Magical Winter fun abounds with our big lawn and additional land from the lake receding for the Winter months we have a huge snow playground. At an elevation of 8296’ and average annual snowfall of 129” this is the perfect place for your family or group to have hours of fun playing in the snow. Build snow families, make snow sculptures, igloos, or have an epic snowball challenge. Our balcony offers a perfect view for watching the fun during the day and the stars at night. The abundant wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and stunning sunsets can make it very hard for people to put their cameras down
Downhill skiing and snowboarding are available at two locations near North Shore Lodge, both offer lessons and equipment rental. Granby Ranch is only 15 miles and has 406 skiable acres with 1000 vertical feet, 6 lifts, and a top elevation of 9202’. An easy 30-mile drive will get you to Winter Park Resort. They are the three-time winner of the #1 ski resort in North America by readers of USA Today. See for yourself as you explore the 3081 skiable acres with 3060 vertical feet, 21 lifts, and a top elevation of 12060’.
The “Great Lakes of Colorado” are made up of six alpine lakes. They are Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, Lake Granby, Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Reservoir, and Meadow Creek Reservoir. All of these lakes are part of the headwaters of the Colorado River and are great for ice fishing. Lake Granby is the biggest and is right outside our back door allowing guests to ride snowmobiles and ATVs onto the lake from our property. There are tackle shops with rental equipment and guides are also available. Ice fishing tournaments and contests are held in January, February, and March with cash prizes up to $10,000!
Tubing and sledding are fun for the entire family. Places that have tow ropes to get you to the top include Fraser Tubing Hill, Colorado Adventure Park, and Coca Cola Tubing Hill at Winter Park Resort. Grand Lake Nordic Center and Snow Mountain Ranch also have tubing hills.
Snowshoeing is a great way to explore in the Winter months. It is easy, fun and a great activity to do with the entire family. Snowshoe right from our lawn to explore Lake Granby’s shoreline, and the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Just a short drive and you can snowshoe in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Kawuneeche visitor center is open year-round. North Shore Lodge has snowshoes for our guests to use for free.
Nordic Skiing options in this area offer some of the most secluded and quiet places with amazing scenery and wildlife. If you are an experienced racer or just wanting to learn, there are trails and terrain to match your ability. Come take an easy one hour lesson and learn classic or skate skiing, or go into the backcountry with a six-hour lesson in alpine touring. Once the lake is frozen you can ski out onto the lake from North Shore Lodge.
Hot springs may be just what you need after a day of winter fun. Just 20 miles away is one of the nation’s oldest, largest and finest natural hot mineral springs. There are over 200,000 gallons of natural hot mineral-rich water flowing through their 21 pools and baths every day. Treat yourself with raindrop therapy, hot rock massage, Swedish relaxation massage, deep tissue massage or one of many other massage techniques
Experience the magic of a horse-drawn sleigh ride in a winter wonderland. Go dashing through the snow on a group ride or schedule a private ride for your family. Cuddle up close with that special someone for a romantic evening ride for two. You can even go on a dog sled tour!
Explore Grand County in a hot air balloon only 25 miles from North Shore Lodge. As you gently lift-off and gracefully ascend you become one with the wind, losing sensations of movement and height perception, and begin to feel the peacefulness and tranquility of ballooning. Floating over this beautiful landscape and taking in the mesmerizing views of snow-covered peaks, alpine lakes, and abundant wildlife is something you will always remember.
Scenic flight tours are available less than twelve miles from North Shore Lodge. Photograph the magnificent beauty of the Rocky Mountains and Continental Divide from above. Fly over Byers Peak, Longs Peak, Parry Peak, Indian Peaks, and several high alpine lakes. Flights are available for 20, 40 and 60-minute tours
With more than a thousand miles of trails to explore in Grand County, there is terrain for every skill level. There are unguided rentals, guided tours, and even mini-snowmobiles for kids ages 4-12. Explore routs through the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest. Ride the continental divide at 12000 ft. for the best views and photo opportunities. Check out the popular Rabbit Ears Pass, Buffalo Pass, Stillwater Pass, and the Grand Lake Town Trail. If you have your own snowmobiles we have plenty of room for trailer parking.
During the winter, Rocky Mountain National Park is open for ten miles to the Colorado River Trailhead. The drive along the South shore of Lake Granby offers beautiful lake scenery, several islands, mountain peaks, and a great chance at spotting moose around Arapaho Bay. The Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway begins just above Grand Lake and follows the Colorado River for 80 miles ending in State Bridge. Check with us in the office for many more scenic drive recommendations and maps.
Bring some binoculars and your camera because there is an abundance of wildlife in Grand County. Some of the most popular are moose, elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, mountain goats, pronghorn, bald eagles, bobcats, lynx and fox. Moose are easy to spot along the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley all winter. They can also be found on Stillwater Pass and near Arapaho Bay. Moose, elk, deer, and fox are frequently on the lawn at North Shore Lodge.
Rocky Mountain National Park is open on the west side for ten miles. The Onahu, Bower/Baker, Timber Lake, and Colorado River Trailheads as well as the Holzwarth Historic Site all remain accessible during the winter months.