Granby Ranch is a four season mountain community of 5,000 acres nestled in the heart of Grand County and is widely recognized for its family friendly culture. In the summer Granby Ranch offers downhill mountain biking, lift served cross country mountain biking, hiking, chairlift rides, dining and golf. In winter the Ranch features downhill skiing and boarding, Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails. Granby Ranch is perfect for families with all trails leading to the base lodge making it impossible to get lost as well as their friendly, knowledgeable ski instructors and even night skiing. There are two Nordic trail areas – the Golf Trail System and the East Mountain Trail System. These trails are free and open to public. The trails are open to skiers, snowshoers, and fat tire snow bikes. Users are strongly recommended to have a trail map detailing trails and distances. Trail maps are available at the base lodge in the retail shop at the base of the downhill trails. Please note that snowshoes are available for rent at the base lodge but other Nordic equipment is not. Alpine lifts are already open for the season.
The Golf Trail System offers 5.5 miles of trails and is at an average elevation of 8110 feet. The trails wind through the golf course and along the Fraser River. Free parking is available at the Granby Ranch pro shop. Trails are groomed weekly. The East Mountain Trail System offers 7.3 miles of trails and is an average elevation of 9202 feet. Trails can be accessed via the Quick Draw Express Chairlift for a foot passenger fee of $5. Parking at the base lodge is free. Expect back country and touring conditions. Granby Ranch trails are open and closed depending on weather conditions and Nordic and snowshoe trails are not patrolled.
In the winter, there are three dining areas: The Slopeside Great Room, the Grill and the 8350 Bar and Bistro. New this year, the 8350 Bar and Bistro is open every day from 8am-6pm with breakfast selections, salads, sandwiches and drinks. The Slopeside Great Room and Grill are both are featuring new menus this year and the Grill is offering Apres Ski specials from 4-6pm including 20% off wings, fries and nachos, $3 draft beers, and $2 Coors Lights. There’s even a fire to warm your toes by after a great Nordic workout.
Grand Nordic assists Granby Ranch by grooming from the top of County Road 87 into their trail system across Main Street onto Rabbit Run and from the Fraser to Granby Trail in Val Moritz across Traci’s Trail into the bottom of Sweet Nancy. Logging is finished for the East Mountain but some of the trails are still a bit rough.
This upcoming winter season, the Fourth Annual Ranch2Ranch will be Saturday Feb 4 but the direction has been reversed. Skiers will depart the Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center to Tim’s Tunnel under HWY 40, use the Fraser to Granby Trail to Val Moritz and on the Granby Ranch trails to the Ski Granby Ranch base lodge. The Trek is untimed, dog friendly and has two aid stations en route. More details and registration are available at www.grandnordic.org or by calling 970-887-0547. For more winter activities at Granby Ranch, visit GranbyRanch.com and click on events for a complete event listing.
Users of Granby Ranch trails do so at their own risk and Granby Realty Holdings assumes no responsibility or liability for the public’s use of its private property. So please stay on designated trails and be prepared with appropriate equipment, clothing, food and water. Be aware that weather and snow conditions can change rapidly. Dogs are permitted but must be under control at all times. Granby Ranch asks you to respect the environment, please do not liter and clean up after your pet. For additional information, visit GranbyRanch.com or call 887-3384 or 888-850-4615.
Free Kids Nordic Lessons start January 6
Free lessons for kids ages 5-10 start Friday January 6 from 1-230pm at the Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center. The program offers ski instruction for beginners and more accomplished skiers with skiing games, winter nature activities, and lots of fun and runs every Friday through the end of February. The last week February 24 is a Nordic Festival with games, races and prizes for all. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to lessons to get free equipment and trail pass for the duration of the lesson. Parents are encouraged to help and can also get free equipment and trail pass to ski with the lesson only. Call the Nordic Center at 970-887-2152 x 4173 for further information and to register. Call Grand Nordic 970-887-0547 with other questions. After school lessons through Granby Recreation Department at Granby Elementary School and through Fraser Valley Metro Rec District at Fraser Elementary School are available January and February for a small fee.
Grand Nordic Annual Free Ski Lessons are finished for the season
This year the free lessons were held at Snow Mtn Ranch on Dec 4, Devil’s Thumb Tommelfest Dec 10, and Grand Lake Nordic Center Dec 18. The turnout was excellent and Grand Nordic wants to thank these areas for hosting us and thank our fabulous instructors for sharing their knowledge of Nordic Skiing. We have two fundraisers coming up to put on your calendar – The Grand Park Nordic Relay Festival Jan 22 and the Ranch2Ranch Trek Feb 4. The proceeds from these programs fund our kids skiing and elementary school programs and support East Grand Middle School and other youth programs and scholarships. Visit www.grandnordic.org or call 970-887-0547 for more information.
