North Fork Loop

5.65 km - about 0 hours 7 min

Start in Grand Forks at Central Avenue/Highway 3. Take Donaldson Drive northwest and turn right on North Fork Road to run north along the flank of Observation Mountain. Prospect Road provides access to hiking and cross-country ski trails on the side of the mountain away from downtown.

2.69 km - about 0 hours 5 min

Further north, the land flattens out into a broad stretch of grassy rangeland dotted with ponderosa pines and cottonwoods lining the riverbank. In the heyday of mining, the river was dammed and this area was Smelter Lake. Today it hosts the Granby River Golf Course.

9.50 km - about 0 hours 13 min

Just past the golf course is a swimming hole that locals call the power box, relating to the hydro station that once stood here. The road meanders beside the river with views of rocky outcrops, mountains, forest and farmland. Continue north to cross the river.

17.06 km - about 0 hours 23 min

At Ten Mile Bridge, aka Hummingbird Bridge, the road crosses the river then forks. Turn north for a wilderness experience with rustic campsites, gold panning sites, rock climbing, backcountry hiking in old growth forest and pristine Granby Provincial Park, a wilderness area. Note that pavement soon gives way to gravel.

Stop for a swim in the Granby River on a wide natural sand beach in the lea of the bridge. Turn south on Granby River Road and keep an eye out for bighorn sheep. Between the 3km and 4km signposts, look into the river gorge for ruins of the dam. Pass through the site of the former Granby Smelter, now returned to nature except for the slag heaps, and reconnect with Central Avenue/Highway 3.