Welcome to Camp Granite Lake!
Welcome to Camp Granite Lake!
A Three-Week Overnight Summer Camp in Colorado, Built on Authentic Connection
Give Your Camper The Experience of Camp In The Rocky Mountains!
Located about 30 minutes from Boulder and an hour from downtown Denver, at 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains, Camp Granite Lake is a family-owned, co-ed sleepaway camp!
Campers are a part of a kind, inclusive and supportive camp community where they build positive peer relationships, have well-trained, role model counselors, and enjoy over twenty fun activities.
With 135 beautiful acres and a private 8-acre lake, Camp Granite Lake is a great place for campers to disconnect from technology and focus on creating authentic relationships with people and each other!
Camp Granite Lake at a Glance
- 3-week sessions (19 nights), plus a 1-week Mini-Camp
- Campers entering grades 3–11
- $5,200, all-inclusive
- 5:1 camper-to-counselor ratio (or lower)
- ACA accredited
- Tech-free, co-ed, non-competitive
- 9,000 ft · 135 acres · private 8-acre lake
- 30 min from Boulder · 1 hr from Denver
2027 Dates & Rates · Life at CGL · Safety at Camp · Apply Now
Start Here to Learn More about CGL!
Slow Down & Lose The Tech
Camp Granite Lake is screen-free, easy going, and a break from competition.
Between hectic schedules, the pressures of school and extra-curriculars, technology and social media, children are feeling burned out! Camp Granite Lake gives campers the chance to slow down and create real, in-person, human connections with peers and their counselors. Lasting friendships are made at summer camp!
Low Ratios = Great Connections & Care!
5:1 (or lower!) Camper-to-Counselor ratios means campers get lots of individual attention!
Campers having meaningful connections with their Counselors is key to a child having a great camp experience. As a smaller camp with low ratio numbers in both cabins and activities, your camper receives more quality time with their highly vetted and well-trained camp counselors.
Kids Need Time To Play!
New friends, a few rules, and time to just get dirty!
Summers used to be about building forts, digging in the dirt, and playing made-up games outside with friends. That's how we learned to solve problems, think creatively, and self-regulate.
Do you find that your kids don't get to live that way anymore? Camp Granite Lake provides unstructured time each day for campers to choose their own play. Expertly supervised by our counselors, campers build forts, play games, and have good, old-fashioned fun!
Questions Parents Ask
What kind of camp is Camp Granite Lake?
Camp Granite Lake is a family-owned, co-ed overnight camp in the Colorado Rockies for campers entering 3rd through 11th grade, with a 1-week Mini-Camp for younger first-timers. Camp sits at 9,000 feet on 135 acres with a private 8-acre lake. It is tech-free, non-competitive, and ACA accredited.
Is sleepaway camp the same as overnight camp?
Yes. Sleepaway camp, overnight camp, and residential camp all mean the same thing: campers live at camp for the whole session. Camp Granite Lake is a three-week overnight camp in Colorado.
How long are sessions?
We offer two session lengths. Our 3-week Traditional Sessions (19 nights) run June 14–July 3, July 5–24, and July 26–August 14 in 2027. Our 1-week Mini-Camp (5 nights) runs during Traditional Session 3 and is for new campers.
What ages do you serve?
Traditional Sessions 1 and 2 are for campers entering 3rd through 10th grade. Traditional Session 3 is for campers entering 3rd through 11th grade. Mini-Camp is for new campers who are finishing 1st through 4th grade (entering 2nd–5th in the fall).
How much does camp cost, and what's included?
We like to keep it simple for parents, with no billing surprises. Tuition ($5,200 for Traditional, $1,650 for Mini-Camp) includes activities, meals, snacks, bedding, weekly laundry, a CGL t-shirt, a Nalgene water bottle, airport pick-up for out-of-state campers, a $50 credit at the camp store, and even necessities that may have been forgotten or lost, like soap, a toothbrush, stationery, or a stamp! (Weekly laundry and the store credit are for Traditional Sessions.) It also includes all the great memories, connections, and time outside away from tech!
Do you offer financial aid?
Yes, partial financial aid is available. We can't offer full scholarships. Returning families can apply starting in January 2027, and new families starting in March 2027. Email directors@campgranitelake.com to learn more.
Where is camp, and how far is it from Denver and Boulder?
Camp sits in the mountains right where unincorporated Jefferson, Boulder, and Gilpin counties meet. We're about 30 minutes from Boulder and about an hour from downtown Denver. Our address is 11902 Camp Eden Road, Golden, CO 80403.
Can campers bring phones? How do I stay in touch?
No. Camp is tech-free, so campers leave phones and devices at home. Families stay connected by mail and by e-letters through the CGL Portal, which we print daily. We post photos of campers almost every day in the Portal, at no extra cost.
What if my child gets homesick?
Missing home is normal, especially in the first few days. Counselors keep campers busy during the day, and at bedtime they check in with each camper and ask about the best part of the day. From home, the best thing you can do is send upbeat letters telling them you're proud of them, and skip the news about what they're missing.
Can you handle food allergies and special diets?
We accommodate many special diets, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Our kitchen team works with families before camp when they have dietary concerns. Not all combinations of diets are possible for us, so please contact us before applying if your camper has a life-threatening (anaphylactic) food allergy, several overlapping diets, or a soy or tomato sensitivity. Camp is not nut-free; peanut butter and jelly are served at lunch, for example.
Who takes care of campers' health?
Our health center is staffed by registered nurses, with on-call physicians available remotely through telehealth. All counselors are trained in First Aid, CPR, and EpiPen use. Paid and volunteer emergency responders in Coal Creek Canyon typically arrive within minutes.
Should my child do 1 week or 3 weeks?
Our 1-week Mini-Camp is a great first taste of camp for younger, first-time campers. Our 3-week session is where the real magic happens: it's long enough for deep friendships and true independence to form. Campers who start with Mini-Camp commonly return for 3 weeks in future years (that's the point of Mini-Camp!)