Where is Arapaho Bay located?

Arapaho Bay is located in Grand County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Arapaho Bay?

Permit information is not currently available. Check with the managing agency for current requirements.

Arapaho Bay

lake

Grand County, Colorado

4.5(165 reviews)

About Arapaho Bay

Arapaho Bay is a scenic inlet on the southeastern shore of Lake Granby, nestled between the town of Granby and Grand Lake in Grand County. The bay serves as both a popular lakeside camping destination and a launching point for paddling, fishing, and swimming, with crystal-clear water and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. It sits just a few miles from the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, giving campers easy access to alpine trails while still enjoying a lakefront basecamp.

The Arapaho Bay campground is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and includes multiple loops: Moraine, Roaring Fork, and Big Rock. Sites cost around $25 per night, and several loops offer lakefront spots with direct water access. Some sites are drive-up with vehicle parking right at the campsite, while others are walk-in tent-only spots with parking about 30 to 40 yards away. Tent pad sizes vary significantly between sites, so checking dimensions before booking is worth the effort. The campground fills quickly during summer weekends, and first-come-first-served sites are often claimed by Friday morning, so midweek arrival is the best strategy for snagging a walk-up spot.

The bay is well suited for paddleboarding, kayaking, and swimming, with calm water conditions when wind is low. Fishing is a draw for families, and anglers report good results right from the shoreline. Vault toilets throughout the campground are consistently praised as exceptionally clean. Each site includes a permanent metal grill with an adjustable grate and a large bear box for food storage. Firewood is available on-site for around $9 per bundle. There is no potable water hookup at all loops, so bringing your own water supply is recommended.

Bears are active throughout the campground, and multiple visitors report encounters including bears breaking into vehicles and destroying pop-up campers. Storing all food and scented items in the provided bear vaults is essential. The bear boxes sit in direct sun and get hot during the day. Mosquitoes can be intense during summer months, so bringing repellent is a must. The access road is a well-maintained dirt road suitable for campers and trailers. Night skies here are remarkable, with visitors frequently reporting Milky Way visibility with the naked eye. Sunsets over the lake are a highlight, and daytime summer temperatures reach the 80s while nights can drop into the mid-30s, so layered clothing is necessary.

Reviews (10)

Catherine Smith

Absolutely stunning campground. My site (65) was a two minute walk uphill from the car and almost completely secluded. Be warned there is lots of wildlife activity so be smart with your food & your dogs please 🥰

Mel T

Worst camping trip ever. What they don’t tell you: if you are expecting peace and quiet, this is not the campground for you. There is lots of screaming, both kids and adults alike, early morning, all day long and late into the night. There is lots of generator noise and very loud inflating/deflating of inflatable kayaks, rafts, beds, etc. Then there is the loud music from the boats and beach. Also people leave their very loud dogs tied up in their campsites and they bark incessantly out of boredom all day and night long. Also, beware that some of the campsites take a bit of a walk with elevation. So if you pack lots of gear for a drive up and park site you can be severely disappointed and inconvenienced. Pack accordingly or set your expectations lower. The sites do not say which ones take a walk to get to. The sites themselves were clean, mostly. The tent pads were spacious and dimensions accurately described. However, bring sandbags to tie your tents down or hope for enough large rocks and objects. The rocks themselves aren’t very heavy for their size so they do not do an adequate job of keeping flaps open, much less keeping a tent stretched out. The sandy/rocky ground is too hard to drive stakes into it. I recommend a footprint or tarp to keep your tent bottom from being worn as it slides around on the rocks and sand. The lake is beautiful and views gorgeous. When I went (this past weekend 22-25.Aug 25) there was an active bear in the campground that broke into a car and destroyed two pop-ups. Also, there was no available water. Make sure your food is stashed in the provided bear vaults. Unfortunately these metal storage get super hot when the sun is out. They are all placed in the open.

Billie Clark

Sites are pretty tight if you have an RV. Branches need trimming, small tree stumps need grinding down to prevent flat tires and tripping hazard. One road in to camping area and with thunderstorms often, being trapped by fire is a concern. Huge reservoir, beach access, nice, level, clean sites.

Sam Deherrera

I would leave a zero if I could! Found open spot . Placed money for the spot. Second night. People show up say it's reserved. Tag says open. Host threatening to call the police if I did get out of the spot. I feel it was a racial profiled . Very rude and aggressive! Something should be done about this host !!!

Kyle Robertson

Last weekend we tried to find a first come first serve campsite in the front Big rock loop. After finding a open spot we put or money in the box we went to town leaving the receipt on the post. When we returned someone was in my spot. We went to the ranger in the front Big rock host site. After waiting 10min for her to come to the door with dogs barking and jumping around. The ranger came outside and so did the smell of Marijuana following her. We explained the situation and she told us that's not her problem and she didn't care this campground is not for black people. Before I could say anything she said I don't have time for this and went back inside letting her dog run out at us. We were so shocked as we left she just stood in her window and gave us the bird. We were so upset we drove to Winter Park and just got a room. Never again.

Saralyn Voltz

A great little campground! We were able to snag a last minute spot. Kori was a fantastic camp host! She was easy to talk with and helpful with additional information! Find her if you need anything!

Bruce Perry

There are some great camp sites right on the lake and some mediocre ones far from the lake. Choose well and you'll have an amazing time.

Nicole Rische

Very impressive! Sites were laid out nicely. Staff was so helpful and friendly. A shout out to Cori. It was our first visit and she was awesome!

Courtney Knitter

Absolutely beautiful area. We stayed in the Moraine loop which was fairly quiet considering the number of sites. Some sites are definitely bigger than others so check the tent pad size before you book. Walking around, I think the Roaring Fork loop might be a little louder, it has more sites on the water. There is not much for shade and it gets hot quick in the summer afternoon sun so pack accordingly. Vault toilets are immaculate. Also, there are active bears in the area. We saw one in our site, on our “Grizzly Bear Foundation Certified Bear Proof” Yeti cooler. Just because they can’t get in, doesn’t mean they won’t run away with it up a mountain. So make sure to follow the rules and pack everything away at night.

Kurt Guenther

Nice campground. My only complaint is that the car traffic kicks up a lot of dust and people drive like they are late for work instead of in a campground with children.