Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Grand Lake (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Kauffman House, Grand Lake, and North Inlet Trail. Also, be sure to include Grand Lake Marina in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Grand Lake (Colorado).
Table of Contents
Kauffman House
Museum in Grand Lake, Colorado. The Kauffman House is a rustic log house in Grand Lake, Colorado that functioned as a hotel from its construction in 1892 to 1973. It was built by Ezra Kauffman, a local prospector, trapper and builder of log structures who operated it as a hotel until his death in 1920 at age 71. It was then operated as a summer hotel by his widow and daughters until World War II.
The log structure is built of timber cut, sawn and hauled by Ezra Kauffman. The logs were sawn on three sides and left rounded on the outside. Inside walls were lined with metal and a muslin facing, with wallpaper pasted to the fabric in most rooms, with colored fabric left exposed in some rooms. Oilcloth was used on the kitchen walls and ceiling. The logs were laid on a stone foundation. Gables are finished in fish-scale shingles. The house featured an indoor water supply fed from a galvanized tank in the attic, which was filled from a hand pump at the lakeshore. Water was hauled by hand in the winter.
In 1946 the Kauffmans sold the house to Henry Rhone who operated it until 1973, when the Grand Lake Historical Society purchased the house for use as a museum. It is the only pre-20th century log hotel remaining in Grand Lake.
The Kauffman House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 21, 1974.[1]
Address: 407 Pitkin Street, Grand Lake
Grand Lake
Lake in Colorado. Grand Lake is Colorado's largest and deepest natural lake. It is located in the headwaters of the Colorado River in Grand County, Colorado. On its north shore is located the historic and eponymous town of Grand Lake. The lake was formed during the Pinedale glaciation, which occurred from 30000 BP to 10000 BP. The glacial terminal moraine created a natural dam. Natural tributaries to the lake are the North Inlet and East Inlet, both of which flow out of Rocky Mountain National Park, which surrounds the lake on three sides. Grand Lake is located 1 mile from the Park's western entrance. Grand Lake was named Spirit Lake by the Ute Tribe because they believed the lake's cold waters to be the dwelling place of departed souls.[2]
North Inlet Trail
The North Inlet Trail, in Rocky Mountain National Park near Grand Lake, Colorado, was built up from lesser pathways and rebuilt during 1926 to 1931 into its course that mostly continues to today. The trail runs from the North Inlet feeder into Grand Lake, up 11.5 miles to Flattop Mountain. Part or all of it has also been known as Grand Lake Trail, and as Flattop Trail. A 2.8 mile spur trail called Nokoni-Nanita Spur is also included.
Allison van V. Dunn, an NPS landscape architect of the National Park Service, arrived in 1929 and oversaw the final years of rebuilding.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[3]
Grand Lake Marina
Sailing, Marina
Address: 1246 Lake Ave, Grand Lake
Grand Lake Yacht Club
Yacht club in Grand Lake, Colorado. Grand Lake Yacht Club or GLYC has been claimed to be the world's highest registered yacht club. Located at 8,269 feet in elevation, on Grand Lake, it serves the town of Grand Lake, Colorado as a private club. Beginning in 1902 by entrepreneurs from Denver, it soon grew to its current location on Grand Lake's northern shore.
The clubhouse is three floors serving the needs of the sailing school, sailing meetings and a place to eat. GLYC hosts an annual Regatta Week where E Scows, M-20, M-16, M-17 and Laser sailboats race for a plethora of cups. In Regatta Week, the members also compete in several other competitions including wakeboarding, water skiing, and swimming races. On the last day of Regatta Week, the members go to the Commodore's Ball where they celebrate the good year at Grand Lake.
Most of the members have houses on the lake with boathouses and several types of boats. Because of the Lodgepole Pine epidemic, Grand Lake's shores have become more and more barren due to the removal of the dead trees. GLYC is a great place to learn how to sail and to become acquainted with Grand Lake's elite.
Denver architect Aaron Gove, who had a house in the area, was recruited to design a clubhouse, and did so for no fee.
The Lake Granby Yacht Club, at 8,280 feet (2,520 m) on nearby Lake Granby (reservoir created in 1950), claims to be higher.[4]