The Best Summer Activities in Winter Park & Grand County
Winter Park, Colorado is known for its scenic beauty, moderate climate and endless miles of trails to explore in the summertime. With Gravity Haus Winter Park as your basecamp, we can’t think of a more perfect setting to enjoy the great outdoors and create lasting memories.
Here’s where we recommend exploring in and around Winter Park, Colorado – and what gear to use while doing so!
LIFT ACCESS BIKE PARKS
- June 16th – October-ish
- Hours: 10AM – 5PM Sun-Thurs , 10AM – 6:30 PM Fri-Sat (Extended hours end ~Sept. 6th)
- Visit the Trestle Bike Park website for up-to-date lift and trail status
- Bike Park Pass – $490 (discounts offered to Ikon or Winter Park season pass holders for the 23/24 winter season) or Single Day Passes ($74) required for lift access (Discounts offered for purchasing day passes 48+ Hours in advance)
- Bike lessons offered from knowledgeable instructors
- Dates: June 2nd
- Hours: Thursday – Sunday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Cost: Not yet available.
TRAIL RIDING
IDLEWILD TRAIL SYSTEM – This mostly single track loop climbs and descends some of the quality trails just outside of the town of Winter Park. Like many areas in the Fraser Valley, numerous trails can be ridden to add or shorten this ride.
Easy to Moderate Trails – Notable Trails:
- Yankee Doodle, Broken Thumb (Difficult)
- Seredipity, Arrow (Moderate)
- Crosstrails (Easy)
Parking: At Gravity Haus Winter Park will get you access to this trail system, although there are alternative start points that can be found on mountain bike trail apps such as MTB Project, Trail Forks, COTREX.
ST. LOUIS CREEK / ELK MEADOWS TRAIL SYSTEM – This trail system is great for all levels of riders. It is especially good for beginners as there is a fairly flat loop consisting of Creekside/Flume trails. Can be connected to/from the Vasquez Trail area by way of D2-Double Bit-Elk Meadow trail sequence.
Easy to Moderate Trails – Notable Trails:
- Creekside/Flume Loop (Easy- but super fun!)
- Chainsaw, Iko, Broken Spade (Moderate)
Parking: At Elk Meadows Trailhead or St. Louis Creek Winter Parking will provide 2 different access points to this trail system. (Use these names with Google Maps for directions)
VASQUEZ TRAIL SYSTEM – Trail system consisting of varying difficulty levels with the ability to connect to trail riding at Winter Park Resort to the South or to the St. Louis Creek Trails to the North.
Easy to Moderate Trails – Notable Trails:
- Razzmatazz – Downhill only rowdiness! (Moderate/Difficult)
- WTB – Great fun in both directions, recently reworked (Moderate)
- Sunset Pink/Akimas Way – Fun climb to Razzmatazz with a slight technical aspect to it (Moderate)
Parking: On Vasquez Rd 1.2 Miles off of US 40
PHASES TRAIL SYSTEM – The first trails to dry in the spring!
Moderate to Difficult trails – Notable Trails:
- Phased and Confused (Moderate)
- Salad Bowl (Moderate/Difficult)
- Brush Pile (Moderate/Difficult)
- Froot Loop (Difficult)
Parking: Located at different lots along Strawberry Rd.
GRANBY TRAIL SYSTEM – Ranch XC Trails
Easy to Moderate Trails – Notable Trails:
- Ike’s Trail (Easy)
- Fraser Canyon (Moderate)
- Lone Eagle (Moderate/Difficult)
Parking: Granby Ranch XC trails can be found below the Granby Ranch Gazebow on Village Rd or at the base of Granby Ranch Ski Area.
TAKE THESE BIKES OUT ON THE TRAILS:
- Specialized Stumpjumper Alloy | Sizes: S1,S4,S6 – Not allowed at bike parks
- Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alloy | Sizes: S2,S3,S5 – Not allowed at bike parks
PADDLEBOARDING
- Accessed by taking CR83 off US40 outside of Tabernash and then taking a Left (North) on CR84 and following CR84 to the reservoir.
- Beautiful alpine views from an elevation of 9,900+ ft.
- $5 day pass giving access to fishing, camping, and paddle sports on the water.
- Accessed by taking US34 off of US40 to any of these destinations.
- Be cautious of motor boats on these bodies of water.
- Town of Grand Lake is also a great destination for food, shops, and access to Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Popular area for moose watching (please follow US Forest Service warnings regarding wildlife).
- Less popular for water sports and no motor boats allowed, but very beautiful.
- Directions: From Granby turn north onto U.S. Highway 34, travel approximately six miles to County Road (CR) 6. Turn east onto CR 6 (Arapaho Bay Road/NFSR 125), and drive 10 miles to the parking area.
TAKE THESE SUPS OUT FOR A PADDLE:
- Bote Breeze Aero (10’8”)
- High Society North Star (10’6”)
- Hala Straight Up Carbon (10’6”)
- Hala Carbon Hoss (11’)
HIKING
BYERS PEAK [9.1 miles out and back, ~3000ft elevation gain]: Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 46 min to complete.
- Very rewarding hike with wonderful views of the Fraser Valley to the East and the Continental Divide beyond.
- To the west in the distance is the Gore Range and views towards Summit County.
