At a Glance
- Location: Arapaho National Forest
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Crowds: Very low
- Fee: None
Strawberry Lake
Strawberry Lake is located in the Arapaho National Forest south of Grand Lake, accessed via forest roads from the Arapaho Bay area. The lake sits in a quiet mountain setting well away from the RMNP crowd corridors — one of those seldom-visited spots that rewards visitors who seek out forest service trails over national park routes.
The trail to Strawberry Lake requires some navigation and a suitable vehicle for forest road access. Consult the Sulphur Ranger District office in Granby for current access conditions and trail information before planning this trip.
What to Expect
The lake is set in spruce-fir forest with meadow sections that support good wildflower displays in July. Wildlife — elk, mule deer, and various bird species — is common in the forest setting. The lake itself supports trout fishing with a Colorado fishing license.
The low visitation at Strawberry Lake means genuine solitude is possible — a meaningful contrast to the crowded trails in RMNP during peak season.
Visitor Logistics
Check with the Sulphur Ranger District (Granby) for current conditions before attempting forest road routes. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for some access roads. No entry fee is required for national forest access.
Near Granby Rather Than Grand Lake
Strawberry Lake sits near Granby, roughly half an hour south of Grand Lake on US-40. Published figures give the trail at around 3.7 miles and rate it moderately challenging, with a walking time of about two hours.
It is outside Rocky Mountain National Park, which means no park entry is required and dogs are treated differently than on park trails — check current Forest Service guidance for the trailhead before you go.
Why Groups Combine It With the Drive
Because Granby is the town most groups pass through on the way in, and the one with the last real grocery stop, this trail often gets done on an arrival or departure day rather than as a dedicated outing.
It is a useful option for a half day when the weather higher up is poor, since the elevation is lower than the park's west-side trails.
From the Cabins
The drive south from Grand Lake is straightforward outside of winter storm conditions. Allow for the round trip when planning, since it is a genuine drive rather than the five minutes to the park entrance.
All four properties have full kitchens, which makes packing a lunch for a half-day like this simpler than finding somewhere open at the right moment.
Distances, elevation gain and difficulty above are drawn from published trail listings and are given as a guide. Published figures vary between sources, and trail conditions, closures and access change through the season. Check current conditions with the National Park Service at nps.gov/romo before setting out.