the wandering chick
...the Arapaho Natl Recreation Area
Lake Granby and Monarch Lake
Still asleep, Granby Lake is quiet and still on an early weekday morning.

The Arapaho National Recreation Area covers 36,000 acres of water. It includes five major lakes, the largest being Lake Granby. Boating, fishing, hiking and camping are the main attractions. The lakes are spread out, but all are in close proximity to Lake Granby and within the Arapaho National Forest in the Colorado River Valley just south of the Rocky Mountain Natl Park.

I was on a day trip to Grand Lake and the west side of the RMNP with I was stopped dead in my tracks by the beauty of Lake Granby. I knew I wouldn't be able to do both in one day, so I took a few shots of Lake Granby and made plans to come back on another day to explore more.

So, on the second trip I detoured off of U.S. 34 onto County Road 6. I didn't know where it went exactly other than it seemed to be following the lower portion of Lake Granby, which I learned, turned into Arapaho Bay. Over the dam I went on this well-packed dirt road. After 9 miles, I came to an ANRA campground and Lake Monarch.

Before I knew it, I had completed the 4-mile loop hike around Monarch Lake.

This was a whole new area to me, and if you've got a couple extra days after doing Rocky Mtn NP, I'd suggest a day or two in this area. There are six camprounds (developed), five boat launches, seven picnic areas and 28 miles of hiking trails including a portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.  

Lake Granby near the highway
Lake Granby
Lake Granby
Lake Granby
Lake Granby
Lake Granby
Lake Granby
These surrounding photos were taken from the west shore of Lake Granby, looking east toward the Front Range of the Rockies.
Arapaho Bay
Arapaho Bay
County Road 6 hugs the shoreline of Lake Granby and the more narrow Arapaho Bay on the south side.
Arapaho Bay narrows into a stream
Arapaho Bay
Along the County Road 6 as Arapaho Bay plays out.
Looking across Lake Granby toward RMNP
the far end of Arapaho Bay
Looking across Lake Granby toward RMNP
Looking across Lake Granby toward the mountains of Rocky Mountain NP
Lake Granby shoreline
Lake Granby's south shoreline is covered in white daisies.
white daisies, closeup
closeup of rock of many colors
This rock on the south shore of Lake Granby had so many wonderful colors in it, I had to take a picture.
Lake Granby shoreline
Osprey in flight
Osprey nest on telephone pole
Osprey nests are quite common in this area. This adult osprey above was coming in for a landing with food in its clutches for the baby (left). (The 'baby' looks old enough to me to start getting his own food! What, is he going to live at home forever?? And he also needs to clean up his room!)
the land around Lake Granby
Lake Monarch
The countryside looking east toward the Front Range, with my back to Lake Granby
This is the view of Lake Monarch with the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the background. Even when I started out on the hike around the lake, I hadn't planned on doing the whole thing. But the weather was so perfect as were the views, I just kept walking.
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
A stream flows through the marshland of the back part of Monarch Lake. It's here that moose are often seen. Too bad it wasn't my day for seeing one.
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
The north side of Monarch Lake obviously, at one time, experienced a huge landslide. For a good quarter of a mile, the path is up against large boulders and rocks (but not enough to impede the walk).
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake
Monarch Lake

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