Family-Friendly Lodge near Rocky Mountain National Park
At Rocky Mountain National Park, well-marked trails lead deep into the wilderness, where bugling elk gather in open meadows and bighorn sheep scale sheer cliff faces. More than 300 miles of hiking paths provide a closer look at waterfalls and granite mountains, which are mirrored in the sparkling alpine lakes at their bases. Located 1 mile from the park's western entrance, the Gateway Inn occupies a tranquil spot in this high-country wilderness.
The inn is a true family-run business—owners Tom and Debi built and designed the wooden lodge in 1999, and their daughter Lisa manages the property. With Rocky Mountain National Park surrounding the inn on three sides, it's easy to stay connected to the great outdoors during your visit, even if you never leave the lodge. Following happy hour in The Lounge from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., guests gather on the hotel's sprawling back porch to watch the sun set over nearby Shadow Mountain Lake.
Individually decorated guest rooms feature handmade log furniture. Choose from a variety of bed combinations to best accommodate your family or traveling flash mob.
Grand Lake, Colorado: Western Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park
Nestled beneath snowcapped peaks, the town of Grand Lake is known as the Western Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. The charming village, dotted with quaint cabins and summer homes, sits adjacent to Trail Ridge Road, a 43-mile route that winds through the park, providing glimpses of mountain wildlife and dazzling views that stretch to Wyoming.
Grand Lake was named after the largest natural body of water in Colorado, which hugs miles of shoreline just north of the hotel. Here you can angle for brown trout and mackinaw, or take to the waters on a pontoon boat. About a mile from the hotel, Grand Lake's historical boardwalk evokes the Old West with rustic saloons, art galleries, and horse-drawn taxicabs.
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