- Access to the trailhead opens up June 15th given sufficient snow melt.
- Turn off US40 onto Eisenhower Dr in Fraser. After crossing the railroad tracks, take a left onto Carriage Rd a block beyond the 4-way Stop. Take a right onto CR73. Continue for 7mi and take a sharp right towards 742. Follow 742 and signs to the parking area.
JIM CREEK TRAIL [8.0 miles out and back, ~1500ft elevation gain]: Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 50 min to complete.
- Accessed by turning off US40 into the Lakota housing area and following Arrow Trail to Forest Road 128 (FR128). There you take a right and follow the road for 1.7 miles to the parking lot for the trailhead.
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL [varying distance/elevation gain]: National Scenic Trail spanning from Mexico to Canada (or vise versa) that traverses the Continental Divide along Grand County.
- Can hike segments of the trail as day hikes or multi day hikes as the trail is essentially as long as you want it to be.
FRASER RIVER TRAIL [13.6 miles out & back, 666ft elevation gain]: Trail spanning from Winter Park Resort to the North end of the Town of Fraser along the Fraser River.
- Numerous areas to park and start. Be aware of potential closures due to construction.
DEVIL’S THUMB TRAIL [7.5 miles out and back, 2273ft elevation gain]: Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 33 min to complete.
- Entering “Devils Thumb Trailhead” into a maps app will be able to successfully get you to the trailhead.
MONARCH LAKE LOOP [4 mile loop, 278ft elevation gain]: Beautiful loop around Monarch Lake near Lake Granby and Arapahoe Bay.
- Accessed by taking US34 off US40 for 5.4mi. Turn right on to CR6 and continue for 9.6mi to trailhead parking.
GEAR UP FOR YOUR HIKE IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO
Backpacks
- Deuter Freerider 28SL
- Deuter Freerider 30
- Mountain Hardware Powabunga 3
Trekking Poles
- Leki Makalu Lite
Maps
- National Geographic Winter Park Map
- National Geographic Colorado Recreation Map
CAMPING
- There are 16 non-electric sites that will accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. Each site contains a tent pad, fire grate, and picnic table. Additional facilities provided include restrooms, trash service, and drinking water.
- Popular activities include hiking and mountain biking in the Fraser Experimental Forest, Byers Peak, and Vasquez Peak Wilderness areas, scenic driving, and wildlife viewing.
- This campground has 24 non-electric sites that will accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. Each site contains a tent pad, fire grate, and picnic table. All campsites with a tent pad have a bear locker. Additional facilities include restrooms, trash service, and drinking water.
- There are opportunities to fish in the Fraser River and hike nearby.
- Dispersed camping
- Access to hiking, fishing, and paddle sports
- 4 wheel drive/high clearance vehicle access
- Dispersed camping
- Scenic views as you ascend the variable terrain dirt road all the way to the summit overlooking Boulder County
DON’T GO WITHOUT THIS CAMPING GEAR FROM GRAVITY HAUS!
Sleeping/Lounging
- ENO DoubleNest Hammock
- Mountain Hardwear Women’s Lamina R 15 Degree Sleeping Bag
- Mountain Hardwear Lamina R 15 Degree Sleeping Bag (Regular and Long Lengths)
- Mountain Hardwear Aspect 3 Tent
- Mountain Hardwear Aspect 2 Tent
- Nemo Switchback Ultimate Sleeping Pad
Fishing
- Tenkara Fishing Kit
- Tenkara Hane Rod (10’10”)
Backpacks
- Deuter Freerider 28SL
- Deuter Freerider 30
- Mountain Hardware Powabunga 3
- Trekking Poles
- Leki Makalu Lite
Maps
- National Geographic Winter Park Map
- National Geographic Colorado Recreation Map
Camp Cooking
- Camp Chef Stryker 200 Multifuel Backpacking Stove
DISC GOLF
- This 20-hole course winds across ski runs and through the woods, so bring your A-game to this challenging on-mountain course.
- “Very wooded 18-hole public course with some tight alleys, blind baskets, up and down elevation change, few open fairways, tree marked baskets. Close to everything; restaurants, public restrooms, and bars for breaks or lunch.”
- The first tee is next to the parking lot. The first pin is over the hill directly in front of the tee, across the small gully, in the trees. It can be accessed by the trail starting 50′ to the left of the boulders on top of the hill.
- 18-hole course in the Fraser River Valley near the Grand Park Community Rec Center. Ask for a map at the gas station.
- (Course may have restrictions/complications due to local land development)
- Fun course winding through woods and meadows. Spectacular view of Rockies. Challenging, with nice long drives and lots of pines
- Starts at the trailhead in the rec district, across from Three Lakes Water and Sanitation District. Weaves through a logged area on the edge of the district’s former fire zone and loops back around to end at the trailhead.
GET OUT AND DISC GOLF WITH RENTALS FROM GRAVITY HAUS!
- Dynamic Discs Custom Gravity Haus Dynamic Discs Cadet Disc Golf Set
- Dynamic Discs Custom Gravity Haus Burst Escape – Driver
- Dynamic Discs Custom Gravity Haus Burst Emac Truth – Mid
- Dynamic Discs Custom Gravity Haus Prime Judge – Putter
