Arapaho National Recreation Area in Colorado, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-23. Check linked official notices before travel.

Arapaho National Recreation Area is a Forest Service recreation area around five reservoirs in Grand County, Colorado. Plan your visit around a specific lake and access site. Motorboat access differs by reservoir, and the Stillwater boat ramp is closed because of low water.

Highlights around the reservoirs

• Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Reservoir allow motorized and nonmotorized boats, subject to launch rules.
• Willow Creek, Meadow Creek, and Monarch Lake reservoirs allow nonmotorized boats only.
• Pine Beach offers a small picnic stop on Shadow Mountain Reservoir, with views across the water.

Know before you choose a lake

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for mountain weather and limited service

Carry food, water, and clothing for cold or wet weather. Do not depend on cellular service for navigation or payment. Before boating, check the launch and inspection schedule for your reservoir; permission to use a lake does not mean every ramp is operating.

Use the correct launch and fee area

Motorboats may launch only at designated ramps while inspectors are present. Keep food and trash secured under the Forest Service food-storage rules. Take waste home and protect vegetation beside the trails.

A pass is separate from a campsite

The official ANRA activity pass pays for designated fee-area access; it does not hold a parking space. When camping reopens, Arapaho Bay uses reservations, while Sunset Point normally assigns sites on arrival. Check each campground's status before arranging an overnight visit.

Navigating from Granby and Grand Lake

US 34 links Granby with the lake corridor toward Grand Lake. Pine Beach is reached from a turnoff north of Granby; Arapaho Bay uses County Road 6 on Lake Granby's eastern side. Use the fee-area maps on the Forest Service recreation-area page to choose the correct entrance and pass coverage.

Nearby parks

Rocky Mountain National Park has a separate entrance near Grand Lake on US 34. State Forest State Park is a farther regional drive through Granby and the Highway 125 corridor toward Highway 14. Do not rely on a cross-park drive over Trail Ridge Road in winter; that road closes seasonally.

Plan a waterside day

Choose Pine Beach for a picnic or shoreline fishing, then check the permitted boating type if you bring a craft. Hiking and wildlife watching provide alternatives to a boat launch. For a first visit, select one access site before adding another reservoir; the area is spread across several separate roads.

Services depend on the access site

Pine Beach Picnic Site has picnic tables, vault toilets, and parking for about ten vehicles. It has no potable water. Do not transfer those facilities to every lakeshore stop, or rely on services inside a closed campground.

About the national recreation area

A federal recreation designation

Congress established Arapaho National Recreation Area in 1978. It covers about 35,000 acres in the upper Colorado River Valley. Grand Lake borders the recreation area; it is distinct from the five reservoirs within it.

Observe without approaching

Wildlife watching is a listed recreation activity. The surrounding Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests also support black bears and moose. Keep your distance and leave animals an escape route. Keep dogs controlled rather than allowing them to approach wildlife.

Contact the Forest Service

For the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests visitor information service, call 970-295-6600 or email [email protected]. Ask about the specific lake, ramp, or campground you intend to use.