At a Glance
- Size: 1,361 acres
- Connects to: Grand Lake
- Key Fish: Lake trout, kokanee
- Cabin Views: Lakeside & Mid-Mod
Shadow Mountain Lake
Shadow Mountain Lake is a reservoir created by the Shadow Mountain Dam on the Colorado River, adjacent to Grand Lake and connected to it by a short channel. Together the two lakes form a combined water surface of nearly 1,900 acres — one of the largest mountain lake complexes in Colorado.
Two of Grand Lake Cabins' four properties — Lakeside Cabin and Mid-Century Modern — overlook Shadow Mountain Lake directly. The views from these properties across the lake to Mt. Baldy and the Continental Divide are central to the experience of staying there.
Recreation on Shadow Mountain Lake
Shadow Mountain Lake offers the same recreation as Grand Lake — kayaking, paddleboarding, boating, and fishing — with generally calmer conditions. The lake is connected to Grand Lake by a navigable channel, allowing kayakers to paddle between the two bodies of water.
Fishing for lake trout and kokanee salmon is productive on Shadow Mountain Lake, particularly in late summer and fall during the kokanee run. The lake's deeper sections hold large lake trout (mackinaw) year-round, and ice fishing is available when the lake freezes in winter.
The Shadow Mountain Dam
The Shadow Mountain Dam and Granby Pump Canal are part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, which transfers water from the Colorado River basin to the eastern slope. The dam controls the level of Shadow Mountain Lake. A short trail near the dam provides views of both Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake simultaneously.
The dam area is accessible from Highway 34 south of Grand Lake and can be combined with a visit to the Shadow Mountain Trailhead for a half-day outing.