May 15, 2026
Rocky Express, a New Line on The Lift, to Begin Connecting Granby to Grand Lake
Winter Park, CO — A new Lift line will begin serving riders in June of 2026. The Rocky Express will connect Granby to Grand Lake and create a new way for community members and visitors to travel from the Front Range to Rocky Mountain National Park via public transportation. The line also serves as Grand Lake’s first public transportation option, connecting the community to the rest of Grand County.
The new “Gold Line”, called the Rocky Express or ROX, is set to begin in June of 2026, with a tentative launch date set for June 1. The route will begin at the Granby Train Depot, departing at 10:15 a.m. with four additional stops before arriving at Grand Lake Town Park at 10:57 a.m. The route will operate three round-trip departures daily, with the final departure from Grand Lake at 6:57 p.m., arriving at the Granby Train Depot at 7:30 p.m.
This route will operate as part of the existing Lift Bus system and was made possible through state grant funds from Colorado Senate Bill 24-230, the Grand County Community Priorities grant, lodging tax revenue, and contributions from Grand County, the Town of Granby, and the Town of Grand Lake. The Rocky Express also serves as part of a connection to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s mountain passenger rail project. While the mountain passenger rail is not set to begin until later this year, the Rocky Express represents an important resource for residents and visitors of Grand County.
Transit Manager Charles McCarthy commented on the new line, saying, “We’re so excited to bring this new option to visitors and community members. Not only will this be a great resource for tourists looking to take a trip into the Rocky Mountain National Park, but it also means residents can now take more Lift connections regionally. This is an exciting next step on the build-out for our transit system.”
Expanding service to Grand Lake was a part of The Lift and Town of Winter Park’s 5-Year Transit Plan, which was adopted in 2024. Another element of the plan, beginning microtransit in Winter Park, is also scheduled to launch in June 2026.
The full schedule and route map will be available before service begins in June. To learn more about The Lift and other routes that are available, visit theliftwp.com.
