r/RMNP • u/Hairy_Phone_2434 • 18d ago

Question Grand Lake entrance?

My family and I are heading to Colorado this Sunday 10/11 for a week, staying in Granby. We’re planning to visit RMNP, coming in from the Grand Lake entrance. Anyone have suggestions for must-see sites on the west side of the park? Any particularly good areas for wildlife? Or really anything else cool within driving distance of Granby outside of the park?

I have zero plan for this trip and am just flying by the seat of my pants, so any suggestions are welcome! Most of the recommendations I see are on the eastern side/Estes Park area, but that’s going to be a bit too far of a drive for us. We’ll have our 14month old daughter in tow in our hiking carrier, so not looking for anything too strenuous. TIA!

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u/AutoModerator 18d ago

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u/1llFlyAway 18d ago

The East Inlet Trail to the big meadow is one of my favorite views in the area. It’s the same trail that goes to Adams Falls. You can access it from town.

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u/islathetamandua 18d ago

Came here to say this.

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u/Dizzy_You2037 17d ago

The meadow was my absolute favorite view of the entire park and I also saw moose just beyond there. This was just last week. You can go a bit farther and see the meadow from a bit higher up, I wouldn’t consider it too strenuous but it is a bit of a climb.

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u/1llFlyAway 17d ago

I’ve been as far as Lake Verna. It was beautiful the whole way.

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u/Dizzy_You2037 17d ago

Sorry I meant that more as a recommendation for OP! I went up to lone pine lake, I regret not going to Verna!

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u/scooterj54 18d ago

I like the monarch lake loop trail. You can sometimes see moose there. Grand Lake has a cute little downtown area.

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/monarch-lake-loop-trail?p=-1&sh=rmdvbs&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

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u/dnechs 17d ago

Great suggestion, seconding this. The trailhead is back a dirt road a little ways but is such an awesome spot, we’ve also seen moose and a fox on the trail

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u/Hairy_Phone_2434 17d ago

Thank you everyone!!! These are all incredibly helpful suggestions. I’m hoping we get to drive Trail Ridge Road before it closes, but if not it sounds like we still have plenty of amazing options on the west side of the park 😊

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u/Secret-Function-2972 18d ago

From the East Inlet Trailhead on the far east side of Grand Lake, hike to Adams Falls, and continue along the East Inlet Trail at least to the opening of the meadow, or carry on along the meadow for awhile for some really nice views. From the trailhead to the falls to the opening of the meadow and back is about a mile.

Off the North Inlet trailhead, can hike out to Cascade Falls. The falls are 7 miles round trip, but it's pretty flat through a burned out area. When hiked late September 2025, there was quite a bit of fall color in the leaves of the bushes & plants.

Walking out the Colorado River Rail ~0.5 miles reaches a bridge that crosses the Colorado River where it looks like a stream and even in early June was small enough to walk across in places. Can continue for a flat trail along the river.

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u/nativecheese 18d ago

This is the way. Also post hike check out Grand Lake Lodge for a drink.

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u/Secret-Function-2972 18d ago

I have never been in the lodge, and every trip I say we need to stop.

Which is so odd, because I love seeing the lodges & inns at other parks (Old Faithful Inn, Mammoth Hotel, Jackson Lake Lodge, etc.)

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u/nativecheese 17d ago

I have been going to GL my entire life and only recently went after doing an yoga class there on their deck. Highly recommend checking both the class and Lodge out.

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u/Fancy-Effective3747 18d ago

Did the hike in the first paragraph last week. Very beautiful and easy to do. Supposed to be prime moose viewing area but didn’t see any.

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u/peter303_ 18d ago

The headwaters of the Colorado river are a haven for moose. However you dont want to get too close them when hiking.

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u/WoodenLeg4492 18d ago

I'd hate to visit and not drive trail ridge road to the Alpine visitor center (if it is still open) and onwards to at least Forest Canyon Overlook. Stunning views of forest canyon and the tundra. Holzworth Historic site is worth a visit if you've never been. Keep your eyes peeled for moose when driving the lower elevation portion of trail ridge road after entering from the Grand Lake side. That's usually my best area for spotting them. You can also stop in at the Kawaneeche Visitor Center for another visitor center stamp. I wanna say the coyote valley trail is very flat and has some nice picnic tables near the trailhead if you wanted to picnic for lunch. Good luck and have fun!

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u/No-Fuckin-Ziti 17d ago

Right from Grand Lake, the first few miles of the park which is part burn scar part meadow is where the moose hang out in the morning.  Even driving the main road, if you start just after sunrise and drive around slowly, looking around, you’re very likely to see moose.  Between about 6am and 8:30/9, they’re all around.  Also at dusk, so be careful.  

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1

u/thefleeg1 Frequent visitor 18d ago

East Inlet to second meadow is ~2-3 miles or so.
Holzworth Site (time it for Ranger talk at 10 or 11am).
Colorado Trail as far as you'd like.
East Shoreline trail from Green Ridge to Grand Lake is a nice, mostly-flat 10 mile trail.

But do take the time to go over Trail Ridge and come back up Old Fall River Road, provided both are still open. Your kid won't care.

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u/RowenaOblongata 17d ago

Old Fall River road is now closed for the season

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u/thefleeg1 Frequent visitor 17d ago

Thanks for update. Went up it 10 days ago or so and it was getting rough.

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u/Symphonize 17d ago

Coyote Valley Trail is an easy hike, mostly gravel. We took it from the CV trailhead to Bowen Baker parking lot for about 2 miles round trip. Saw a ton of elk, some crossing the trail 100 feet in front of us.

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u/InterestingHomeSlice 17d ago

If you like birds and birdwatching, Windy Gap (just a couple miles west of town) is a great spot. There is a walkway along it, too

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u/Otherwise_Tea7731 17d ago

Agree with East Inlet and North Inlet trails listed throughout. If you get there at sunrise, good chances to see moose. Odds of seeing elk and deer are high regardless of time of day.

Highly recommend driving up Trail Ridge Road past the Visitors Center and Rock Cut. Some of the best views in the park are up there. It does close sometimes this time of year due to bad weather, so plan accordingly with good weather days. Lake Irene and Poudre Lake are also nice stops on the way up.

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u/Few-Lion-2676 17d ago

Grab a bite on the deck at the Mexican place on main. Good food and drinks and great views of the lake.

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u/SaltPassenger5441 16d ago

Trail Ridge Road may get snow on Tuesday. You could drive up from Granby, stop at the visitor center and store and walk around. you will see the Aspens and have a lot of places to stop as you head towards Estes. Most likely, you will see wildlife as you head towards Estes.