The Best Town In Colorado You’ve Never Heard Of

Tucked in the trees of a national forest, Grand Lake is a small town the likes of which Henry David Thoreau may have set up camp. It is, perhaps, the best town in Colorado you’ve never heard of. It’s a place where the finer things in life matter less than life’s simpler pleasures. There are no stoplights because traffic is rather minimal, and even in the summertime, people aren’t in such a hurry. Another thing you won’t find in Grand Lake are any chain department stores. You know what you will find? A souvenir shop that sells rubber ducks, makes a ton of flavors of homemade fudge, and that’s owned and operated by Grand Lake’s mayor.

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Grand Lake is the quintessential unassuming lake town. You won’t find five-star hotels or resorts, or Michelin-starred restaurants. But — that’s actually on purpose. Grand Lake attracts visitors who desire a waterfront destination with rustic charms. And if you’re planning on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Lake is the perfect spot to set up camp, so to speak.

The reason you’ve probably never heard of Grand Lake is that it was a really well-kept secret. Even local Denver dwellers will say they’ve never been here — and it’s only two hours outside the city limits. Around 500 people live in Grand Lake year-round, and they’re ready to welcome you to their magical town that may not stay so secret for long.

While there isn’t a lot to do in Grand Lake, that’s also kind of the point. You don’t visit Grand Lake to do; you visit Grand Lake to relax and not do anything. That said, because of its proximity to the national park’s quieter area — it’s just minutes from the west entrance to Rocky Mountain — but remember that from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm throughout the season, you must have a reservation to enter, and entries are timed to ensure there are never too many people within the park’s confines at once.

Now, Grand Lake is a place where you can breathe clean air, swim in clean waters, and even see some wildlife you may not have ever seen before. People say they’ve seen bears, elks, and even moose — sometimes all in the same trip! Are you ready to experience the relaxed atmosphere in Grand Lake, the best town in Colorado you’ve never heard of?