Grand Lake Colorado
Traveling to Grand Lake area next summer in a Class A which I have not driven it in the mountains yet...Coming from Omaha, NE. via I-80 and considering going to Laramie Wy. then head south via hwy 230...
Forum Discussion
4runnerguy wrote:agesilaus wrote:
I'll have to say that RMNP is somewhat disappointing in the things to do category when compared to other major parks. I was expecting more on the west side but it wasn't there. This is especially aggravating since you can see all those fascinating valleys that cannot be accessed unless you are a tough 40 mile backpacker. Which few of us are.
Grand Lake and the other towns along there are basically strip mall tourist traps. It's a fair drive to get into RMNP from there too.
As has been noted before, the east (Estes Park) side of RMNP, while way more crowded, has a lot more in the way of short and intermediate length trails. If the altitude isn't too much for the OP, on the west side I would recommend the 10 mile round trip hike to Mt. Ida. As spectacular as anything on the east side.
What gateway town to any of our national parks isn't pretty touristed? West Yellowstone, Gatlinburg YN, Jackson WY, Springdale and Moab UT are some other examples. I actually find Grand Lake to be a throwback to an earlier era, kind of like Estes Park was 40 or 50 years ago.
As for the OP's question, yes, the route through Laramie is definitely less of a pull than going through Denver. Going I-70 to US 40 to Grand Lake entails two pretty good grades. The first 10 miles up I-70 past Golden is a relatively steep grade with lots of traffic buzzing by you. Then the climb over Berthoud Pass will test your rig once again.
^^^^^^^^^^ I AGREE ^^^^^^^^^^^
