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Lake Granby, Colorado, USA

Also known as:  Granby Lake

Nestled in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains near the headwaters of the Colorado River, Lake Granby is a great place for a mountain getaway. With its fishing, boating, water sports, and spectacular scenery and wildlife, this lake has something for everyone. Created in 1949 with the completion of the Granby Dam, Lake Granby is an impoundment of the Colorado River. The lake along with Shadow…
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    • All About Lake Granby, CO

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Colorado - Front Range Region, CO -

    Nestled in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains near the headwaters of the Colorado River, Lake Granby is a great place for a mountain getaway. With its fishing, boating, water sports, and spectacular scenery and wildlife, this lake has something for everyone.

    Created in 1949 with the completion of the Granby Dam, Lake Granby is an impoundment of the Colorado River. The lake along with Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir, and Grand Lake, Colorado’s largest natural lake, is part of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The lake and reservoirs are connected with canals, and water can be pumped from one to another as needed for irrigation. Together the lake, pumping stations, and tunnels make up the Colorado-Big Thompson Project including the Alva B. Adam Tunnel which carries water under the Continental Divide. The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation manages the project whose primary purpose is irrigation with no power generation.

    Established in 1978, the land surrounding Lake Granby is the Arapaho National Recreation Area. The 36,000 acre recreation area near the west entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is part of the Arapaho National Forest in the upper Colorado River Valley. In addition to Lake Granby, Arapaho National Recreation Area includes four other lakes, Meadow Creek Reservoir, Monarch Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Willow Creek Reservoir. Together the five lakes are often referred to as the “Great Lakes of Colorado.”

    Visitors to Arapaho National Recreation Area can hunt for large and small game animals and waterfowl. There are trails for hiking, and although there aren’t specifically groomed areas, in the winter there is snowmobiling and cross country skiing. There are also campsites for overnight lodging and boat-in camping on the northeast shores of Lake Granby.

    Lake Granby is Colorado’s second largest storage reservoir, and with its public boat ramps and marinas, it’s very popular with boaters. There is motorized boating and sail boating, and visitors can water ski and windsurf. Anglers can fish for rainbow and mackinaw trout as well as kokanee salmon. From late December through mid February the ice on Lake Granby is usually strong enough for ice fishing.

    Lake Granby borders Rocky Mountain National Park. Dedicated in 1915 by Woodrow Wilson, it is the nation’s tenth national park. With mountain peeks as high as 1,400 feet, the scenery is unrivaled. In early summer the wildflowers put on a show for hikers, and in the winter visitors can snow shoe or cross country ski through the park to see the wildlife. Elk, mule deer, moose, big horn sheep, black bears, cougars and eagles all call Rocky Mountain National Park home.

    The town of Granby has a rich ranching heritage. Truly the land of cowboys and Indians, the area was first inhabited by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations. In 1879 it experienced a minor gold rush. Visitors to Lake Granby can explore the area’s history or find their inner cowboy at Granby’s rodeo. There is one every weekend. It’s also just a short drive to ski Winter Park or soak at Hot Sulphur Springs.

    With the backdrop of the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains, beautiful, clear water, and abundant fish and wildlife, Lake Granby is truly one of the “Great Lakes” of Colorado.

    Things to Do at Lake Granby

    These are some activities in the Lake Granby, CO area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Park
    • National Forest

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Granby?

    Lake Granby has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Kokanee Salmon
    • Mackinaw Trout
    • Salmon
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Granby

    If you’re considering a Lake Granby lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Granby Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Granby lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Granby Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 7,256 acres

    Shoreline Length: 40 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 8,279 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 8,174 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 8,280 feet

    Average Depth: 64 feet

    Maximum Depth: 221 feet

    Water Volume: 539,758 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1949

    Lake Area-Population: 1,525

    Drainage Area: 311 sq. miles

    Lake Granby Map
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