Button up for cold-weather adventures in Grand County

By Eric Peterson

Beyond Berthoud Pass, Grand County is a short drive from Denver but a world away, and a mecca for winter sports of all kinds. Whether you’re a snowmobiler, skier, snowboarder or tuber, there are plenty of places to get out on the snow and do your thing. And when it comes to après-ski (or après-anything else), there are plenty of breweries and distilleries to choose from in the towns of Winter Park, Fraser, Granby and Grand Lake.

SNOWSHOEING

There are several good snowshoeing trails in the Kawuneeche Valley near Grand Lake on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, including Green Mountain Trail, 2.5 miles north of the western park entrance. Rangers offer guided walks (snowshoes provided) on Saturdays and Sundays from January to March.

SNOWMOBILING IN GRAND LAKE

Grand Lake, a.k.a. “The Snowmobiling Capital of Colorado,” sits at the heart of a network of 300 miles of snowmobile trails. Grand Adventures offers guided and self-guided trips out of Grand Lake as well as Fraser and Winter Park. Just north of Grand Lake, On the Trail Rentals rents snowmobiles with easy access to the Stillwater OHV Trail System.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

With about 75 miles of groomed tails, Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa has earned countless accolades as one of the top cross-country resorts in the nation. Located near the town of Tabernash, the main lodge has guest rooms and several dining options, and there are also cabins and guest houses. Beyond the trails, the resort also offers snowshoeing and snowcat tours along with sleigh rides.

YMCA of the Rockies’ Snow Mountain Ranch has about 50 miles of groomed trails at its 5,100-acre property between Granby and Fraser. Lodging comes in the form of yurts, cabins and lodge rooms.

TUBING

A Grand County tradition, the Historic Fraser Tubing Hill has been owned and operated by the same family since 1971. The lift-served hill offers tube and helmet rentals.

t’s open every day all winter long; kids 3 to 6 can ride with an adult, and those 7 to 17 must be with someone 18 or older.

DOWNHILL SKIING

Located 67 miles northwest of the metro area, Winter Park Resort is the nearest destination ski resort to Denver. It’s notably large by all measures, with 3,081 skiable acres and 3,060 vertical feet on two distinct mountains, Winter Park and Mary Jane. A total of 28 lifts serve 171 trails for all skill levels. There are plenty of lodging options at and around the base areas and in the towns of Winter Park and Fraser.

Following in the tradition of the Ski Train, Amtrak’s Winter Park Express connects Union Station in downtown Denver with the base area on weekends from January to March.

A smaller, more economical downhill skiing option is located north of Winter Park at Granby Ranch, with about 40 trails on 400 acres with 1,000 feet of vertical. There’s also a cross-country trail network.

OFF THE SNOW DRINK OPTIONS

Big Trout Brewing (50 Vasquez Rd., Winter Park)
Located in Cooper Creek Square, Big Trout Brewing has shared its positive vibe with locals and tourists since 2020. Among its lineup of beers are two award winners: the Alpine Lake IPA, which won silver at the 2023 Colorado State Fair, and the Hickory Hill Raspberry Wheat, which took home a bronze at the State Fair in 2024.
Locally sourced meats, smoked in house, contribute to a menu that consists of salads, small bites and pizzas, as well as pot roast, smoked pork, rice bowls and more.
As a High Efficiency Brew House, which conserves water and other brewing materials, the locally owned brewery regularly offers more than a dozen choices from its taps. Beyond beer and food, expect taproom fundraisers for local charities and live music on Mondays.

Hideaway Park Brewery (78927 U.S. 40, Winter Park)
Named for the area’s first settlement, Hideaway Park Brewery is known for its IPAs and Skate Juice, an inventive malt liquor that won silver at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival.

Vicious Cycle Brewing (751 S. Zerex St., Fraser)
With both crushable and big beers, Vicious Cycle leans into outdoor recreation and events with a Run Club and regular trivia nights.

Camber Brewing Company (365 Zerex St., Fraser)
Established in 2018, Camber Brewing makes a nice range of craft beers and seltzers. The taproom is home to Colorado Corndog Co. (which serves more than corndogs).

Fraser River Beer Company (218 E. Eisenhower Dr., Fraser)
Since 2019, this colorful brewery has crafted a menu of beers, kombuchas and seltzers, as well as a homemade root beer.

Never Summer Brewing Company (62 E. Agate Ave., Granby)
This dog-friendly taproom has emerged as a local favorite in downtown Granby by serving beers like Big Ice Hole Double IPA and Whistle Pig American Wheat Bier.

Idlewild Spirits (78737 U.S. 40, #1000, Winter Park)
Founded in 2015, Idlewild uses Colorado grains and water from Vasquez Creek in its whiskey, bourbon, gin, and other spirits. The onsite restaurant and bar serves a variety of craft cocktails and creative small plates.

Fraser Valley Distilling (410 Zerex St., Fraser)
Established in 2018, this craft distillery makes a wide array of spirits, and the bar makes no less than seven varieties of the old-fashioned. It also serves a full menu with starters, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas.

Winter Park Winery (395 Zerex St., Fraser)
Every year, this winery brings in more than 20 tons of grapes to produce a variety of wines that are available in its tasting room.

Eric Peterson is a freelance writer based in Denver. His website is rambleguides.com.

This story appeared in our January-February print issue of Thirst Colorado magazine. Flip through the full digital magazine here, or find a copy at one of these fine establishments around Colorado.