Elevation
Same high-country pool as Grand Lake, about 8,367 feet. The level can move.
Elevated’s guide to boating Shadow Mountain
Grand Lake · Colorado
Shadow Mountain Lake
Arapaho National Recreation Area water, connected to Grand Lake by a channel and separate from it.
Shadow Mountain Lake is a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, beside the town of Grand Lake and upstream of Lake Granby. It is its own destination, not a cove of Grand Lake and not Lake Granby. The Forest Service allows motorized boats here and requires boaters to obey posted speed limits. Motorboats are prohibited from the North Fork Colorado River inlet through Islands 1, 2, 3, and 4 to the east end of Rosey Point. The Hilltop launch is closed to trailered motorboats. Wake sports are not confirmed on this page.
The channel to Grand Lake, with its own rules.
Best for · Destination weekends · Mountain lake days
Suggested trips: Weekend Getaway. A lake can fit more than one.
No amenities are confirmed on this page. Anything not listed as confirmed is unverified, not a no.
Colorado
Shadow Mountain Lake
Elevated tip
Say Shadow Mountain if that is the water. Grand Lake has its own guide, and this page will not clear a wakesurf setup.
What boaters actually want to know.
Water
Colorado River headwaters reservoir. Wind and afternoon weather are part of the day. Follow posted speed limits and no-wake buoys.
Boat ramps
Green Ridge boat ramp. The Forest Service publishes seasonal hours. Motorized boats launch from designated ramps when an inspector is present.
Marinas
No marina is confirmed on Shadow Mountain. Town marinas are on Grand Lake, next door.
Camping
Campgrounds in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Hookups are not confirmed on this page.
Trailer / access
The same mountain tow as Grand Lake. The channel does not shorten the drive.
Nearby
Grand Lake · Granby
More water in this country.
Colorado
Grand Lake
Mountain boating at 8,367 feet with Rocky Mountain National Park as the backdrop.
Colorado
Granby
Big high-country water next to Grand Lake — room to run, room to stay.
Colorado
Stagecoach
High-country water south of Steamboat — a reason to take the boat over the pass.