Grand Lake Colorado
We're interested in returning to Rocky Mountain National Park, but maybe staying in the Grand Lake area rather than Estes Park. Any recommendations on campgrounds in the Grand Lake area. I would love ...
Forum Discussion
As a Colorado resident with a 5th wheel, I also prefer the "quieter" side of RMNP. Last fall, we stayed at the Stillwater cg for most of a week when the aspen were changing. We drove into the park every morning and afternoon for "golden hour" photos of the trees and scenery. But we have Federal senior passes, so there was no cost involved with our many visits. One night we had a very enjoyable dinner inside the park at the Grand Lake Lodge.
But I also have a personal reason for my preference for the west side over the east side of RMNP. I spent the entire summer of 1967 living in a government trailer and surveying USFS roads all over Middle Park. In fact, I was on the crew that surveyed the current road alignment into the Arapaho Bay campground and Monarch Lake. Unfortunately, with most of the lodgepoles cut down due to the bark beetle epidemic, that whole area looks very different today. But I still love to hike and fish at Monarch Lake--one of my favorite places in the state--just like I did 50 years ago!
But I also have a personal reason for my preference for the west side over the east side of RMNP. I spent the entire summer of 1967 living in a government trailer and surveying USFS roads all over Middle Park. In fact, I was on the crew that surveyed the current road alignment into the Arapaho Bay campground and Monarch Lake. Unfortunately, with most of the lodgepoles cut down due to the bark beetle epidemic, that whole area looks very different today. But I still love to hike and fish at Monarch Lake--one of my favorite places in the state--just like I did 50 years ago!
