Lake Granby in Colorado — Online Webcam
Lake Granby — Colorado's Third-Largest Body of Water
Granby Reservoir holds the honorable third place among all bodies of water in the state of Colorado by surface area. This artificial lake appeared on the map in 1950, when Granby Dam was built on the Colorado River. The project was implemented by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the massive Colorado-Big Thompson system, which still provides water to communities and agricultural lands in the region. Today, Lake Granby is not just a water reservoir, but a full-fledged ecosystem that attracts outdoor enthusiasts and observers who can appreciate its scale through the online camera.
Mountain Landscape and Coniferous Forests Around the Reservoir
Lake Granby is located in Grand County, Colorado, approximately 5 miles northeast of the town of the same name, at an elevation of 8,284 feet (2,525 m) above sea level. This altitude determines the character of the vegetation: the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with dense coniferous forest typical of the Rocky Mountains. The reservoir is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area and is surrounded by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. These protected areas preserve the pristine mountain landscape, where spruce and pine alternate with open grassy meadows.
Highway 34 and Infrastructure Along the Shoreline
The shoreline of Lake Granby stretches for 40 miles (64 km), and a significant portion of it is accessible for viewing along Highway 34. This road serves as the region's main transportation artery, connecting the town of Granby with surrounding areas. Simply turn off the intersection of Highways 40 and 34 in Granby and drive north on Highway 34 for about 5 miles to County Road 6 to find yourself right at the water's edge. Along Highway 34 at Lake Granby, WAPA (Western Area Power Administration) power lines run, which have become a topic of discussion among local residents because they obstruct the view of the lake.
Water Level and Seasonal Fluctuations
The water level in Granby Reservoir is not constant — it is subject to noticeable fluctuations. A level of 101% of normal has been recorded, which is associated with seasonal snowmelt in the mountains and water resource management under the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Water from the lake is pumped through the Farr pump station for further distribution. These fluctuations mean that the view of Lake Granby through the webcam online may differ slightly depending on the current reservoir fill level — sometimes a wider shoreline strip is exposed, sometimes there is noticeably more water.
National Forests and Recreation Areas
The area around Lake Granby has the status of the Arapaho National Recreation Area. This means that the natural landscape here is under federal government protection, and visitor access is organized while maintaining ecological balance. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests surrounding the reservoir provide habitat for typical Colorado mountain wildlife. The coniferous forest covering the slopes of the mountain range in the background is not just decoration, but part of an extensive forest system stretching for dozens of miles around.
What You Can See on the Camera
The online camera with a view of Lake Granby faces east along Highway 34. In the foreground of the frame is open terrain with grass cover and trees on the left, as well as power lines crossing the lower part of the image. In the middle of the frame is the Lake Granby reservoir with a visible water level — the shoreline with trees and open spaces is clearly readable. In the background rises a mountain range covered with coniferous forest, characteristic of this area of the Rocky Mountains. Power lines and poles can be traced along the shoreline. In the upper left corner of the frame, the COLORADO WEBCAM logo is visible, and at the top is a text bar with the location name and timestamp. This real-time webcam allows you to observe water conditions, weather, and the illumination of the Colorado mountain landscape.
