Grand Lake Letterbox

Grand Lake

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 08/06/03
Nearest Town: Grand Lake, CO
County: Grand
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (slight slope, 200 yards RT)
Status: alive (05/07/07)

THIS LETTERBOX IS NOT ON NATIONAL PARK LAND, SO PLEASE DON'T CONFISCATE IT.

Grand Lake is the largest natural body of water in Colorado and is almost surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park. One of the best places to view the lake is from the front porch of Grand Lake Lodge, located just outside the park and home to this letterbox. The Lodge also provides a great base for exploring the park. Please note that the Lodge is closed from about Labor Day through Memorial Day. The box can still be accessed if you park on the road where it is blocked and walk in, or you can hike up the trail from town. Clues from town were provided by Jrsy Boy of The H-A's.

Directions:

From Denver, drive west on I70 for about 40 miles, north on Hwy 40 about 50 miles, then north on Hwy 34 about 25 miles to the town of Grand Lake. Grand Lake Lodge is just north of town off Hwy 34.

Clues:

NOTE: THE LODGE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED AND THE LETTERBOX IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY HIKING UP FROM TOWN. HOPEFULLY THE LODGE WILL REOPEN SOON. Park in the main parking lot of Grand Lake Lodge or walk to it from the barricaded road during off-season. Walk to the southeast corner of the lot to the Nuptial Knoll sign and walk down the path for 50 steps. Turn left at the fork and walk another 50 steps to a view deck. Continue another 20 steps to a trail sign saying "Trail From Grand Lake Lodge to Village of Grand Lake". Walk down the trail 65 steps to the beginning of the second switchback. There will be a giant boulder in front of you (south) and a lone pine stump off trail to your right (west) about 10 steps away (it was a tree when I placed the box). Walk to the tree and look under a rock shelf at its base on the east side. The box is hidden behind rocks within a crevice under the shelf. Please re-cover well.

To get to the letterbox from Grand Lake, take Garfield Street to West Portal Road and turn left. At the second set of utility poles, there is a trail heading uphill. There really isn't much in the way of parking near the trail head, but there are a few turnouts in either direction if you don't mind walking along the shoulder of the road. The bench near the letterbox is the third one you encounter coming up from the bottom. Another option is to start at the well marked Tonahutu trailhead off West Portal Road, where there is ample parking. After about a mile, there is an intersection and a sign indicating that it is 1/2 mile to Grand Lake Lodge. Follow that side trail until you come to a road, cross the road and continue on the trail through the cabins and past the playground. At the next road, turn right down the road, then left toward the parking lot. From there, follow the previous clues.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

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Last updated on 07/21/2008

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