably priced.

Nice large pool and two hot tubs and plenty of places to sit outside the bar and around the pool.

I would go back, but I would pay a bit more for a bigger room.

Have fun.

Yep, furledleader is awesome; and thanks to the rest. I'm really getting pumped-up to be there. Sounds like I'm in for a great time.

raofch,
I was in CO last September. I live in Delaware (NO altitude). We went for 2 weeks and did lots of research on dealing with the altitude. We drank tons of water and still had lots of trouble with shortness of breath after 4 days. We started in Estes for 3 days and then over TRR to Grand Lake. My husband had a heck of a time with the altitude up there, really felt sick. So - my only hope is that you are staying longer than a week and that you already live at some altitude, because hiking is tough when you can't breath.<grin>