Grand Lake's winter case for "Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado"

Most of what you read about Grand Lake leans on summer: the boardwalk, the boats, the lake itself. But the town calls itself the Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado, and in deep winter that is not just a slogan. When snow covers the streets, riders run sleds right through downtown to reach the trails.

Behind that is a quiet piece of community work. Grand Lake Trail Grooming, Inc. is a volunteer-run nonprofit that grooms the network most riders depend on. By its own account it covers nearly 80 miles of trail and helps connect a system of more than 300 miles across roughly 63,000 acres, including routes near Stillwater Pass that are gentle enough for a first ride.

The part worth understanding before you go is whose land you are on. The wide-open riding sits on the Arapaho National Forest, where the Sulphur Ranger District’s motor vehicle use map shows what is open to motorized travel. One short stretch, the North Supply Access Trail, crosses a corner of Rocky Mountain National Park to link the forest with town. The Park Service allows snowmobiles there only for through-access, and the superintendent sets the open and close dates each year based on snow and wildlife.

So check the grooming report and the land rules before you load the trailer. Start at the trail groomers’ site for the latest status: grandlaketrailgroomers.com.