Explore Miles of Groomed and Single-Track Trails on Skate and Classic Skis Throughout Grand County's Rocky Mountains!

Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, has deep roots in Grand County. Early settlers in the area used what many now refer to as "skinny skis" for transportation in the long winter months but soon developed a love of exploring the Rocky Mountains on skis, with reports of cross-country skiing for recreation dating back to the late 1800s. Hot Sulphur Spring's first Winter Carnival in 1911 included cross-country skiing as an event and marked what many deemed the beginning of the ski industry in Colorado. 

It's easy to see why Nordic skiing grew from simply a means of transport to a beloved pastime. If you're looking to…

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Planning a Stress-free Thanksgiving Dinner? Dine-In or Order To-Go at One of Our Local Favorites!

Whether you're visiting or call the Fraser Valley your home, Thanksgiving week has so much to offer if you find yourself in Grand County for the laid-back holiday. With the ski area open and in full swing, tubing and sledding hills ready to welcome guests, and enough snow on the ground to get out for a cross-country ski or snowmobile ride, opportunities to play outside are around every corner. Events like the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Cooper Creek Square Celebration of Lights, Winter Park Resort's Holiday Tree Lighting, Granby's Parade of Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting, and Grand Lake's Annual Tree Lighting give off those festive vibes as…

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Amtrak Winter Park Express: Expanded Routes, More Frequent Trips, and New Destinations This Season

An Extended Service with New Destinations and More Frequency WINTER PARK, Colo. — The Amtrak Winter Park Express is back with an expanded schedule to meet the increasing demand for train travel to Colorado’s mountains. Starting this December, the Express will offer special holiday runs, then ramp up to five-day-a-week service in January, providing 69 round trips this season—29 more than last year. The Winter Park Express connects Denver and the Fraser Valley, conveniently serving both skiers and non-skiers seeking a scenic and stress-free alternative to mountain driving.

Seasonal Schedule and Destinations

The Winter Park Express kicks off with…

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Take Advantage of Favorite Fall Activities in the Mountains of Grand County!

When cool, crisp days start to replace the heat of summer, we know winter is just around the corner. And as excited as we are for the snowy season and the lifts to start turning, fall in Grand County is truly one of our favorite times of year. Smoke drifts out of chimneys, frosty green grass greets us in the mornings, snow settles on the tops of peaks, and aspens burst with vibrant gold, orange, and red. Life seems to slow down a little, making space to take advantage of outdoor adventure in cooler temps and soak in all the fall color. So that you can truly get the most out of this beautiful time of year, we've put together ten of the best ways to experience autumn here in…

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Grand Adventure Hot Air Balloon Tours: Birds-Eye Views of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park over the Fraser Valley 

It never gets old catching a glimpse of a hot air balloon floating over the Fraser Valley with Byers Peak or the Continental Divide in the background. If you're an early riser, you've likely seen one in flight as it rises up to catch the sunrise and meander around above our little Rocky Mountain towns here in Grand County. We know there's all the talk about views from mountain properties, but a 360-degree view from thousands of feet up in the sky? There's no home or vacant land on the market that can offer that genuinely special experience! 

You can get a birds-eye look at the beauty of the Fraser Valley with…

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Planning a Camping Trip in Grand County? Get to Know All the Best Campgrounds and Dispersed Camping in the Area!

Unobstructed stars filling the night sky, the dull glow of a campfire, and that connection to nature that only comes with a night spent camping in Grand County's Rocky Mountains - those are summer (and fall!) goals for mountain living. Pair that with access to lakes, rivers, forests, and trails steps from your campground, and life really doesn't get much better. 

Access to the best  "car camping" here in the Winter Park area is abundant. Whether you're looking to secure a coveted established campsite well in advance; roll in to take your chances on a first come, first served site at one of the many campgrounds; or set up camp in an…

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Embrace Summer in the Mountains with Some of Our Favorite Grand County Date Nights!

Dinner and a movie is a tried and true date night - our small towns have plenty of amazing options for dinner and even a movie theater. But the outdoor adventures and unique opportunities here in Grand County make it easy to get creative with a night out, especially in the summer. We've put together a few of our favorites to help you spice things up or really impress on that first date! 

FRASER RIVER TRAIL TO WINTER PARK RESORT

Take an easy ride or stroll on the paved Fraser River Trail from downtown Winter Park to Winter Park Resort. The gentle, rolling trail weaves along the Fraser River through thick forested areas and the Idlewild Campground. When you make…

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Showtime! Rocky Mountain Repertory Brings the Magic of Live, Professional Theater to the Stage in Grand Lake

Grand Lake's summertime charm is undeniable. Whether you're out on the scenic alpine lake, sitting shoreside, hiking, exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, or enjoying the old-fashioned boardwalk on Grand Avenue with an ice cream in hand, you're sure to be feeling the summer vibes in Grand County's quaint little town. 

And with the longer, warmer days comes theatre season in Grand Lake. Most don't typically equate small mountain towns with a lively arts scene, but the Grand Lake's Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre brings "big city" productions to our little idyllic gateway-to-the-national-park town. The level of production is on par with…

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Sweet Mountain Summer: Top 10 Ways to Take Advantage of Warmer Weather + Longer Days in Grand County

We're sure you've heard it before - when it comes to Grand County, people "come for the winter and stay for the summer." There's no question that Winter Park is known for its deep powder, epic resort & backcountry skiing, and wealth of winter fun, but the secret is out: summer in the mountains is about as good as it gets. Ideal temperatures, opportunities for adventure in every direction, and fun, free events all summer long make the short but oh-so-sweet season yet another reason we love calling this place home. 

And if you're looking to get the most out of your summer in the mountains, be sure to check out these top 10 summer activities in…

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Hit the Trails this Spring: Where to Ride Early-Season

As skiing winds down for the season and our winter's worth of snow continues to melt, we start to hang up our skis and tune up our bikes to hit the trails this summer. We can always take a spring bike trip to Fruita or Moab to get some pedaling in before peak season here in Grand County, but there are also some sweet spots for spring riding right in our backyard! The Phases in Tabernash and Granby Ranch's cross-country trails are some of the first trails to melt and dry out each spring. 

THE PHASES

This south-facing network of trails minutes off Highway 40 in Tabernash has been a long-time local favorite for spring riding. The sun exposure the area gets allows the Phases be the first…

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