On our way back East from Grand Teton and Yellowstone, we stopped in Colorado to continue enjoying the Rocky Mountains. In order to grab a shower after a week of camping we settled in Grand Lake, Colorado. This small tourist town is located near the Western entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Similar to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Rocky Mountain National Park limits activities you can do with pets. By staying outside of the park, we were able to enjoy hiking and more outdoor exploration with Rigby.
Paddling Monarch Lake
For our canoeing adventures in Colorado, we found Monarch Lake. This would be the second alpine lake of our trip. Monarch Lake is located in the Arapaho National Forest and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Boat activity is restricted to non-motorized vessels. It’s a bit of a walk with your boat and gear, even with the parking lot close by. Before getting on the water, we hiked the 4-mile loop trail around the lake. This is a great, mild hike with plenty of shade and great views. Additional trails head up the mountain and into the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.
After hiking we took to the water. We were the only canoe among a few standup paddleboards on the lake that morning. The lake is small and easy to explore in a little more than an hour. A couple islands provide shade and a chance to stretch and explore.
Smoke in the Rocky Mountain region continued to coat the air. We experienced this in Wyoming and Colorado due to forest fires burning in the West. Views of the snowcapped Rockies were clouded by smoke. The green on the mountains surrounding the lake provides a lushness that surrounds you.
Our attempt to leave
After eating some lunch it was time to go, until the car refused to start. We experienced a car battery issue when we left our campsite in Yellowstone. Thankfully a park ranger was able to bring his truck to us for a jump. We imagined the battery gained enough juice in our long drive to Grand Lake, CO, but we were wrong. The busy parking lot at Monarch Lake seemed suddenly empty of humans when we needed our second jump.
Finally, a friendly family was able to give us a hand. Our car, packed to the brim with camping and canoeing gear, was emptied onto the pavement so we could pull our our buried jumper cables (note to self: keep jumper cables more accessible on road trips!). We made our way to an auto shop to replace the battery for good. We weren’t going through this again. Have you ever driven in a state in the Western US? You never know when you’re going to come across the next densely populated place. A battery full of energy is a must!
The stress of our car battery couldn’t take away from the peacefulness of Monarch Lake. It’s on the records as our highest elevation paddle at 8,400 feet (Jackson Lake in 2nd at 6,772 ft). We continued our stay in Grand Lake with a drive along the 48-mile Trail Ridge Road connected Grand Lake and Estes Park through Rocky Mountain National Park.
