or 970.531.4053
Snowmobile Tours in Grand County
This is a moderately difficult, guided tour limited to 6 snowmobiles. The adventure is designed to accommodate novice snowmobile riders, people wanting to see some awesomely beautiful scenery, children at least 10 years of age traveling with an adult driver, and active seniors. The trip starts at 8,700 feet above sea level at the edge of Rocky Mountain Nation Park and travels to 10,000 feet at its highest point. We'll travel over gently sloping terrain and through woods. During the two hour duration trip we'll cover about twenty miles. You can expect an excellent guide, well maintained trails, and stunning views. To qualify, drivers must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid driver's license. Drivers and riders must be in good health and warmly dressed.
Reservations Required.
Directions to Elk Creek Campground :
At highway 40 in Granby, Colorado take Route 34 North 15 miles. Signs along the way direct you to Rocky Mountain National Park.
From the junction of Route 40 and Route 34 there's one left turn ahead in 15 miles: After driving most of the 15 miles you'll pass the Village of Grand Lake on the right, make a left turn in 2/10 ths of a mile to Elk Creek Campground, the starting point for your guided snowmobile tour. Sloopy's Grill is a good landmark for making the left turn. Also the left hand turn occurs immediately before entering Rocky Mountain National Park. Phone 970-531-4053 if you require assistance.)
Once on highway 34 you'll' pass several points of interest:
- The Colorado River passes under route 34. The original name for The Colorado River was the Grand River. The name was changed in 1921 but not until the Grand River gave its name to Grand County in Colorado and Utah, Grand Lake, The village of Grand Lake, Grand Junction, and the Grand Canyon. The entire area you'll be traveling in is known as the headwaters to the Colorado River.
- After a slight gain in elevation you'll pass Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake on the right and towards the eastern horizon you'll see some of the mountain peaks of the Continental Divide. A single snowflake that lands on the west of the Continental Divide in this area melts in the springtime and trickles its way into the Colorado River. 1,450 miles later after having journeyed though the Grand Canyon, the snowflake's journey ends in the Gulf of California in the Pacific Ocean. If you care to know more about snowflakes and their importance to Colorado, please ask your guide.
- As you near the end of your journey, you'll pass the Village of Grand Lake on your right. This village is known as the Snowmobile Capitol of Colorado. It has a distinctly western flair. Snowmobiles are welcome on village streets. When crossing a street you need to look both ways for snowmobiles as well as cars. You'll be greeted as an old friend if you visit and you'll walk on true board walks. It's a great place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Your arrival at Elk Creek Campground: Reservations are required so you'll be expected at a specified time of day. You're guaranteed a friendly greeting and, for your personal safety, you'll be fitted with a helmet. Your orientation class will include learning the basics of snowmobiling, learning the rules of the road, and learning the basics for a safe experience. Our tours are limited to 6 snowmobiles plus the guide's. Our small group guarantees that your guide can give you lots of attention.
You can expect your guide to be highly experienced in operating snowmobiles, trained in first aid and CPR, extremely safety-oriented, and knowledgeable. Despite all that he's a guide for the “fun of it.”
Description of the Two Hour Snowmobile Tour: You'll start at Elk Creek Campground (elevation 8,700 ft) bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. You'll enter the park by snowmobile on a short trail that connects to an extensive 300 miles trail system known as the Grand Lake Snowmobile Trail System. The entire trail system lies within Arapaho National Park and its trails are maintained by Grand Lake Trail Grooming, a volunteer organization.
You'll learn a lot about your snowmobile in the early part of the trip while you travel along a mostly level trail that winds through forests and passes by a few mountain homes. Then you'll gradually start to gain in elevation and begin passing stunning scenery and views – one after the other. You'll see the same lakes and Continental Divide you saw from Highway 34 from a completely different perspective. You'll see a panorama like you've never seen before and begin to understand and grasp how expansive the Colorado wilderness is.
The climax of your tour is just ahead – you'll be entering an open area (called a park) near Chicken Hill and Porphyry (pour-freeze) Peaks. You'll have traveled about ten miles and you'll have gained in elevation to the tour's highest point – about 10,000 feet. Your guide will assemble the entire group and strategize how to approach snowmobiling “in the park” and to calculate how much time is available. Up until now you've been a trail rider and restricted to traveling in a single file. Now, hundreds of acres of open land stretches before you. Still everyone is limited for safety reasons to riding at their own ability, but there's a joy and freedom in cruising around a park. You can go at your own speed but there's also a risk of getting your snowmobile stuck or tipping it over – so you'll want to stay near your guide.
Go fast. Go slow. Ride dips and bumps. Make big round turns. Some snowmobiling fun that is discouraged due to the moderate nature of this tour is racing, hill climbing, sharp turns, “doing donuts,” and “getting some air.”
Buzz. Time's up. “Where's _________?” “Over there.” Everyone is rounded up and it's time to head back to Elk Creek Campground. Be careful because the fun at the park can get in your blood and soon you will be buying a snowmobile.
After arriving back at Elk Creek campground each snowmobile is checked in, helmets are dropped off, and finally we're down to expressing our thanks to you and saying our good-byes.
Hopefully you're already looking forward to another snowmobiling outing and a hot chocolate or the libation of your choice at a fine Grand Lake establishment. Our goal is to make your trip, “the most fun you ever had in the snow.”