From Yampa River to Lake Granby, Sunset Point Campground near Rocky Mountain National Park

Sunset Point Campground, Near Granby, CO

We enjoyed our two days at Yampa River State Park…it was quieter on Monday than on Sunday, which itself was very quiet.  Weekends are busy…weekdays are not, and those who did not leave on Sunday, departed on Monday only leaving about 10% of the park occupied, with another 5% arriving Monday for a night or two. 

Had a bit of rain Monday afternoon…leaving a great sunset opportunity which I took advantage of.

  

Earlier in the afternoon, I sat outside looking for Osprey…but instead found Pelican and Heron flaying around just before the rain hit.

I am glad we stayed two nights at Yampa River State Park…it now gives us the opportunity to stay in the Grand Lakes region for two weeks, which will put us through past Labor Day.

Our 130 mile journey today took us along the Yampa River…

  

Through Steamboat Springs…

And up over 9,200 feet just east of Steamboat Springs.  A little bit of construction, along with a few stretches of 2nd gear, 30 mph speeds (for us, not others who passed us), and we made it over Rabbit Ears Pass.

Through a narrow canyon, a quick turn onto US Highway 34, and we arrived at Lake Granby nearly 3 hours after leaving Yampa River State Park..  Hoping to get a spot at Sunset Point Campground, a first come, first in type of national forest campground, and we would have it made…and we scored on of the last spots that could fit us in.  Well, there were two others which were “double” spots, or “group” spots…at $48 per night…no thank you.  But there were two which would fit us, and we took one of them…$12 with the National Park Senior Pass!  SCORE!!!!!

   

There are many National Forest Campgrounds in and around the Granby-Grand Lakes area.  The largest, Stillwater Campground, has around 130 camping sites, many available through reservations.  The drawback is, they cut down the trees a few years ago due to the pine beetle epidemic.

On the far side of the lake from us, you can see the RVs camping at Stillwater.  Good views, but there is something about having a few trees to enhance your camping experience.  Another thing about Sunset, it is closer to Granby, which means closer to the store—a nice Kroger City Market store--only 8 miles away from us.

Lake Granby (Reservoir) was created in 1950 by the creation of the dam.  The lake formed is the third largest lake in Colorado, with 40 miles of shoreline, a depth of over 200 feet.  Unlike most dams, the water is not released just at the dam…much of it is pumped out at the Farr Pump plant on the north side, far end of the above picture, where the water is pumped into the Shadow Mountain Lake, which is connected to the Grand Lake, the largest natural lake in Colorado.  This water is pumped through the 13 mile long, nearly 10 foot in diameter, Alva B. Adams Tunnel, through the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountain National Park, to the east side of the Rockies where 80% of the population lives.  This project, which includes ten other dams and reservoirs, was called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, named after the Big and Little Thompson Rivers.  Constructed between 1938 and 1957, with a break in construction during WW2, the project was completed.  The river that runs into and out of Lake Granby is the Colorado River.

Most likely we will stay at Sunset Point for two weeks, the full 14 days that they will allow…this will get us through the Labor Day weekend.  From here we will take the car on a few trips, especially into the Rocky Mountain National Park…the Grand Lake Entrance is only 18 miles from here…although the eastern entrance near Estes Park is 75 miles away…it will make for a long travel day, that is for sure…but we are use to that.