GRANBY, Colo., – With 38 acres of trees, ponds, trails and hills, Colorado's Arapaho Valley Ranch offers up classic mountain scenery. Add in thousands of square miles of peaks and valleys as well as a slew of accommodations at the ranch and you have a perfect recipe for following the fall foliage.

“Since Arapaho Valley Ranch is open year-round, one of the many benefits of living and working here is seeing the rotation of seasonal colors throughout the year, from the white of winter to the vibrant yellows and golds of fall,” said Hayden Hughes, ranch manager. “Fall is in many ways the most vibrant of the seasons, and that's the season when we welcome serious photographers as well as passionate recreationists and wildlife watchers.”  

Another reason travelers flock to this Rocky Mountain region in the fall is to observe the antics of its frisky wildlife, especially elk and moose. It's not uncommon for guests to see moose frolicking in and around the ranch's onsite Indian Lake. Travelers can also head to Rocky Mountain National Park to see – and hear – male elk compete for the attention of females by fighting and bugling. Bears can also be observed as they gorge on pine nuts in preparation for a long winter's nap in their dens.

Arapaho Valley Ranch is located near the charming towns of Granby and Grand Lake and features on-site activities such as fishing, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, biking, hiking, wildlife watching, yard games, volleyball and a playground.

Aspen groves can be found in all directions, but some of the most dramatic patches are located where the East Troublesome Fire burned close to 200,000 acres starting in October, 2020. The fast-moving wildfire burned through forests comprised primarily of pine trees while destroying some 555 structures. Aspen trees are typically the first species to grow back as they propagate through their roots system while pines are slower to recover. Eventually, the pine forests will return and crowd out the aspen.

Peak fall foliage season in Colorado's Grand County starts in mid- to late-September and continues well into October. A more detailed description of local foliage viewing can be found online.

What Travelers Should Know

Visitors have a choice of glamping tents, yurts, historic cabins, and tent and RV sites. Cabins and yurts are open year-round while glamping tents, tipis and tent and RV camp sites are available Memorial Day weekend through early October.

Cabins have kitchenettes while glamping tents, tipis and yurts include a camp kitchen box with various utensils as well as propane grills and stoves. All units have either drip coffee makers or presses.

The drive time to Arapaho Valley Ranch is two hours and 15 minutes from Denver, three hours from Fort Collins, three hours from Colorado Springs and a half hour from Granby. Travelers on an interstate road trip can access the area from I-70 to the south, I-80 to the north, I-25 to the east and various state and U.S. highways. Many will enter Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colo. and drive Trail Ridge Road – typically open from Memorial Day Weekend until conditions dictate a fall closing – and exit the park in Grand Lake.

The region surrounding Arapaho Valley Ranch is a recreational playground with a wide variety of activities. Grand Lake and Lake Granby provide fishing and water sports. The towns of Granby, Grand Lake and Winter Park offer a variety of retail shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Just 45 minutes from the ranch, Rocky Mountain National Park features 265,000 acres of spectacular mountains and meadows and incredible hiking and wildlife watching.