Once home to Native American Ute, Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes, the Grand Lake area has been attracting people to its beautiful setting along the banks of Colorado's deepest and largest natural lake, and has been a great hunting and fishing region for thousands of years. The Town of Grand Lake was established in 1867 by silver prospectors seeking fortunes and gutsy hunting guides who welcomed and charmed visiting adventure seekers. As access to the region improved, more and more people traveled to Grand Lake to enjoy its natural beauty and nearby sulfur springs. In September 1929, the National Park Service started construction of Trail Ridge Road (U.S. Highway 34) through Rocky Mountain National Park, connecting Estes Park to Grand Lake. When completed in 1983, Trail Ridge Road provided local residents and summer time tourists the opportunity to experience one of the most breathtaking and beautiful drives in America - up and over Rocky Mountain National Park. For safety purposes, Trail Ridge Road is closed for the winter after the first heavy snow fall.
