Granby Dam, Embankment dam in Grand County, Colorado, US.
Granby Dam is an embankment dam on the Colorado River in Grand County, Colorado, forming the large Lake Granby reservoir. Built from compacted earth and rock, the dam has a broad top and slopes down on both sides, sitting in an open mountain valley.
Work on the dam started in 1941 as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, a federal effort to move water from the western to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The dam was completed in 1950 and became a central piece of that water transfer system.
The reservoir created by the dam is known as Lake Granby and draws visitors who come to fish, boat, and spend time near the water in the Rockies. On summer weekends, the lake feels busy with families and outdoor enthusiasts from nearby towns.
Lake Granby is open to visitors and offers fishing and boating during the warmer months, though temperatures can drop sharply even in summer at this elevation. Water levels change throughout the year, so the shoreline may look very different depending on when you visit.
Water from Shadow Mountain Lake, a nearby reservoir, can be pumped directly into Lake Granby to top up supply when inflow is low. These two reservoirs are connected by a canal, making the whole system work in both directions depending on the season.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
