RMNP’s Holzwarth Historic Site

Greetings from Grand Lake! Hope everyone had a good 4th of July!

This week’s featured Rocky Mountain National Park hike is actually more than a hike – it’s an entire historical site. The Holzwarth Historic Site is located in the Kawuneeche Valley on the west side of the park, about 7 miles north of Grand Lake. To find the Holzwarth Historic Site, take Trail Ridge Road (Highway 34) into the park and watch for the Holzwarth Historic Site signs:

HolzworthRoadSign

The parking and lot and trailhead feature a large sign to identify the historic site, as well as an old miner’s cabin that still stands after all these years. This particular cabin was built in 1902, though the owner abandoned the homestead in 1911 and was never heard from again.

HolzworthCabinSign

The actual Holzwarth Historic Site is a quick hike from the trailhead and across the valley, just over a half-mile each way. The hike is an easy one, with wide smooth trails and relatively no elevation change.

HolzworthTrail

About halfway across the valley, the trail crosses a bridge over the Colorado River. This river is the largest in the southwest, and provides water to millions of Americans. In the high elevations of Rocky Mountain National Park, however, the river is still only a small headwaters stream.

HolzworthRiver

The trail rounds a corner into a wooded area on the edge of the valley, where the Holzwarth Historic Site stands.

HolzworthCabin1

The site began as a homestead and cattle ranch in 1917 by one John Holzwarth, Sr. Holzwarth was a saloonkeeper in Denver until prohibition was enacted, at which point he decided to move his family to the mountains.

Holzwarth selected a prime homestead location along the river in the Kawuneeche Valley, which was right on the western edge of the newly established Rocky Mountain National Park. The ranch increasingly attracted park visitors as well as old guests from Holzwarth’s saloon days. Soon, the family began operating the ranch as more of a guest lodge, eventually coming to be known as the Holzwarth Trout Lodge.

HolzworthCabins2

Several cabins are built around the site, including the main lodge, guest cabins, a tent cabin, and even a taxidermist’s workshop (Mr. Holzwarth was an accomplished taxidermist in his day).

HolzworthCabins3

Visitors are invited to tour the historic site inside and out. Park rangers are also standing by to give tours and answer questions. The entire historic site provides a unique glimpse into a rugged lifestyle now nearly a century old.

HolzworthWash

HolzworthStill

Some of Mr. Holzwarth’s taxidermy work is on display in the cabins as well, with trophy deer, elk, and other animals mounted on the walls.

HolzworthDeerMounts

Of course, be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife while visiting the Holzwarth Historic Site, especially as you hike the trail through the Kawuneeche Valley. Deer, elk, moose, and even antelope can frequently be spotted grazing in the valley meadows.

Rocky Mountain National Park’s Holzwarth Historic Site is a beautiful family-friendly hike, as well as a unique trip through time back to the frontier days of the park. It’s also just 7 miles from Grand Lake, so after your day trip to the park, please come enjoy a little Grand Lake hospitality with us!

To contact the Grand Lake Chamber, call 970-627-3402