Colorado’s natural beauty is definitely one of the things we’re most known about, and a big part of that has to do with our incredible lakes.

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If you want to see the classics, you can always head to places like Hanging Lake, which turns out is one of the cleanest in the entire country.

If you’re looking for a bit of a challenge, you could always hike up to Pacific Tarn, the highest-named lake in the United States.

However, an all-time favorite was just picked by USA Today as one of the best swimming spots in the nation.

Grand Lake is One of the Best for Swimming in the Country

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Every year, USA Today runs a series called 10Best, where they rank some of the United States’ best locations.

To do so, they get readers to vote. Actually, the Taffy Shop in Estes Park just got ranked as the best candy store in the United States through the same poll.

However, Grand Lake was chosen as the ninth-best swimming lake in the United States.

Located in the aforementioned Grand County, Grand Lake is a Colorado classic. Not only is it where Tim Allen got married, but it is the largest and deepest lake in the entire state as well.

What Makes Grand Lake in Colorado so Special?

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USA Today notes that Grand Lake truly comes to life in the summertime once the snow melts.

It’s a fantastic place to go kayaking, fishing, and paddleboarding, but it also offers much more as well.

Grand Lake is located right next to Rocky Mountain National Park, so not only is it nestled in some of the most beautiful scenery the state has to offer, but there’s great hiking as well.

You can also go camping near the lake as well, or take a hike to go see places like the Kawuneeche Valley, something Grand County highly recommends.

Of course, there’s also a slew of activities you can partake in over the winter, such as ice fishing or snowshoeing, along with cool events like the Pond Hockey Classic.

Even if the water may be a little chilly, you can have an amazing time going for a dip in Grand Lake this summer.

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It's next to impossible to select which Colorado lake or reservoir is the most beautiful in the state. We've chosen our top ten in the gallery below, and we will leave it up to you to decide, which is your favorite.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

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Summer is turning up the heat in Western Colorado so we are turning up the fun. Here are eleven cool Colorado lake towns you can visit with friends and family to help you cool off.

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