Best Places to Take a Spectacular Picture
Admit it, sometimes half the fun of going somewhere new is taking selfies at memorable spots. We’ve put together a list of ten of the most can’t-miss sites in Grand Lake to make sure you see and seize-the-scenery. This list will help your discover all our great and picturesque areas. Oh, and extra credit for capturing some wildlife in any of your pics. Moose, elk, and deer are frequent visitors – even right in town.
Town Park: This engaging green space about midway down Grand Avenue makes the perfect spot to capture a great view of the town’s iconic peak – Mt. Baldy. Its official name is Mt. Craig but its shape has earned it its local nickname. Frame it up so you capture that emerald green grass of the park, a little of downtown and the mountains behind you.
Historic downtown Grand Lake: The town of Grand Lake looks like something out of a Wild West movie so you’ll want to document this scene. Stand at the very end of Grand Avenue (our main drag) where it comes to a ‘T’ and capture this quintessential western scene with the boardwalk and store fronts.
THEM DIRTY ROSES
Born and raised in the Bama clay, these boys are as southern as they come. Taught how to bend a string and break a heart by Skynyrd and Hank, brothers James and Frank Ford along with their hometown friends Andrew Davis and Ben Crain formed the southern rock band known as Them Dirty Roses. Piling into an RV with their belongings, their instruments, and all the whiskey they could carry (in the cooler), they made their way from Gadsden, AL to Nashville, TN. All living all under one roof, Them Dirty Roses are a living example of the quintessential rock and roll American Dream. Their live show calls for a shot of whiskey and a 2 for 1 special — BUT what that really means is you better be ready to throw back 12 for 6 and shake it with Them Dirty Roses.
Adams Falls: Keep going to the end of Portal Road to find the trailhead for Adams Falls. This magnificent 55-foot waterfall can be seen in its full glory after just a short hike. You won’t be able to resist selfie after selfie with this powerful falls behind you. The trail continues on beyond the falls, if you want a longer hike. *
North Inlet Trail: On the way back towards town, take the first right off Portal Road. Follow it up a semi-steep dirt road to the North Inlet trailhead on the right. This trail goes toward Cascade Falls – another great selfie-spot – but here we’re looking for magnificent meadows. These wide-open-spaces make an amazing backdrop. The North Inlet trail was partially burned by the East Troublesome fire, but it’s still a great selfie hike – just make sure to stay on trail in the burn scar. You’ll hike out of the burn about 2 miles from the trail head.
Rainbow Bridge: Now wind over to Rainbow Bridge on Cairns Road.Named for its curved shape, this bridge spans the channel between Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake. Stand in the center of the bridge with Mt. Baldy behind you in the distance for a spectacular shot.
Point Park: Around the corner from the bridge, find Point Park for a different look at Mt. Baldy framed by the shimmering deep-blue waters of Grand Lake. Don’t selfie-and-run here, take a moment to sit on the bench and savor this view and really pleasant park. Simply gorgeous.
Grand Lake Lodge: The century-old lodge was once park of Rocky Mountain National Park. Now it is a separate entity within town limits. Their patio offers simply-the-best elevated, panoramic view of the lakes and surrounding mountains. Truly awe-inspiring selfie-magic here!
Rocky Mountain National Park entrance sign: Established in 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park is the third most visited park in the country. Use this iconic wooden welcome sign as your backdrop for an Americana classic vacation photo.
Proud of your Grand Lake selfie? Make sure to tag us @gograndlake for a chance at a feature on our page!